- Manufactured by
- Unidentified
- Issued by
- United States Army, American, founded 1775
- Owned by
- Lieutenant Nicolls, Vernon O., American, 1909 - 2003
- Used by
- 758th Tank Battalion, American, 1941 - 1945
- Date
- 1942-1945
- Medium
- thread on canvas
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 3 1/2 × 4 × 1/4 in. (8.9 × 10.2 × 0.6 cm)
- Caption
- Vernon Nicolls was born in Barbados in 1909 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1915. During World War II, while living in Brooklyn, Nicolls enlisted as a Private in the Army at Fort Jay on Governor's Island, New York, in 1942. After graduating from Officer Candidate School, Lieutenant Nicolls served in Italy with the 758th Tank Battalion, the Army's first African American armored unit.
- Description
- An arm patch for the 758th Tank Battalion of the United States Army owned by Lt. Vernon O. Nicolls. The patch is in the shape of the 758th's distinctive unit insignia, the head of an African elephant with large white tusks. The elephant is embroidered in black thread and is outlined in white thread. The black and white embroidery threads are visible on the back of the patch. The edges of the back side of the patch have been covered with cotton canvas backing that has been stitched into place.
- Classification
- Awards, Medals, and Insignia
- Type
- patches (costume accessories)
- insignias
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kay L. Nicolls
- Object number
- 2014.142.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




