Honorable Service prior to 8 Sep 1939. A gold color metal lapel button 7/16 inch in height and 5/8 inch in width, a dexter eagle with wings displayed perched within a ring which displays seven white and six red vertical stripes with a blue chief bearing the words "National Defense," the dexter wing of the eagle behind the ring, the sinister wing in front of the ring.

        Honorable Service from 8 Sep 1939 through 31 Dec 1946. A gold color metal lapel button 7/16 inch in height and 5/8 inch in width, a dexter eagle with wings displayed perched within a ring which displays thirteen vertical stripes with a chief, the dexter wing of the eagle behind the ring, the sinister wing in front of the ring.

Background: The lapel button may be worn only by a person who served honorably prior to 8 Sep 1939, as an enlisted man, warrant officer, nurse, contract surgeon, veterinarian, or commissioned officer, in the Regular Army or a Citizen's Military Training Camp for 2 months, or in the National Guard, Enlisted Reserve Corps, or senior ROTC for 1 year, or in junior ROTC for 2 years.

In a May 1943, change to AR 600-35, the lapel button was described as being "all of blue plastic," and then in Army Regulation No. 600-35, change No. 26, dated 28 Jul 1943, a change prescribed "all of gold plated plastic." NOTE: The lapel button was created and produced during a period when the War Production Board had issued a restrictive order prohibiting the use of metal for the manufacture of such purposes. Therefore, plastic was decided upon for substitution and because of quick production. Originally a blue design was produced. As the work proceeded it was evident that the design would not be discernable against a blue suit. Before the lapel button was furnished to any individual, action was taken to gold plate all buttons. The words "National Defense" were also dropped from the description in the changes.

War Department Circulars 187 and 318, dated 19 Aug 1943 and 7 Dec 1943, respectively, provided for gratuitous issue of the button to Army personnel honorably discharged since 9 Sep 1939.

AR 600-35, dated 31 Mar 1944, lists the two lapel buttons with the different designs. In a directive dated 13 May 1944, the War Department General Staff authorized the Honorable Service Lapel Button to be manufactured in gold color metal or gold plated plastic. Change No 8, AR 600-35, 8 Aug 1946, states "For World War II Victory Medal, no lapel button prescribed. (The lapel button for service rendered since 8 Sep 1939, is used in lieu of a lapel button for World War II Victory Medal.)

On 24 Nov 1947, the lapel button for service rendered prior to 8 Sep 1939, is rescinded the only the lapel button for service rendered since 8 Sep 1939, was valid. The eligibility requirements for the Honorable Service Lapel Button are honorable federal military service between 8 Sep 1939 and 31 Dec 1946.

The Honorable Service Lapel Button has been referred to as the "ruptured duck." The reason for that name and the originator of the phrase are unknown, although many have claimed to originate the phrase.