Item

A WWII-era American Legion overseas cap (garrison / side cap) from the Department of Iowa, Post 223, named to a specific Legionnaire — F.J. Koch — hand-inscribed on the leather sweatband. A handsome, well-made veteran's cap in navy blue wool with gold trim and full embroidered devices.

The left front carries the embroidered American Legion emblem in gold and blue, with "IOWA" below it, and the right front is embroidered with the post number "223." The crown edge and front curtain are finished with gold piping and soutache trim. The interior has a yellow satin lining and a leather sweatband gold-stamped "NATIONAL EMBLEM SALES / NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS / THE AMERICAN LEGION / INDIANAPOLIS," with the owner's name, F.J. Koch, written inside. The cap shows honest age with light wear, minor lint and toning, but remains solid and displays very well.

Design

The American Legion overseas cap is closely patterned on the military side cap, reflecting the organization's founding by veterans. Caps were personalized by department (state) and post, with the Legion emblem, state name, and post number embroidered directly on the wool. Trim color carried meaning within the organization: gold/yellow trim like this is associated with post-level officers, distinguishing a post commander or officer from the plain-trimmed cap of a general member. The National Emblem Sales stamp inside marks it as an official Legion product from the organization's Indianapolis headquarters, and the wool construction, leather sweatband, and directly-embroidered devices are consistent with 1940s / WWII-era manufacture.

Sizing note: no scale reference photo was included and no numeric hat size is clearly visible; the cap is a standard adult overseas-cap form. Measurements can be provided on request.

History

The American Legion was founded in 1919 by returning veterans of the First World War and, by the Second World War, had become the largest wartime-veterans service organization in the United States. As millions of WWII servicemen came home, Legion posts across the country swelled with a new generation of veterans. A named WWII-era cap like this connects directly to an individual member, F.J. Koch of Iowa Post 223, who wore it to meetings, parades, funerals, and memorial services. These caps are quintessential Americana — the everyday regalia of the men who served their country overseas and then kept serving their communities at home. A great, very displayable piece for a WWII, veterans' organization, or Iowa local-history collection.

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