Manufactured by
Unidentified
Issued by
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Owned by
Lieutenant Nicolls, Vernon O., American, 1909 - 2003
Subject of
758th Tank Battalion, American, 1941 - 1945
Date
1942-1945
Medium
enamel on silver with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 1 1/4 × 15/16 × 1/4 in. (3.1 × 2.4 × 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
A pin for the 758th Tank Battalion of the United States Army owned by Lt. Vernon O. Nicolls. The pin is rectangular in shape with a rounded bottom edge. The pin is silver with white and black enamel. The pin’s main design element is a white enameled shield shape with the 758th's distinctive unit insignia, the head of an African elephant with large white tusks, centrally depicted. The elephant’s head is enameled in black with white enameled tusks that have been outlined in silver. Below the elephant insignia is the 758th's motto, [WE PIERCE], written in silver, against a black enameled banner. The back side of the pin has a vertically oriented safety closure pin that had been soldered to the pin at each end. There is a stamped mark located just above the bottom pin closure that reads: [[---?] / STERLING].
Place used
Italy, Europe
Classification
Awards, Medals, and Insignia
Type
pins (fasteners)
Topic
Men
Military
World War II
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Kay L. Nicolls
Object number
2014.142.3
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd57183025c-571a-49d9-b4c6-eb1e17d5d148

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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