83rd Distinctive Unit Insignia
Insignia of the 83rd Division's units
Distinctive Insignia (DI's) are small enameled metal insignia, chosen and worn by most regiment or battalion-sized units. More than 2000 different designs had been authorized between 1923 and 1943. On January 2, 1943, owing to more than a thousand designs pending approval and the general shortage of strategic metals such as brass, the War Department suspended all further orders for distinctive insignia. However more insignia were unofficialy designed afterwards and privatly purchased by individual soldiers.
According to regulations, Enlisted men wore distinctive insignia on the left front of the garrison cap, and on each lapel of the woolen service coat or Ike jacket. Officers wore distinctive insignia on the shoulder loops of the service coat. It was also pinned on the left side of the officer's garrison cap until August 1942, when it was replaced by rank insignia.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia's (DUI's) collection below represents the major units of the 83rd Division during World War II. Smaller units, such as Band, HQ, MP, Ord, QM, Recon, and Signal did not have their own DUI, but wore that of the Division.
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The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 329th Infantry Regiment on May 7, I927. It was redesignated for the 329th Regiment on 22 August 1960.
A Gold metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (29mm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned Argent, on a pile Sable a fleur-de-lis Or. Attached around the bottom and sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "NOUS GARDONS" in Black letters.White is the old Infantry color, the black pile is the background of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 83rd Division and the gold fleur-de-lis indicates the organization’s service in France during WWI as the 329th Infantry assigned to the 83rd Division. The motto "Nous Gardons" translates to "We Guard".
Type 1: Measures 24x29mm (7/8" x 1 1/8")
Type 1a: Measures 24x29mm (7/8" x 1 1/8"), inverted colors on shield
Type 2: minor varations in scroll
lined details on fleur-de-lis
Type 1a: Measures 24x29mm (7/8" x 1 1/8"), inverted colors on shield
Wanted!
US Made pinback and juweler's catch, typical of many early DUI's. with Hallmark 1E (raised):
EMBLEM Supply Co. Inc., Central Falls, Rhode Island
A mid to late 1950's period copy
Wanted!
US Made Clutch-back DUI marked, raised, G23 - IRA GREEN INC. - MADE IN USA
A mid 60's period copy
Matched Pair
Type 2: minor varations in scroll
lined details on fleur-de-lis
Type 2: minor varations in scroll
lined details on fleur-de-lis
Type 3: Variant in shape and size, on a white shield, only produced in occupied Germany
US Made Clutch-back DUI marked, raised, G23 - IRA GREEN INC. - MADE IN USA
A mid 60's period copy
Matched Pair
Variant type (late 1945), screwback DUI's, Single post with two stabilizer pins and a screwback
German made during the occupation period
The DUI was originally approved for the 330th Infantry on May 17, 1930. It was redesignated for the 330th Regiment on August 3, 1960 as the 330th regiment (Basic Combat Training), an element of the 70th Division (Training).
A Silver metal and enamel device 1 1/32 inches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned Azure, a torteau within an annulet Argent, on a chief of last three fleur-de-lis of the first. Attached below and to the sides of the shield is a Silver scroll inscribed "VERUS AD FINEM" in Black letters. Blue and white (silver) are colors for the Infantry. The red disk encircled with the silver ring is from the state flag of Ohio to which state the 330th Infantry Regiment was allocated in 1921. The fleurs-de-lis on the white/silver chief are from the coat of arms of Le Mans, where the Regiment received its training during WWI. The motto"Verus Ad Finem" translates to "True to the End".
Type 1: Measures 27x26mm (1 2/32" x 1 1/32" )
Type 1: Measures 27x26mm (1 2/32" x 1 1/32" )
Type 2: minor varations in scroll in and fleur-de-lis, larger in height
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
AH DONDERO INC. - WASH. DC - STERLING
A WW2 period copy
US Made pinback and heavy Jeweler’s Catch
No hallmark (National Insignia and Medal Company)
A WW2 period copy
US made clutchback
no hallmark
postwar period copy
Type 1: Measures 27x26mm (1 2/32" x 1 1/32")
Type 1: Measures 27x26mm (1 2/32" x 1 1/32")
US Made screwback
no hallmark
A WW2 period copy
US Made pinback and heavy Jeweler’s Catch
No hallmark (National Insignia and Medal Company)
A WW2 period copy
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 33Ist Infantry Regiment on April 29, I925. A Silver metal device. On a light blue shield three fleur-de-lis in fess between four annulets, three in chief, one in base, all silver. Attached below a silver scroll inscribed the motto "SEE IT TROUGH".
