The story behind the PJ Angel of Mercy emblem

This is a brief story straight out from the designer of the Pararescue "Angel of Mercy" or also known as the "Guardian Angel" emblem.

Hello,

I created the modern Angel of Mercy logo in 2001 for use as a trademark on PARARESCUE.COM. I wanted to create something that was similar to the official Pararescue emblem but could also be worn by PJ’s, friends, family, and supporters alike without intruding on the sanctity and honor associated with the official emblem.

Early in 2002, the incoming Commander of the newly re-activated 58th Rescue Squadron asked for my permission to use the modern Angel of Mercy trademark in their new Squadron Patch. Of course, I was completely honored and granted an unrestricted license for the 58th RQS to use the logo as the central element of their emblem.

In 2008 I applied for the registered trademark status of the logo with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in Class 25 – Clothing to deter other companies, organizations, and individuals from using the mark for purposes other than what it was originally intended for. The registered trademark (USPTO Serial #77554920) was awarded to Military Shirts, Inc. and added to the Principal Register on June 20, 2010.

Over the past decade-plus, the modern Angel of Mercy trademark has seen widespread adoption across the entire Pararescue Community. I’m humbled, proud, and honored to have contributed to our history and culture in this small way.

I hereby publicly grant anyone that wants to use the modern Angel of Mercy trademark for any Pararescue related purposes an unrestricted use license for anything other than clothing items (the USPTO Class for which the trademark was registered) from Military Shirts, Inc. While we reserve all rights to our trademark in Class 25 – Clothing, we are often unaware of infringements and are not able to defend our trademark from counterfeiters in all cases. I would appreciate the assistance of the Pararescue Community in maintaining the integrity of the mark as a symbol of Pararescue.

If anyone would like to produce clothing items using the logo, I would appreciate it if you would consider supporting Military Shirts, Inc. and our mission to support veterans and military-related causes. We have a full catalog of customizable apparel items and offer screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment, and thermal transfer decorating services. Please call +1 (866) 685-0221, email info@militaryshirts.com, or visit www.militaryshirts.com for more information. 

Sincerely,

Rich Hillard
U.S. Air Force Pararescue
1993-1999

USAF 33rd RQS / Korea CSAR Patch

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Korea Combined Rescue Team Patch

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF Foal Eagle 91' Patch

USAF Foal Eagle Exercise 1991 / That Others May Live Patch

Pretty rare piece. Made in Korea, 1991

Foal Eagle is a combined field training exercise (FTX) conducted annually by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces under the auspices of the Combined Forces Command. It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world. Foal Eagle has been a source of friction with the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and domestic ROK critics. Foal Eagle is an exercise conducted by the US and ROK armed forces, consisting of rear area security and stability operations, onward movement of critical assets to the forward area, special operations, ground maneuver, amphibious operations, combat air operations, maritime action group operations and counter special operations forces exercises (CSOFEX)

US Air Force (USAF) Pararescue Airmen from the 33rd Rescue Squadron (RQS), Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan, deployed to Osan Air Base, Korea, in support of Exercise FOAL EAGLE, check their gear as they prepare for a mission. The AIRMAN on the left is armed with a 9 mm M9 Pistol and the AIRMAN on the right is armed with an M-4 Carbine with an M203 40 mm grenade launcher attached. In the background is their HH-60G Pave Hawk.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 33rd RQS / Osan PR Detachment Patch Set

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Osan, AB - Korea / Personnel Recovery Detachment Patch Set

The story behind these pieces comes when in early 2019 (due to the missile crisis that escalated in between North Korea and the United States), the Pentagon decided to secretly reinforce some key components of the Air Force in South Korea in order to quickly respond to an escalating conflict in between the two Koreas and specially the United States. As part of these augmented teams in Osan, AB the 33rd RQS from Kadena, AB Japan sent a detachment to Osan to remain there in case they were needed. This was a very sensitive mission with an (undisclosed) amount of aircraft/personnel but its believed also Pararescue personnel from the 31st RQS was involved in this assignment.

The patch is based on the old design from the 3rd ERS (Emergency Rescue Squadron) emblem during World War II. The group was first activated during World War II as the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron at Keesler Field, Mississippi. After training on the Gulf Coast, the squadron moved to the
Southwest Pacific Theater in the fall of 1944, and served in combat until the surrender of Japan, earning a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After the war, the squadron moved to Japan, where it became part of the occupation forces and was located there when the Korean War began. It again served in combat, expanding to become the 3rd Air Rescue Group in 1952, and earning two Distinguished Unit Citations and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations during the war. The group was inactivated in 1957 when Air Rescue Service eliminated its groups and assigned its squadrons directly to its regional rescue centers.

The group was organized again at Tan Son Nhut Airport in 1966 as the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, to command the United States Air Force rescue units engaged in the War in Vietnam. It participated in every campaign after 1966, winning an additional four Presidential Unit Citations, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device and two Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm during combat in Southeast Asia. When the United States withdrew from Vietnam, the group moved its headquarters to Thailand and, after participating in the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon, was inactivated there in 1976.

I was looking for these pieces since they were secretly made and since then couldn't release even a picture of it on request of the people involved in this operation. This VERY RARE set made in Korea 2019 was kindly donated to the collection by Col. Mempo Shiue. Also an special thanks to my friend AMR from the Jolly Green Giant Collection for some of the information on these pieces. 

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 33rd RQS / Korea Combined Rescue Team Patch Set

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Korea Combined Rescue Team / That Others May Live / Tan - OCP Patch Set

Made in Korea. Circa 2019.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 21st STS / Green Feet Patch

USAF 21st Special Tactics Squadron / Green Feet Patch

Never seen this piece before, not sure about the meaning in Latin of "Sanuset Fortis" and "RES"... 

