34th Infantry Regiment, US Army

34TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, US ARMY

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Azure, crusilly fitche Or, on a canton of the last masoned Sable a cross patee Argent fimbriated of the first.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors, Or and Azure, a cactus (prickly pear) Vert fructed Gules.
Motto: TOUJOURS EN AVANT (Always Forward).

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/32 inches (2.62cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, crusilly fitche Or, on a canton of the last masoned Sable a cross patée Argent fimbriated of the first.

Origin/meaning

Shield: The regiment was originally organized at El Paso, Texas, by transfer of personnel from the 7th, 20th, and 23d Infantry. These units are symized on the canton; the masoned wall is from the arms of the 7th Infantry and the white Maltese cross is from the arms of the 20th and 23d Infantry. The blue background with gold cross crosslets sharpened at the foot reflects World War I service. The 34th Infantry served in that part of the province of Lorraine which was anciently the Barony of Commercy. The arms of those Barons were blue, scattered with gold cross crosslets sharpened at the foot. Crest: The cactus commemorates Texas, the birthplace of the regiment.

The arms were originally approved on 20 June 1921. It was superseded on 31 July 1922. The coat of arms was amended to revise the blazon of the crest on 29 July 1992. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved 3 May 1923.

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