44th Chemical Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard

44TH CHEMICAL BATTALION, ILLINOIS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Coat of Arms
Shield: Azure, a quatrefoil saltirewise Or bearing a quatrefoil of the first charged with a dragon of the second, armed and langued Gules grasping in its dexter paw a hatchet Yellow.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Illinois Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Azure, upon a grassy field the blockhouse of old Fort Dearborn Proper.
Motto: PRIDE INTEGRITY COURAGE.

Distinctive Unit Insignia
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall, consisting of a gold quatrefoil saltirewise superimposed by a blue quatrefoil crosswise bearing a gold rampant dragon detailed blue and grasping a gold hatchet in its right claw, all enclosed at bottom and sides by a blue tripartite scroll inscribed “PRIDE INTEGRITY COURAGE” in gold.

Origin/meaning

Shield: Cobalt blue and golden yellow are the colors traditionally associated with the Chemical Corps. The two quatrefoils allude to the unit’s designation. The dragon, symbolically a staunch defender, epitomizes the unit’s motto, “PRIDE, INTEGRITY, COURAGE,” and has been used historically to identify chemical operations.
Crest: The crest is that of the Illinois Army National Guard. DUI: Cobalt blue and golden yellow/gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Chemical Corps. The gold quatrefoil charged with the blue quatrefoil allude to the unit designation. The dragon, symbolically a staunch defender, epitomizes the unit’s motto, “Pride Integrity Courage,” and has been historically used to identify chemical operations.

The coat of arms was approved on 7 January 1997. The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 20 October 1989.

Literature: Images and Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army