Made in Afghanistan. Circa 2017/9'.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 18th OG / Pararescue / Shogun Warriors Challenge Coin

USAF 18th Operations Group / Pararescue / Shogun Warriors / ZZ (Tail Code) Challenge Coin

The 18th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 18th Wing, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. The 18th OG is the largest combat operations group in the Air Force with eight squadrons, one flight, 842 active-duty members and approximately 80 aircraft, including the F-15 Eagle, E-3 Sentry, KC-135 Stratotanker and the HH-60 Pave Hawk. 

The group's nine squadrons (Tail Code: ZZ) and flight include:

18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES)

18th Operations Support Squadron (OSS)

44th Fighter Squadron (FS) (F-15 Eagle)

67th Fighter Squadron (FS) (F-15 Eagle)

31st Rescue Squadron (RQS)

33rd Rescue Squadron (RQS) (HH-60G Pave Hawk)

623d Air Control Flight (ACF)

909th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) (KC-135R Stratotanker)

961st Airborne Air Control (AACS) (E-3 Sentry)

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF Pararescue / Skull Beret / PJ Creed Challenge Coin

USAF Pararescue / Skull Beret / PJ Creed Challenge Coin

Nice and heavy challenge coin. Circa 2019

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

US Army / F Co. - 2B - 135th GSAB / CSAR / Afghanistan 2019

US Army / F Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation Battalion / Combat Search and Rescue / CH-47 / Afghanistan 2019. 

The 2-135th GSAB flies a variety of missions, from security operations to disaster relief. They might be transporting troops or aiding medical evacuations. Every member of aviation, from pilots to crew chiefs to mechanics, is vital to accomplishing a mission. Every helicopter has its own team of mechanics to ensure it’s always running efficiently. In the event of a natural disaster, Guard pilots drop water and food and save those in harm’s way. They are trained to fly in any weather and take off or land in high-risk situations. In this case, the US Army partnered with the USAF to achieve the highest level of personnel recovery in Afghanistan since 2018, combining forces with the 83rd ERQS. A very rare and historical piece! Made in the USA. Circa 2019. 

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

320th STS / OCP Patch

320th Special Tactics Squadron / New OCP Patch

Made in Korea. Circa 2019.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 33rd RQS / Jolly Green Flight Test Patch

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Jolly Green Flight Test / Sky Quest AVN Patch

Made in Korea.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 130th RQS / Catalina Wine Mixer Patch

USAF 130th Rescue Squadron / Catalina Wine Mixer / "Future me problems" Patch

Got no idea where this one came from, but it looks like a quote from Will Ferrell's movie "Step Brothers" (2001). The Catalina Wine Mixer was established as an annual event in 2015 after the wildly popular Catalina Wine Mixer scene from this movie.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 943rd Rescue Group / Pararescue Patch

USAF 943rd Rescue Group / Pararescue - Airborne / Have a nice day; Someplace else Patch

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 211th RQS / Alaska Air National Guard / New OCP Patch

USAF 211th Rescue Squadron / Alaska Air National Guard / New OCP Patch

New OCP 2019 version.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 33rd RQS / Keep Calm Patch

USAF 33rd Rescue Squadron / Keep Calm. Rescue On / HH-60G Patch

This is the original and hard to find version (Since there are lots of knockoffs out there)

Made in Korea. Circa 2018/9'.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF CSAR Commander Patch

USAF CSAR / Rescue Mission Commander Patch

Never seen this patch before, any info?

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF Sikorsky HH-60G / Pavehawk Challenge Coin

USAF / Sikorsky HH-60 Pavehawk Helicopter / Military Aircraft Shaped Challenge Coin

Circa 2019

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 22nd STS Patch

USAF 22nd Special Tactics Squadron Patch

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you!

USAF 46th ERQS / HH-60G / Jolly Green Giant Patch

USAF 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron /  OCP Colour / Jolly Green Patch

This is a patch that was used by crews from the 66th RQS when based in Southeast Asia operating HH-60G's for the 46th ERQS. The reason you can tell: the design of the giant, as this design is unique to the 66th RQS (easy to ID if you know). The change in the design of the giant was done by a co-pilot who ordered the patches and thought the design of the giant was more detailed and to be honest, the face has more detail than previous embroidered versions which makes the patch easy to ID as the slightly different version ties it to the 66th.

The Black color edge started with the 66th having the idea and then was transferred to the 41st so they now use it. The black border is an instructor patch. Two commanders ago, he wanted a way that anyone in the unit could know who was an instructor and who they could go to for questions just by looking at them. Now, once you go through the instructor upgrade course back at the schoolhouse in Albuquerque, NM the commander of the 66th pulls you in front of the squadron, congratulates you and gives you your instructor patch. To the best of my knowledge, this is a 66th only thing. Unless other units have picked up on it but we’ve only started it in 2016 so it’s still fairly new. 

A huge thanks to my friend and fellow collector AMR from the Jolly Green Giant Collection for the donation and information of this piece.

Crews prepare a Squadron HH-60 for the upcoming night shift. (USAF Photo by SSgt David Carbajal)

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you.

WANTED!: USAF HH-60W / CSAR / Jolly Green Patch

WANTED!: USAF HH-60W / Combat Rescue / Jolly Green PVC Patch

A very rare and probably the true first patch made for the new HH-60W Pave Hawk helicopter program. Circa July 2019.

Got information about it? Got it? Want to sell or trade? Contact me below (comments) with your email address and I´ll get back to you ASAP! Thank you.