United States. A US Army 6th Infantry Division Private Rank Uniform Tunic, c. 1918

A uniform tunic belonging to a member of the United States Army 6th Infantry Division. It is constructed of coarse olive-drab wool and features an up-turned collar that is decorated on either side with a single collar disk. Each collar disc is constructed of darkened bronze. The right disc is inscribed “US” and the other features a set of crossed guns with “G” directly below to denote “Company G”. The collar is flanked on both sides by a set of integrated sewn-on shoulder straps that are fastened to the tunic at the shoulders and with a singular brown bakelite button decorated with the Great Seal of the United States. This tunic is equipped with a total of four pockets - two at breast height and two at waist height. All pockets are mounted to the exterior and secured shut via a scalloped flap and a matching brown bakelite button decorated with the Great Seal of the United States. The left arm was once decorated with the insignia of the United States Army 6th Infantry Division, consisting of a red star with the number “6” embroidered centrally on the patch. The patch has been removed but the outline of the patch is clearly visible. This tunic is also decorated with rank insignia, including a singular upward-pointing rank chevron on the top third of the sleeve and a double downward-pointing rank chevron on the bottom third of the sleeve near the cuff. The collars transition into double-breasted lapels decorated on the right side by five matching brown bakelite buttons decorated with the Great Seal of the United States, that are met on the opposing side by an equal number of reinforced horizontal-slit button holes for secure closing of the tunic. The interior is lined with a crude khaki-coloured cotton liner with an integrated vertical slit pocket on the inside of the left flap. It is unmarked with the exception of a tag that is sewn to the collar inscribed “Coat - Breast 40 - Regular” in black ink. It measures 42 cm across the shoulder (from seam to seam), with a sleeve length of 63 cm, and an overall length of 79 cm. The tunic is in worn cognition, with a hole in the left armpit along the front, as well as a large hole on the reverse of the same armpit, likely caused by a rodent during storage after the war. The tunic also depicts moderate to heavy mothing throughout. In overall near very fine condition.

Footnote: The 6th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army active during World War I. The division went overseas in July 1918, and saw 43 days of combat. It saw combat in the Geradmer sector in Vosges, France between September 3rd and October 18th, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive from November 1st 1918 to the Armistice.