From cobras to gators, reptilian mascots and call signs appear on patches, aircraft and unit logos across every branch. Why?

Every unit patch — officially the “shoulder sleeve insignia” — has a storied history behind it. It’s the hallmark of your newfound home in the Army and defines the mission you’ve been trained to do.

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea -- A box of patches and medals sits on a dusty shelf in the family study. A young man accepts the lieutenant’s bars placed on his shoulders, as an older man wearing a ...