The Sixteenth Corps was activated on November
23rd, 1943, with Headquarters at Fort Riley, Kansas,
and trained a number of Divisions for overseas service
during the first eight months of 1944. The Corps conducted
winter maneuvers at Watersmeet, Michigan, in February and
March of 1944 and also made the first tactical tests on the
Weasel (an amphibious tracked vehicle) at Land O'Lakes before
embarking for the European theater in September of 1944.

The shoulder patch worn by the XVI Corps was approved by
the QMG on April 3rd, 1944, and the sixteen points
represent the unit's designation. The colors blue and
white are the Corps'colors while the compass rose is also
indicative of the readiness of the personnel of the Corps
to serve their country in any part of the world.