Type 1: Measures 28x30mm (1 7/64" x 1 3/16") , unpierced scroll
Type 1a: Measures 28x30mm (1 7/64" x 1 3/16") , pierced scroll
Type 1b: On a dark blue shield
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
AH DONDERO INC. - WASH. DC - STERLING
A WW2 period copy
US Made pinback and heavy Jeweler’s Catch
No hallmark (National Insignia and Medal Company)
A WW2 period copy
US made clutch back
no hallmark
unknown period
Type 1c: On a dark blue shield, unpierced scroll
Type 2: Pierced scroll with motto in raised letters
Type 2b: Similar to Type 2, unpierced scroll
Type 1c: On a dark blue shield, unpierced scroll
Wanted!
Wanted!
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
DAWSON - LEVE O (this insignia has an error in that the "LEVE O" is incomplete, indicates Cleveland, Ohio)
A pre-WW2 period copy
US made clutch back
BALFOUR
L.G. Balfour, Attleboro, Massachusetts
Period unknown
Type 3: Aluminium, raised symbols on light blue shield, unpierced scroll
Type 3: Aluminium, raised symbols on light blue shield, unpierced scroll
Type 1: Measures 28x30mm (1 7/64" x 1 3/16") , unpierced scroll
Theatre-made distinctive insignia for the US Army, single screw pin with disc backing. Insignia's shows medium to heavy wear and some spots of paint are missing, no hallmark German made during the occupation period. Rare and hard to find matched pair, has been rated a level 3 rarity by the American Society of Military Insignia Collectors (ASMIC)
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
AH DONDERO INC. - WASH. DC - STERLING
A WW2 period copy
The distinctive unit insignia was approved for the 322nd Field Artillery Battalion on January 14, 1926. On a Red metal shield is a black pile behind a gold Lorraine cross. The shield is red for artillery and the black pile represents part of the 83rd Infantry Division insignia. The cross of Lorraine is for the province of Lorraine where the unit served during World War 1. Attached around the bottom of the shield a gold scroll inscribed the motto "AD UNUM OMNES". The motto translates to "All to a man".
Type 1: Measures 26x30mm (1 1/32" x 1 3/16")
Type 1a: Misspelled motto - Ad unum omues
Type 2: Raised letters on scroll
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
Hallmark 5D
A.J. Dennison, Riverside, Rhode Island
A 1950's restrike
US Made clutchback
Hallmark D23
A.J. Dennison, Riverside, Rhode Island
Manufactured post 1964
US Made pinback and juweler's catch
marked sterling
1945-1960s copy
Type 2: Raised letters on scroll
US Made screwback
Robbins Co, Attleboro
An early WW2 copy
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 323rd Field Artillery Battalion on August 10, 1927. On a Gold metal shield the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 32nd Division (a red arrow having shot through a line) between a spray of green buckeye of five leaves and a black, caisson wheel with eight spokes, all within a narrow red border. Attached around the bottom of the shield a gold scroll inscribed "KEEP THEM ROLLING".
The red arrow of the 32nd Infantry Division is there because the battalion supported that unit during WW2. The spray of buckeye symbolizes the allocation of the unit to the state of Ohio after World War 1. The caisson wheel represents the excellent feat of the unit during World War 1. All caissons of the unit were used to transport ammunition which was delivered under fire and every carriage returned to the echelon.
Type 1: Measures 33x32mm (1 19/64" x 1 17/64")
Type 2: Smaller, variation in shield, buckeye and scroll
Type 2: Smaller, variation in shield, buckeye and scroll
Wanted!
US Made pinback and juweler's catch
Patent number 2066969
H.R. NEWCOME&CO, N.Y.C., STERLING
A WW2 period copy
US Made pinback and juweler's catch
Patent number 2066969
H.R. NEWCOME&CO, N.Y.C., STERLING
A WW2 period copy on original card
Type 2a: Similar to type 2, varation in buckeye
Type 2a: Similar to type 2, varation in buckeye
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
No hallmark (National Insignia and Medal Company)
An early WW2 copy
US Made clutchback
No hallmark
Period unknown
The sample for the distinctive unit insignia was approved for the 324th Field Artillery Battalion on June 18, 1935. A Gold metal and enamel device. On a red shield and in front of two yellow bendlets a green tree with brown trunk on a green mound. The shield is red for artillery. The tree represents the Battalion's participation in the Meuse-Argonne offensive during World War 1. The two bendlets indicate that the battalion entered action twice during that campaign. Attached around the bottom of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "NOUS SOUTENONS" in Black letters. The motto translates to "We Support".
