Louis J. Schneider Military Personnel File -- Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge
Louis J. Schneider Military Personnel File: 10/17/1942 to 12/24/1945

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Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge

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Enlisted Record and Report of Separation
Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge
world war ii honorable discharge lapel pin 100x100

The Lapel Button mentioned above in section 55 of the discharge form was not with Dad's effects, but this is what the pin looks like. Here is an explanation of the pin:

World War II Honorable Discharge Lapel Buton

The Honorable Service Lapel Button, also known as the Honorable Service Lapel Pin, was awarded to United States military service members who were discharged under honorable conditions during World War II. The award was sometimes called the "Ruptured Duck". Designed by sculptor Anthony de Francisci, the button was awarded between September 1939 and December 1946 and was made of gilt brass, except during metal shortages when it was made of gilt plastic. Service members who received the plastic version were later allowed to trade it in for the brass version.

The button, which depicted an eagle inside a wreath, served as proof to military police that its wearer was not absent without leave. During World War II, members of the Armed Forces were not allowed to possess civilian clothes. The discharge insignia, embroidered onto a cloth lozenge and sewn on the right breast of the tunic [as seen on Dad's jacket], allowed its wearer to wear his or her uniform for up to thirty days subsequent to discharge. Some veterans wore the pin on their civilian lapels for many years after the war's end. It has since also appeared on a postage stamp to honor WWII veterans. [text and image taken from: https://www.usamm.com/products/wwii-honorable-discharge-pin ]