| Obverse Design | Top has the silhouette of an eagle, wings spread, head up and facing right. This eagle is perched on a shield. The wings of the eagle sweep down about even with its the feet, and merge in with the shield. The shield has four lines of text. The first line has a slight upward arch and says "MILITARY". The second line goes straight across and says "POLICE". The next line in smaller size letters with a downward arch says "CORPORAL". The bottom line is near the botton of the badges and says "P.C.D." with a slight downward arch. The initials stand for "PANAMA CANAL DEPARTMENT". This badge type is unnumbered, and has a plain and smooth background. There is a slightly raised rim along the bottom edge. | ||||
| Reverse Design | Vertical Pin back. | ||||
| Metal | Brass. | Size and Shape | About 32mm wide by 54mm high (about 1 1/4 inches by 2 1/8 inches). | ||
| Dates Issued | Worn by MP Corporal Brand from about 1950 to 1952. | ||||
| Issurer | Panama Canal Department (U.S. Army). | ||||
| Numbers Issued | Pieces include unnumbered specimen piece above. | ||||
| Rarity | Rare. | Manufacturer | Unknown. | Source | William V. Brand. |
| Varieties | None known. | ||||
| Function |
Military Police Corporal in the U.S. Army, stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. Members of the military stationed in the Canal Zone were part of the "Panama Canal Department" at this time. William V. Brand was part of 550th MP (Svc) Co and 20th MP Co. He was the only one in his unit with this style of badge, and paid to keep it at the end of his term of service. |
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Scale: 4 pixels equals one millimeter
William Brand wearing the BG-45.1 vest badge (2002 photo)
