The 5th RCT was a Regular Army unit and the
five sides of the patch suggest the unit's number.
The device was originally used to mark the unit's
equipment. During the Korean War, the 5th RCT saw
a considerable amount of combat action (even the
mess sergeants) and earned many unit decorations.
The tab was not approved by the U.S. Army Institute
of Heraldry and is unofficial.