Teamwork, Firepower, Responsibility Teamwork, Firepower,
ResponsibilitySergeants became a vital element in the combined
arms formations of World War II. The increase in firepower and
growth in the size of a squad, from eight men led by a corporal
to a twelve-man unit led by a sergeant, placed greater emphasis
on leadership skills. In fact, the team shown here in late 1944
boasted greater combat power than a Civil War regiment. It pairs
an M4 tank crew with a basic infantry squad, both commanded by
sergeants. Its firepower includes the tank's cannon, several
machine guns, a Browning automatic rifle (BAR), and the
infantrymen's semiautomatic Garands. Sergeants and corporals in
combat units during World War II continued to wear chevrons of
the 1920 pattern, although the Army had changed most of the
other items of clothing. Olive drab wool shirts and trousers of
a lighter shade were rapidly supplemented by heavier garments in
cold weather. New replacements often entered the line with the
M1943 olive drab field ja