Am bidding on a Ruptured Duck pin on Ebay this week too. So far it is mine, but we have about 4 days to go. In case some of you don't know, the Ruptured Duck was given to GI's who were honorably discharged from the Army. Here's a bit of history...
The Origin of "The Ruptured Duck" Insignia
The original Ruptured Duck was a cloth insignia depicting an eagle inside a wreath. It was worn on uniforms above the right breast pocket by WWII servicemen and women.
It was issued to service personnel who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at that time. This showed the MP's that they were in transit and not AWOL. Well, the boys thought the eagle looked more like a duck; and, because it meant they were going home, the popular saying was, "They took off like a Ruptured Duck"...hence the nickname.
I am also bidding on a book called the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army. Right now I am the current high bidder. This would be a great addition to my growing collection.
