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Reclaimed History dog tag logoBefore it was history, it was someone’s life.Start a case

ARTIFACTS. EVIDENCE. PEOPLE.

Every uniform
holds a human story.

A patch. A ribbon. A name inside a coat.
Start with what you see—and uncover the person behind it.

Explore the Uniform Decoder →Already have a clue? Find it below ↓
U.S. MILITARY UNIFORMSWorld War I to the present

Visual identification. Real references. Stories grounded in evidence.

Preserved olive service coat of General Ira Eaker, displaying shoulder insignia and ribbons
LOOK CLOSER

Small details.
A life beyond the label.

Gen. Ira Eaker’s service coat · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The artifact includes later-career additions.

YOUR RESEARCH, TOGETHER

Open a case. Follow the evidence.

Keep the person, artifacts, dated findings and unanswered questions in one place as you investigate.

Start or continue a case →

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND?

Let the details lead.

You do not need to know a military term to begin. Choose the detail you can see, then compare the possibilities.

01
Close-up of real military award ribbons

Ribbon finder

Follow the colors.

Choose colors or build a stripe sequence. Compare possible awards and learn what each one recognizes.

225 award references
02
101st Airborne Division eagle patch reference

Unit patch finder

Find the organization.

Narrow the possibilities by color, shape, symbols, numbers or wording. Check the design against its historical period.

325 patch references
03
WWII Army staff sergeant chevron reference

Rank finder

Read the rank.

Compare bars, leaves, eagles, stars and stripes. Count chevrons and curved rockers, then check the service and date.

227 rank and chart references
04
Army marksmanship badge comparison

Marksmanship finder

Read the qualification.

Compare badge shapes, RIFLE and PISTOL labels, hanging weapon bars, ribbons and competition badges by service and date.

Badge and weapon-bar references
Have a challenge coin? Search its words, symbols and unit in the growing coin catalog →Something else? Browse badges, wings, cords, tabs and other markings →

FROM OBJECT TO PERSON

Look closely.
Make the connection.

A visual match is a starting point. The next step is finding evidence that connects the artifact to a person.

Keep the evidence in a case file →
  1. 01

    Observe

    Notice color, shape, wording and location. Record what is actually there.

  2. 02

    Compare

    Use sourced pictures and dated references. Save possible matches.

  3. 03

    Verify

    Check names, service records and assignments. Separate a unit’s history from a person’s experience.

  4. 04

    Tell the story

    Bring your findings together. Cite the evidence and explain what remains unknown.

KNOW THE SERVICE?

Start with a branch.

Explore ranks, qualifications and identifying marks in their service and time period.

ArmyNavyMarine CorpsAir Force & predecessorsCoast GuardSpace Force
Archival photograph of Harry S. Truman wearing an Army uniform in France in 1918
Harry S. Truman, France, 1918 · Truman Library photograph 77-4 ↗

WHY RECLAIMED HISTORY?

History belongs
to people.

Reclaimed History helps students, families and curious researchers make sense of the objects people leave behind. It begins with military uniforms and the small details that can open a larger story.

Created by teacher Aimee Wilson, this project pairs visual tools with museum collections, government photography and historical references. The goal is to help you observe carefully, ask better questions and support the story you tell.

Explore the sources & reference library ↗
About images, identification and your notes

Historical artifacts and modern comparison images are labeled in the decoder. Image credits and source links stay with their entries. A visual match does not establish personal identity, entitlement to an award, or participation in a campaign.

Case files and their images stay in this browser; download a case backup to preserve them. Decoder clues stay in the current tab until you import them into a case. Nothing is published from your case file.