Heraldry_The 503d "Rock Patch"


THE ROCK PATCH 3 _________________ Bob Flynn Paul Whitman	Illustrating how much variation can occur between conceptualization and production, this example differs, and fails, in almost every respect that can be judged. The Rock looks more like a whale. None of these patches comes close to deserving the description "Rock Patch."
		There's got to be a story about this one as it's such a bad example. I prefer not to use the word "replica" because every patch is an original in itself, and each has its own story. Yes, your eyes don't deceive you, it does indeed say THE ROOK. I saw this one on e-Bay.com. Like many eBay examples, it comes with the provenance of "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get). It has five risers. Any larger, and it would have looked like a bath mat.
	An attractive bullion patch which once belonged to Frank F. Capitelli. The eagle is probably one of the better rendered examples of any of the patches, which sets it apart from the 'sparrow and turkey cock patches.'
		This embroidered version is differentiated by the rectangular nature of the object suspended below the parachute. Maybe it's a weapons bundle.
	Another fine version of the way that a Vietnamese embroidery shop render a design cruder and less regal.

		The first and original McNeill-style patch was produced in the Philippines in 2005 as the result of cooperation furnished by Paul Whitman of this website to Paul O'Friel of the U.S. State Department in Manila. The Embassy, through O'Friel, wanted a 503d patch to be presented to the VIP's an dignitaries attending the 60th Anniversary of the official raising of the U.S. Flag on Corregidor, and approached this website. Together with Bob Flynn, Whitman was determined not to see another "sparrow-hawk" patch born, and they persuaded O'Friel to re-introduce the McNeill design to the 503d Lineage.

	A copy of the McNeill-style patch at last! This one is said to have been made in Afghanistan, and first appeared in 2010. It's the first use of yellow edging, rather than the usual red common in the older designs. Note the wording is "First Rock" and not "The Rock." - Funny, I thought the 503d PRCT of WWII was the daddy and grandaddy of all the subsequent Rock Regiments in the Lineage.

Corregidor Then and Now	Don Abbott	The Lost Road	Battlebook - Corregidor	Bulletin Board / Feedback Forum



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Last Updated: 20-09-13