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Honorable Service Lapel Button / Honorable Discharge Emblem

Before September 8th 1939 a gold metal lapel button could be obtained. It shows a dexter eagle with its wings perched within a ring. The ring displays seven white and six red vertical stripes and a blue chief with the words "National Defence". Between September 8th 1939 and December 31st 1946, the button was all gold colour metal without words and colours. The dexter wing of the eagle folds behind and the sinister in front of the ring.

It was permitted to wear when the person served honourably prior to September 8th 1939 as either an enlisted man, warrant officer, nurse, contract surgeon, veterinarian, or commissioned officer, in the Regular Army or a Citizen's Military Training Camp for 2 months, or in the National Guard, Enlisted Reserve Corps, or senior ROTC for 1 year, or in junior ROTC for 2 years. In 1943 it was decided the button could be worn by Army personnel honourably discharged since September 9th 1939. In 1944 it was described the button could be either in gold colour metal or gold plated plastic. In 1947 it was decided that the eligibility requirements for the Honorable Service Lapel Button are honorable federal military service between 8 Sep 1939 and 31 Dec 1946.

It was often referred to as "Ruptured Duck". On November 29th 1944, with Circular No. 454, the War Department adopted the Honorable Discharge Emblem. It was in design similar to the Lapel Button, but the Eagle and Ring were placed on a piece of cloth with thread. It was issued together with the button. Upon the discharge from the military the emblem was to be sewn on the clothing, immediately above the pocket on the right breast.

Aiello, James Joseph* August 27th, 1912
† March 2nd, 1996

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Grid List
Gahagan, Joseph Eugene* May 29th, 1925
† June 23rd, 1984

Ganzberger, Stephen* August 25th, 1924
† May 20th, 2011
Plot: 8-RR Row: 5 Grave: 4

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Garman, Harold Alva* February 26th, 1918
† August 13th, 1992

Geidel, Merlin E.* June 21st, 1919
† October 4th, 2014

Gerry, Paul N.* October 13th, 1914

Giglio, Pasquale John* July 19th, 1921

Gilliland, Fred Spencer* March 28th, 1918
† August 1986

Gitlin, Sydney* August 17th, 1923

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Gonzalez, Moises* June 27th, 1921

Gotschall, Raymond L.* November 13th, 1922

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Green, Ernest Joel* March 21st, 1922

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Green, William E.* October 28th, 1920
† November 25th, 2002

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Gularek, Francis M.* April 14th, 1922
† August 27th, 1999

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Sources