The patch was designed by Dick Spencer of the 3rd Battalion 517 PIR. Someone said it was made to look scrawny as a left handed salute to Colonel Graves.

It was never officially authorized as far as I know. Dick Spencer drew it and we did what ever we wanted or I should say could get away with.  I do not remember any official document stating where and when it would be worn on an article of uniform clothing. It was used mostly on invitations, papers, booklets etc. The 2nd Battalion scroll described in your message and shown in the First Airborne Task Force book is a new one on me. The only time I saw it was in the book. It was probably personally designed by the  wearer who had it made up by someone in Nice with a sewing machine.  Some of the men also had their long GI overcoats cut short and this too was unauthorized. I was standing beside Colonel Graves when he really got upset about the short overcoats and the blackened helmets that had been used for cooking rations etc. This event took place when the Regiment was making its foot march from the Maritime Alps
positions to La Colle-Sur-Loup outside of Nice. The end result of this was a rigid training cycle that commenced in earnest when we closed on Soissons before heading to Belgium and the Bulge.