tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340335897594941637.post1961637311649398113..comments2024-03-29T07:16:56.810+00:00Comments on Sean Linnane: A FELLOW MELBURNIANSTORMBRINGERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18405613458419510116noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340335897594941637.post-45757704388220023802010-03-13T17:07:16.722+00:002010-03-13T17:07:16.722+00:00Actually, Sean's explanation is correct, with ...Actually, Sean's explanation is correct, with some minor additions.<br /><br />ALL officer's rank was available in both gold and silver, depending on the borders. COL, LTC, CPT, and 1LT were all gold (with silver borders on the shoulder straps) for infantry, silver (with gold shoulder strap borders) for everyone else. They standardized on the gold borders (meaning silver for all the ranks except Major) becuase there were more non-Infantry officers.<br /><br />Until WWI, 2LT didn't wear any rank. They picked gold becuase it fell in line with what they had been doing for decades with Major/Lt. Col.<br /><br />GeodkytAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340335897594941637.post-80452639837780827212010-03-12T23:24:17.826+00:002010-03-12T23:24:17.826+00:00As a crusty old warrant officer explained it to me...As a crusty old warrant officer explained it to me: A lieutenant while valuable is still very maleable, hence the gold bar; once he has a bit of experience he still has value but is far less maleable, hence the silver bar. A captain has twice the value of a lieutenant, hence the two silver bars. Colonels soar with the eagles and Generals are like unto the stars. Which brings us back to majors and lt. colonels, that symbolism goes clear back to the Garden of Eden. We've always had to cover our p***ks with leaves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6340335897594941637.post-86466364005964233472010-03-12T20:55:50.251+00:002010-03-12T20:55:50.251+00:00Both gold & silver are historical precious met...Both gold & silver are historical precious metals; gold is the heaviest, therefore "lower" than silver, and the basic metals are found in the ground (hence the bars). The oak leaves are found in trees or, once fallen, just on the surface (hence "higher" than bars). Eagles fly above the trees...and stars are higher still.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com