The Third Army was on active duty in the Southern United States when the United States entered WW II. Between 1932 and 1944, Headquarters for the Army alternated between Fort Sam Houston, Texas (where the VIII Corps HQ was located), and Atlanta, Georgia (where the IV Corps HQ was located), depending upon which Corps had the senior officer. On January 25-26, General George Patton assumed command of the Army. In July of 1944, the Army Headquarters moved to the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France. After heavy fighting in Brittany, the Third Army broke loose and raced across France crossing the Moselle River and cutting into the German winter defensive positions. Under Patton's brilliant leadership, elements of the Third Army raced 150 miles in 19 hours to attack the southern flank of the German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. After four days of fighting, the German siege of Bastogne was broken and the last major German offensive of WW II was brought to an end. The Third Army then forged the Rhine River, crossed Germany and the Danube River, and finally reached Czechoslovakia before the war ended. A total of six Army Corps and 41 U.S. and Allied Divisions were under the control of the Third Army for different periods. The Third remained on occupation duty in Germany after the war until March of 1947 when the units returned home (less personnel and equipment) for duty as a territorial Army with Headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia. Inactivated 1 October 1973 at Fort McPherson, Georgia when the U. S. Army Forces Command was activated. Reactivated in July 1982 at Fort McPherson, Georgia to serve as the Command and Control for the Army elements of the joint services Rapid Deployment Forces.

The shoulder patch for the third Army was approved on December 20, 1918, while the Third Army was assigned to the American Expeditionary Force. The colors of the patch are the National Colors, and the design of the patch forms the letters "AO" for "Army of Occupation" to honor the post WW I mission that the Army was given.

The most common Airborne Tabs seen are the black/yellow and blue/white ones used on the first two Airborne Divisions - the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division respectfully. These tabs were authorized on 15 August 1942 when these two Infantry Divisions were converted to Airborne Divisions.

The other Airborne Divisions using the black and yellow tab were the 13th and 17th. The 11th Airborne Division used the blue and white Airborne Tab. These same two tabs were used by many Airborne Regiments, Battalions and Regimental Combat Teams and have become very familiar to anyone who is interested in the use of military insignia.

There were also five non-existing Airborne Divisions that all used the black and yellow Airborne Tab. These were the 6th, 9th, 18, 21st and 135th Phantom Airborne Divisions of Operation Fortitude. Although the complete records on this operation are still not available, it is known that during the period between July 1944 and August 1945 insignia were approved for one Army, two Corps and 20 Divisions that did not exist. Headquarters were set-up among all these phantom units with lots of radio traffic for the many known German agents in England to intercept. There were also reports of GI's going on leave in England being issued these Phantom Insignia to display to anyone watching for clues of new units being formed or assembled.

History tells us that Operation Fortitude was very successful. The German high command held 60 Divisions in reserve in the Pas-de-Calais area of Europe waiting for the "real" allied invasion to take place. It was not until late July, well after the Normandy invasion was consolidated, that the Allies held a firm grip on the Brittany Peninsula and had turned General George S. Patton's Third Army loose to race across France. The Germans finally realized that Normandy was the real invasion.

The authorization to wear the Army Airborne Tab is different from the other Army qualification tabs used. For instance, the Ranger Tab is authorized for wear by any soldier who has completed the Ranger course. This is the reason Ranger Tabs are worn alone without a patch or above a variety of different patches.

The Army Airborne Tab is authorized as a unit qualification tab for use by authorized airborne units only. It is not an individual qualification tab. The Airborne Tab is always worn above a shoulder sleeve insignia.

A point often overlooked, in referring to Airborne Tabs, is that the background color is always referred to first, then the color of the lettering. Without this standard, it would be very difficult and confusing to keep track of the tabs.

Two of the less found, or seldom seen, Airborne Tabs ever used were the white and red Airborne Tab used during World War II by the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, as well as other Army Airborne Engineer units, and the the blue and gray (off white) Airborne Tab used by the 5th Air Force Para-Rescue unit in the Southwest Pacific.

Of course, one of the most common Airborne Tabs seen today is the subdued tab worn on the BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) or camo's. This green and black tab is worn on the BDU's in place of all the different colored Airborne Tabs and was authorized for use with subdued insignia in 1966.

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