381st (Infantry) Regiment, US Army

381ST (INFANTRY) REGIMENT, US ARMY

Official blazon

Shield: Argent, a cross of four ermine spots Proper.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Sable, the Lexington Minute Man Proper. The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor) stands on the common in Lexington. Massachusetts.
Motto: PARATUS ET VIGILANS (Ready and Alert).

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Argent, a cross of four ermine spots Proper. Attached below the shield a silver scroll inscribed "PARATUS ET VIGILANS" in Black. The translation of the motto is "Ready and Alert."

Origin/meaning

The shield is white for Infantry. The ermine spots represent fur. The fur trade along the Columbia River, to which section the 381st Infantry was originally allocated, attracted the settlers to Oregon and Washington.

The arms were originally approved for the 381st Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves on 5 March 1927. It was amended to withdraw "Organized Reserves" from the designation and to delete the Organized Reserves' crest from the coat of arms on 24 September 1959. The arms were amended to reinstate the crest of the Army Reserve and revise the symbolism of the design on 3 August 1970. On 28 October 1993 the coat of arms was redesignated for the 381st Regiment with the symbolism revised. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 381st Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves on 28 July 1928. It was amended to revise the symbolism of the design on 3 August 1970. The insignia was redesignated with description and symbolism revised for the 381st Regiment on 28 October 1993.

Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons

. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.