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Hi Guys,

We talked about bumper numbers/letters a few months ago I know. I've been looking over the literature and books, and looking at people's trucks.....and to tell you the truth I'm more confused than ever. A lot of what I' seeing on people's truck isn't following the guidelines I read.....or I'm just not getting it. So instead of drawing this out I'm just going to swallow my pride and ask you to tell me what I should be painting on my bumpers.

I made a surprise appearance at the family get together on Thanksgiving and talked to my dad about when he was in the Army. Turns out he was a paratrooper in the 7th Division, 32nd Infantry, A Company from 1955 to 1957. He wasn't sure if there M37s in his company or not.

My intent here is to put the correct identification markings on the bumper of my M to replicate an M in his company at the time. So we're talking 7th Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment, A Company.....and we can make up a vehicle number....say 14. So to do that can anyone tell me what should I should be stenciling on my bumper for that? My best guess is 7-32 on the right side of the bumper and A-14 on the left.

thanks,
bob

You are very much correct about people not following the guidelines that you are reading. If your following the TM for markings of Military vehicles, you are right on track.

Bob, I followed what should be correct for 60s vintage. Left front bumper B-12. Why B-12 is company Bravo and from what I gleaned the number following should be number 8 through 13 which shows where it would be in a convoy. The following picture shows the right front and it represents my unit in Vietnam. 25th Infantry Division, 1st of the 5th (Mechanized) Regiment. Hope this helps and it would be nice to use your Dad's unit markings.

7-32I on passingers side on front bumber and drivers side on rear bumberett. A- (pick a number) on drivers side front bumber, passingers side rear bumberett.

That is a capital i behind the 32 for Infantry.

I served with the 7th Infantry 20 years after your dad-for what it's worth, the 7th at the time I served would have been 7I32INF on the passenger side then A- (pick a number) on the driver's side, as Joe advised.
Gary

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the input. I think we're getting close. Here's what we have......

K8:...............7-32I...........A-14
Cal Gary:........7I-32INF.......A-14
My 1st Guess:..7-32............A-14

My 2nd Guesses.....7-32-I...........A-14 (manual says you need a dash between the 32 and the "I" for infantry)
.......................7-32AB..........A-14
.......................7AB-32AB.......A-14
.......................7AB-32-I........A-14

Not to say that anyone is wrong, as it seems this vehicle marking thing is a bit open to interpretation, but here's how I came up with my 4 choices for my second guess. From the manual.....

The unit identification markings are divided into 4 basic categories:
1. Major command, organisation, activity.
2. Intermediate organisation or activity.
3. Unit or activity.
4. Vehicle number.

**** I'm not worrying about the Unit Activity or Vehicle Number.......as we all agree on that

Major Command, Organisation, or Activity are as follows:
1. Division. Arabic numeral is assigned, followed by the following applicable symbol:
a. Airborne. Letters AB.
b. Armoured. Equilateral triangle with base down.

**** Ok, there's no symbol listed for "Infantry"......so I'm saying the first Digit is a "7" all by itself. Now my Dad was a paratrooper, so that's Airborne, right? But (I'm guessing) 7th Division was made up of infantry and airborne and probably some other things. So I'm not sure if the first Digit is really a "7" all by itself or "7AB" for 7th Division Airborne. Hence my first two guesses. Or as Cal Gary pointed out mayve there there should be an "I" after the "7" and maybe they just didn't list a code for infantry. I don't know if being a paratrooper in the infantry was higher up the ladder than being in Airborne. Or maybe not all paratroopers were in Airborne? Sorry I'm so clueless on this stuff. But that's how I got the 4 possible first digit combos. But hold on.....it gets more complicated.....

Intermediate Organisation or Activity is as follows:
1. Regiment, Battalion, Separate Company or Detachment, or Similar Unit. Arabic numeral as assigned, followed by the applicable branch of service symbol.
a. Airborne. Letters AB.
b. Infantry. Letter I, to be separated from the numeral by a dash 1/2 inch long.

**** More complicated like I said. Dad says he was in "32nd Infantry"....but he was a paratrooper. So should the second Digit be "32AB" for 32nd Infantry Airborne....or "32-I" for 32nd Infantry and we took care of the Airborne in the first Digit with "7AB"? That's how I'm getting the 2 choices for the second digit.

****Looking at the examples below (from the manual) what I see is that they don't use an "I" with the first digit to denote infantry. Look at examples 1,2 and 4, which are Infantry divisions. In example 5 they list an Airborne division (82nd Airborne), but I don't think 7th Division was known as the 7th Airborne, since it had infantry also. So my choices with the first digit "7AB" are suspect. There are no examples of a division with both infantry and airborne regiments in it shown.....so that's where my problem lies.

Examples:

1. 25-1B27-C-3. 25th Inf Div, lst Battle GP of 27th Inf, Co C, 3d vehicle.
2. 4-2R8-A-6. 4th Inf Div, 2d Recon Sq of 8th Cav, Trp A, 6th vehicle.
3. 3 -1 -32-B-7. 3d Armd Div, lst Tk Bn of 32d Armor, Co B, 7th vehicle.
4. 10-2F7-C-2. 10th Inf Div, 2d Bn of 7th FA, Btry C, 2d vehicle.
5. 82AB-32OF-D-5. 82d Abn Div, 320th FA, Btry D, 5th vehicle.
6. 2 -1-150-A-8. 2d Armd Div, lst AR Bn of 50th Inf, Co A, Sth vehicle.

The unit identification markings will be applied on one line, whenever possible, and will consist of each of the four basic categories described above, in the same order, and separated by dashes 1 inch long. Where space is limited, requiring the use of two lines, the Major Command marking will appear directly above the Intermediate Activity, and the Unit Identification will appear directly above the Vehicle Number. The first two categories will appear to the left of the last two categories. The following arrangements are permitted:
1. f (1) --- f (2) --- f (3) --- f (4)
2. f (1) --- f (2) --- --- f (3) --- f (4)

So based on what I'm reading that's how I come up with these 4 choices;

7-32-I A-14
7-32AB A-14
(Probably wrong) 7AB-32AB A-14
(Probably wrong) 7AB-32-I A-14

So really what I'm saying is I need more a little more help. Again, not saying anyone is wrong, I really appreciate your inputs on this one.....but following the manual exactly seems a bit hard to do without more insight. So please jump right in and let me know where I'm going wrong on this stuff.

thanks,
bob

In the grand scheme of things Gary, you and I are all perfectly correct. If we could time travel to when your father was in and look at vehicles within the command we would probably see all three ways and maybe a few more. In my 20+ years of involvement with the military I can say this. There is the way the manual says to do it. Then there is the Sargent's way to do it. Believe me when I tell you Private Snuffy did it the way Sarge told him to do it.

Go with your first Guess Bob. But 7AB would not be correct and that will cause someone bolt counter to get his shorts in a knot.

Joe

Thanks for the help Joe. What you say makes perfect sense.

regards,
bob