Type 1: Measures 22x28mm (55/64" x 1 7/64")
Type 1: Measures 22x28mm (55/64" x 1 7/64")
Type 1: Measures 22x28mm (55/64" x 1 7/64")
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch, Patent Nr. 2066969
H.R. NEWCOME &CO, N.Y.C., STERLING
Harry R. Newcome & Co., 130 west 42nd St., New York, N.Y.
A WW2 copy
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
Hallmark 5D
A.J. Dennison, Riverside, Rhode Island
A 1950's restrike
US Made, single screw pin with disc backing
No hallmark
National Insignia and Medal Company
An early WW2 copy
Type 1: Measures 22x28mm (55/64" x 1 7/64")
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch,
GEMSCO
A late 1940's - early 1950's copy
A Gold metal and enamel device. On a shield devided per bend gold and red, the gold is in the upper left and the red is on the lower right. In front a fleur-de-lis on a shell divided per bend yellow and red. The colors red and gold represent the artillery. The shell represents the character of the unit while the fleur-de-lis symbolizes the participation of the unit in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of World War 1. Attached around the bottom of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed the motto "ON THE WAY".
Type 1: Measures 22x28mm (55/64" x 1 3/16"), the gold is in the upper left and the red is on the lower right
Type 2: the gold is in the upper right and the red is on the lower left
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
GEMSCO, A.G.O., G2
General Embroidery & Military Supply Company, Brooklyn, New York
Mid to late 1950's period copy
Japanese made clutch back
WELLINGTON, BOX 1064, TOKYO JAPAN
Mid to 1950s collectors copy
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Note: The type 2 DUI is classified as "E" in the ASMIC catalog. Quoting from the ASMIC catalog this classification is defined as: "Insignia invented and made by a collector on the basis of drawing, blazons or whims for sale to collectors, veterans’ associations, etc. Never worn by troops."
The 908th's history is with the 83rd Division only. In WWI, this unit was originally the 308th Ammunition Train of the 83rd Division. It was redesignated as the 908th Field Artillery Bn on 15 August 1942. They earned 1 Campaign Streamer in WWI and 5 campaign Streamers in WWII. They were inactivated after WWII in March 1946 at Camp Kilmer, NJ. In November 1946 they were reactivated in Reserve status in Cleveland, where they stayed until inactivated in March 1959. Why they have a Japanese Made insignia can only be explained through the fact it was made for the collector's market.
The main difference between this example and the WWII example is the red is in the lower left and the gold is on the upper right. So, basically this DUI is a mirror image. This is easily seen when comparing the Type 1 DUI.
A Gold metal and enamel device. On a white shield is a black timber bridge of two bents, the piling issuing from dark blue water, all within a red border charged with 6 black isoceles triangles, points down.
Type 1: Measures 19x26mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
Type 1: Measures 19x26mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
Type 1: Measures 19x26mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
US Made pinback and screwback
N.S. MEYER - NEW YORK and shield
A 1930's copy
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
NS MEYER INC. - N.Y.C. and shield
An early 1950's period copy
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
AH DONDERO INC. - WASHINGTON DC
An early 1930's period copy
Type 1: Measures 19x26mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
Type 2: Variation in shape and size
Type 3: Variation in shape and size, shield with unpierced scroll
US Made pinback and Jeweler’s Catch
AH DONDERO INC. - WASHINGTON DC
An early 1930's period copy
Wanted!
