C006120

Rectangular shaped pendant with blunted corners, pewter in color, 1 3/8 inches high x 7/8 inches wide.

505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

Nearly every profession, and many in the military, has its own patron saint. These figures are steeped in religious tradition and prose, but if the saying, "there are no atheists in foxholes," has any truth to it, they can be called on by anyone in moments of extreme stress. For airborne troops, saint Michael is the name spoken during these times. Saint Michael is a prominent figure in the Christian Bible, the Hebrew Bible, and the Quran. In the Hebrew language, the name Michael roughly translated to a question, "who is like God?" Primarily depicted as a warrior clad in armor, it's obvious why members of the military would speak his name or hold tokens bearing his image for protection.