369th Signal Battalion, US Army

369TH SIGNAL BATTALION, US ARMY

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Per bend Tenné and Azure, issuant from dexter base a satellite dish Argent detailed of the second issuing a lightning flash bendwise sinister Or between four mullets of six as the constellation Southern Cross White, on a chief of the second a demi-bezant surmounted by four short rays reversed between five longer of the like all radiant from fess point Yellow.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors, Or and Tenné a demi-polar bear to dexter and a demi-dragon combatant Argent each gorged with a collar Gules supporting between them a plate charged with five bars wavy Azure.
Motto: QUALITY ALL WAYS.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel insignia 1 3/16 inches (3.02cm) in height consisting of an equilateral triangle with arced, convex sides, one point down evenly divided diagonally from upper right to lower left orange and blue, the, left side surmounted by a representation of a microwave dish-type antenna, white with gold ribs emitting on the diagonal partition line between four white six-pointed stars, two and two a gold lightning flash; issuing from the top of the triangle nine gold concentric rays, five long alternating with four shorter rays; all above a gold scroll inscribed "QUALITY ALL WAYS" in black letters, the base of the triangle extending slightly on to the scroll.

Origin/meaning

Orange and white are the colors associated with Signal Corps. The microwave antenna issuing from a lightning flash represents the battalion’s mission function of operating and maintaining signal facilities and communication service. The four stars simulate the constellation "Southern Cross," visible from Vietnam where the unit participated in four campaigns. The rays on a gold demi-disc suggest the Aurora Borealis and reflect the unit’s World War II campaign credits while serving in Alaska. Crest: The polar bear, symbolic of service in Alaska, gorged with a red collar, commemorates the Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded the battalion for its World War II service. The dragon, also gorged with a red collar, honors the unit’s receipt of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam from 1968 to 1970. The dragon and the polar bear grasp a plate bearing five wavy bars suggesting waves or water and alluding to the unit’s campaigns in the Pacific.

The arms were approved on 12 Mar 1999, and the Distinctive Unit Insignia on 18 May 1970.

Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.

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