German Made pinback
Carl Poellath, Schrobenhausen, Germany
German made during the occupation period
Type 3: Variation in shape and size, shield with unpierced scroll
Type 3: Variation in shape and size, shield with unpierced scroll
Type 3a: Variation in shape and size, shield with unpierced scroll
German Made pinback
Carl Poellath, Schrobenhausen, Germany
German made during the occupation period
German Made pinback
Carl Poellath, Schrobenhausen, Germany
German made during the occupation period
US made clutchback
No hallmark
period unknown
The distinctive unit insignia was conditionally approved for the 308th Medical Battalion in 1955.A silver metal and enamel device. On a maroon shield is a silver circle and single fleur-de-lis. The maroon is the color of the Medical Department, the fleur-de-lis most likely symbolizes the participation in France of the 308th Sanitary Train during World War 1. The 308th Sanitary Train was consolidated with the 308th Medical Regiment in 1934 and redesignated as the 308th Medical Battalion on January 30, 1942.
Type 1: Measures 25x28mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
Type 1: Measures 25x28mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
Type 1: Measures 25x28mm (3/4" x 1 1/32")
US Made clutchback
Unreadable hallmark, pins replaced at an unknown time
Presumably a 1950's copy
US made clutchback
AH DONDERO INC. - WASHINGTON DC D21
A recent copy
US made pinback
AH Dondero Inc. - Wash. DC D-2
1950's period copy
The distinctive unit insignia was approved for the 332nd Infantry Regiment on August 12, 1925. A Gold metal and enamel device. A red oblong lies on top of the unit insignia of the 83rd Infantry Division. The red oblong depicts a Lion of St. Mark with his paw resting on an open book, bearing the numbers '332'. This is identical to the rectangular red shoulder patch, worn by the doughboys of the 332nd Infantry Regiment during World War 1.
Type 1: Red oblong superimposed, measures 21x31mm (53/64" x 1 7/32")
Type 2: Red oblong flat on patch, measures 23x33mm (29/32" x 1 19/64")
Type 3: Similar to type 1, with superimposed lion instead of incised
Wanted!
Wanted!
US made screwback
No hallmark
Presumably a 1930's period copy
A Gold metal and enamel device. On a light blue shield is a winged passant lion of St. Mark in gold. The blue is the color of the infantry. The Lion of St. Mark symbolizes the regiments unique service in Italy during World War 1. Attached around the bottom of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "NOLI IRRITARE LEONEM" in raised gold letters.The motto translates to "Don't Rouse the Lion".
Type 1: Measures 26x31mm (1 1/32" x 1 7/32")
Type 1: Measures 26x31mm (1 1/32" x 1 7/32")
US made pinback and jeweler's catch
GEMSCO, A.G.O., G2
A 1950's period copy
US made clutchback
Martin Kahn, Bronx 54 NY. 6K
A 1950's period copy
A Gold metal device of the 83rd Infantry Division patch in black and Gold enamel. Smaller units, such as Band, Headquarters, MIlitary Police, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Reconnaisence Troop and Signal did not have their own DUI, but wore that of the Division. Measures 27x30mm (1 1/16" x 1 7/32").
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
Early WWII period copy
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
Early WWII period copy
US made pinback and jeweler's catch
DENMARK CO - N.Y.
Early WWII period copy
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
Early WWII period copy
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
Early WWII period copy
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
White OHIO and open catch
Early WWII period copy
US Made pinback and jeweler's catch
No hallmark, National Insignia and Medal company
Early WWII period copy
US Made screwback
No hallmark
Early WWII period copy
Design approved on December 8, 1942. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the Headquarters and Military Police Company, 83d Division on 8 December 1942. It was redesignated for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 83d Infantry Division on 14 November 1951. It was redesignated for the noncolor bearing units of the 83d Infantry Division (RTU) on 2 February 1966. The insignia was redesignated for the 83 US Army Reserve Command on 15 January 1970. It was redesignated effective 27 November 2013, for the 83d US Army Reserve Readiness Training Center and amended to update the description.
A silver color metal and enamel device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height overall consisting of a blue moline cross fimbriated silver charged with a silver mullet. Suspended from the horizontal arms a silver flowing scroll with the motto “FULGE” in blue letters.The crusaders’ cross indicating leadership symbolizes the functions of the organization. The numerical designation is represented by the Moline form of the cross, the heraldic symbol of the eighth son, the silver mullet being representative of the third son. The motto translates to “Shine Forth.”
Type 1: Measures 25,4x25,4mm (1" x 1")
Type 1: Measures 25,4x25,4mm (1" x 1")
US Made clutchback
G23 - IRA GREEN INC. - MADE IN USA
A 1960's copy
US made clutchback
NS Meyer Inc. New York, two raised shields 22M
A 1970's copy