WW II-9th Infantry in Italy TB02

Please drop this item in rural OR Premium Member Only caches.  Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and prevents tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take the travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission is needed to leave the U.S.

Travel bug photos in the logs are appreciated.  I will re-post them here, where they can be seen by other cachers.

Replica Shoulder Patch. This travel bug is one of several made to recognize the US Army Divisions that fought in Sicily and mainland Italy in World War II.  In the Spring of 2014 the travel bug owner activated, dipped, then, in March and April, took the travel bugs to caches in Italy. Some of the bugs were released in Italy and some were brought back to the states to be put into circulation.

The 9th Infantry Division  was among the first U.S. combat units to engage in offensive ground operations during World War II.  In 1923, the Ninth Infantry Division adopted the "Octofoil" as its patch. The selection was a unique one, as the design dated back to the 15th Century, when it was customary for each son to have an individual mark of distinction. Perhaps "Octo", meaning "eight", is a bit confusing to many when speaking of the Ninth Division. But in foiling there are eight foils (positions) and heraldic rules gave the Octofoil to the ninth son, since it was symbolic for his being surrounded by eight brothers. This is the explanation of why this eight petaled insignia is correct for the Ninth Regular Army Division.

The 9th saw its first combat on 8 November 1942, when its elements landed at Algiers, Safi, and Port Lyautey.  The taking of Safi stands as the first liberation of a city from Axis control in World War II.  With the collapse of French resistance, the division patrolled the Spanish Moroccan border.  In August, the 9th landed at Palermo, Sicily, and took part in the capture of Randazzo and Messina.  With the capture of Italy the Division trained for the invasion at Normandy.