Issue Regulations
All Armed Forces Honorable Service Lapel Button All Armed Forces
GENERAL INFORMATION: The War Department adopted this honorable discharge emblem for wear on the uniform of all military personnel who are discharged or separated from the service under honorable conditions. The emblem will supercede all previously authorized Honorable Discharge emblems and devices. This pin will be worn as a badge of honor indicative of honest and faithful service while a member of the Armed Forces. At the time of honorable discharge or separation from the service, the emblem will be permanently affixed on the right breast of all the outer clothing centered immediately above the pocket with the long axis of the lozenge horizontal. Honorable Discharge status is awarded to personnel killed in action.
DESCRIPTION: A gold color metal lapel button 7/16 inch in height and 5/8 inch in width, a dexter eagle with wings displayed perched within a ring which displays thirteen vertical stripes with a chief, the dexter wing of the eagle behind the ring, the sinister wing in front of the ring.
Background: The lapel button may be worn only by a person who served honorably.
War Department General Order No 13., dated 9 Jun 1925, authorized the wearing of the badge by individuals named and fully described by the design of the badge. It was also described in Regulations No 600-35, dated 31 Dec 1926, but was not illustrated in the Regulations until 10 Nov 1941.
In a May 1943 the lapel button was described as being "all of blue plastic," and then on 28 Jul 1943 a change prescribed "all of gold plated plastic." NOTE: The lapel button was created and produced during a period when the War Production Board had issued a restrictive order prohibiting the use of metal for the manufacture of such purposes. Therefore, plastic was decided upon for substitution and because of quick production. Originally a blue design was produced. As the work proceeded it was evident that the design would not be discernable against a blue suit. Before the lapel button was furnished to any individual, action was taken to gold plate all buttons. The words "National Defense" were also dropped from the description in the changes.
War Department Circulars 187 and 318, dated 19 Aug 1943 and 7 Dec 1943, respectively, provided for gratuitous issue of the button to personnel honorably discharged since 9 Sep 1939.
In a directive dated 13 May 1944, the War Department General Staff authorized the Honorable Service Lapel Button to be manufactured in gold color metal or gold plated plastic.
On 24 Nov 1947, the lapel button for service rendered prior to 8 Sep 1939, is rescinded the only the lapel button for service rendered since 8 Sep 1939, was valid.
The Honorable Service Lapel Button has been referred to as the "ruptured duck." The reason for that name and the originator of the phrase are unknown, although many have claimed to originate the phrase.
Congress has set no expiration date for "The Duck". The "Duck" replaces all previously issued Honorable Discharge lapel pins or buttons.
Honorable Discharge Emblem, khaki Honorable Discharge Emblem, Olive Drab
Khaki Emblem
Olive Drab Emblem
Description: A device of woven material consisting of a lozenge background 1 1/2 inches in height and 3 inches in width, long axis horizontal and the design of the lapel button for service since 8 Sep 1939 in golden yellow. The ring of the design is 1 inch in diameter. The background will be of olive drab for wear on the enlisted man's service coat the other woolen outer garments, and of khaki for wear on the summer shirt.
Background: According to Circular No. 454 dated 29 Nov 1944, the War Department adopted an honorable discharge emblem for wear on the uniform of all military personnel who are discharged or separated from the service under honorable conditions. The emblem will be worn as a badge of honor indicative of honest and faithful service while a member of the Armed Forces. At the time of honorable discharge or separation from the service, the emblem will be permanently affixed on the right breast of all the outer clothing centered immediately above the pocket with the long axis of the lozenge horizontal.
