On a blue oval 3 1/4 inches (8.26 cm) in height and 2 1/4 inches (5.72 cm) in width two lightning flashes issuing chevronwise reversed in red, fimbriated in yellow, flanked by two pieces of chain in yellow in similar position and broken in base, between and integral with the two arms of the flashes a red border outside diameter 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) fimbriated in yellow, inside invected of six 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) circumscribing diameter, on a white background charged with a blue five-pointed star, one point up, 3/4 inch (1.91 cm) in diameter.
The twin lightning flashes represent the ground and air forces "breaking the chain now enslaving Europe." They also form the "V" for "Victory" symbol which was common to both the United States and British forces. The star on a white background was with red border was the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Army Service Forces and has its origin in the crest of the Coat of Arms of the United States and involves the use of the national colors of red, white and blue.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the European Theater of Operations on 25 February 1944. It was redesignated for the Communications Zone Personnel, European Theater of Operations on 21 March 1945.