U.S. Army Paratrooper
82nd Airborne Division / 17th Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
3rd Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Joseph F. Zakas 35200761
WARTIME SERVICE

Joseph F. Zakas was born March 29th 1919 and joined the United States Army on January 21st 1941 in Huntington West
Virginia at the age of 21 years old.

He served as a U.S. Army Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and later the 17th Airborne Division with the 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

His awards include: Paratrooper Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal and
European African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars.

Joseph F. Zakas died on December 31st 1998 at the age of 79.
Olive Drab Wool Field Jacket (also known as an "Eisenhower" Jacket) belonging to Joseph F. Zakas,
above left and right photo.
Right side of jacket, above left photo.
Above the right pocket is a hand sewn "Ruptured Duck" Honorable Discharge Insignia. On the right top of the lapel is a
U.S. collar disk and on the bottom lapel is an Infantry crossed rifles branch collar disk.
Left side of jacket, above right photo.
On the left pocket is a Combat Infantry Badge (clutch back). Above the left pocket are ribbons for the Good Conduct
Medal, American Campaign Medal and European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars as
well as a Paratrooper Badge (clutch back). On the left top of the lapel is a U.S. collar disk and on the bottom lapel is an
Infantry crossed rifles collar disk.

Note: It is not known why Joseph Zakas' jacket has a U.S. and Infantry collar disk worn on both lapels. Enlisted service
members were authorized to wear the U.S. on the right and branch insignia on the left lapel only. Officers were
authorized to wear the U.S. and branch insignia in this placement, but this was a different type of insignia.
Right sleeve, above left photo.
On the right sleeve is a machine sewn 1st Allied Airborne Division Service Sleeve Insignia (SSI). This insignia is hand
sewn cotton on felt and was produced in Great Britain.
Left sleeve, right photo.
On the left sleeve is a machine sewn 82nd Airborne Division Service Sleeve Insignia (SSI).
Lower left sleeve, left photo.
The left sleeve has one machine sewn Service Stripe for 3 years of consecutive service and five machine sewn Overseas
Stripes for 2 1/2 years of overseas service.
Service shirt, right photo.
Overseas cover, left photo.
This cover is constructed of olive drab wool and is piped in the branch colors for Military Police. The Enlisted
"Para-Glide" insignia is machine sewn to the left front of the cover. This insignia was introduced after the summer of
1944.
Inside of cover, right photo.
The inside of the cover is hand marked in blue ink "Joseph".
Inside right sleeve, above left photo.
Inside left sleeve, right photo.
Manufacturer tag, above left photo.
This tag is constructed of cotton and stitched on the inside of the right pocket. It is marked:
Jackets, Field, Wool O.D.
Stock No. 55-J-384-595
36 R
HERMAN D ORITSKY
P.O. No 11969
Dated June 9, 1944
Pattern Dated 5/10/44
Spec. P. Q. D. No. 43
Phila. Q. M. Depot

Left shoulder strap, right photo.
Both the left and right shoulder straps appear to have once had a clutch back insignia attached to them. The insignia is
no longer present. This may have been a Distinctive Insignia (DI) for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Right sleeve of service shirt, above left photo.
On the right sleeve is a hand sewn 82nd Airborne Division Service Sleeve Insignia (SSI).
Left sleeve of service shirt, right photo.
On the left sleeve is a machine sewn 17th Airborne Division Service Sleeve Insignia (SSI).
Inside right sleeve, above left photo.
Inside left sleeve, right photo.
Close-up of the "Para-Glide" insignia, left photo.
Inside of the cover, right photo.
Inside rear of the service shirt, above left photo.
On the inside of the shirt is hand written ZAKAS Z-0761. The size label is marked 15-33.