WWII 11th Cavalry Regiment Overseas Cap – Fort Knox Training, Louisville Maker

by Hill, R

$169 · Offered by eBay

This is a gorgeous WWII U.S. Army Enlisted Man’s Overseas Cap (Garrison Cap) with its original Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI). This is a top-tier item for your shop because it is "triple-marked": it has a specific unit pin, a maker's label, and—most importantly—the soldier's name. ​The Unit & Research Hook ​The Piping: The Golden Yellow piping (the trim along the edge) identifies the soldier as being in the Cavalry or Armor branch. ​The Insignia: The colorful enamel pin on the side is a Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI). The design (a yellow top half and red bottom half with an "embattled" castle wall and three fleurs-de-lis) belongs to the 11th Cavalry Regiment (later the 11th Armored Cavalry). ​History: During WWII, the 11th Cavalry was a storied unit that patrolled the Mexican border before being reorganized into mechanized units and serving in Europe. The fleurs-de-lis represent their service in France during WWI, a history they carried with pride into the 1940s. ​The Name: Hand-penciled inside is "Hill, R." * The Maker: It features a high-quality label from The Friedman Co. Inc., Military Outfitters, Louisville, KY. Louisville was a massive hub for soldiers because of nearby Fort Knox (the home of the Cavalry and Armor). ​The Connection: Finding an 11th Cavalry cap made in Louisville is perfect historical symmetry—this soldier likely purchased this "private purchase" cap at Friedman's while training at Fort Knox before heading overseas. ​A sharp, private-purchase relic fr

• Condition: Very Good

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.