501st Signal Battalion, US Army
501ST SIGNAL BATTALION, US ARMY
 (Coat of Arms) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shield: Per chevron Argent and Tenné, in base a pelican feather of the first charged with a lightning flash of the second.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Tenné an american Bald Eagle rising wings addorsed Proper amred and langued Gules bearing in dexter talons two arrows slatirewise points up Vert armed Azure and flighted of the fourth
Motto: Vox Aquilae (Vocie of the Eagle)
Distinctive Unit Insignia Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a sheild blazoned: Per chevron Argent and Tenné, in base a pelican feather of the first charged with a lightning flash of the second. Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "VOX AQUILAE" in Orange letters.
Origin/meaning
Orange and White are the Colours of the Signal Corps. The lightning symbolise the Signal function. The Pelican feather alludes to the Pelican in the Seal of the State of Louisiana. The Place of activation of the 101st Signal Company, predecessor of the Battalion during World War II. The per chevron partition symbolises the assault landing in Normandy. The Arrows symbolises the Landings in Normandy and in the Rhineland during World War II. The points are coloured Blue indicating the two Presidental Unit Citation awarded for Normandy and Bastogne. The Green shafts and red feathers alludes to the French Croix de Guerre awarded for the Normandy Landing and the Belgian Fourragere awarded for Bastogne. Arrows are also held by the Lion on the Arms of the Netherlands, indicating the award of the Netherlands Orange Lanyard. The Colour Red also indicates the Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded for service in Vietnam. The Eagle alludes to the association with the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles.
The Coat of Arms and Distictive Unit Insignia was approved on 25 January 1957 for the 501st Airborne Signal Battalion. They was redesignated for the 501st Signal Battalion on 26 March 1958. The Coat of Arms was amended to add a crest on 20 September 1974.
Literature: The Institute of Heraldry, US Army