56th Field Artillery Command, US Army
56TH FIELD ARTILLERY COMMAND, US ARMY
 (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a disc 3 inches (7.62 cm) in diameter, with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border a scarlet disc centered on a blue background and surmounted at center by a vertical black missile silhouette outlined in white and issuing to base a white-edged scarlet flame and white smoke cloud, the missile flanked by two diagonal yellow lightning flashes issuing from either side of the nose cone. Attached immediately above the disc, an arc tab 2 3/8 inches (6.03 cm) in length and 11/16 inch (1.75 cm) in height consisting of a dark green background inscribed “PERSHING” in scarlet letters 5/16 inch (.79 cm) in height, with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) scarlet border.
Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a scarlet background with a trilobated cloud at the top bearing two black crossed cannons behind a white domed tower with black archway, (as depicted on the coat of arms of the city of Antwerp, Belgium) on a green base, surmounted overall by a vertical gold “Pershing Missile;” all above a semi-circular gold scroll inscribed “QUICK RELIABLE ACCURATE” in black letters.
Origin/meaning
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: Scarlet and gold (yellow) are the colors used for Field Artillery; blue denotes the assigned infantry support. The destructive power and target capability of the Pershing missile are suggested by the red disc at center and the upright missile signifies the readiness of the unit. The lightning flashes refer to the ability of the missile team to act and strike quickly in event of need.
Distinctive Unit Insignia: Scarlet and yellow (gold) are the colors used for Field Artillery. The trilobated cloud symbolizes the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade’s Northern France, Central Europe and Rhineland Campaigns during World War II. The crossed cannons with the Antwerp Tower allude to the Headquarters Battery’s two Belgian Army Order of the Day Citations, the Belgian Fourragere for action at Antwerp and the Defense of Antwerp Harbor. Red and green are the colors of the Belgian Fourragere. The “Pershing Missile” alludes to the unique mission of the unit as a participant in the Army’s first Nuclear Strike Force with missiles on constant alert (ORA).
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 56th Artillery Brigade on 9 June 1971. The Pershing tab was authorized for wear effective 18 September 1970. It was redesignated for the 56th Field Artillery Brigade on 7 April 1972. The insignia was redesignated effective 17 January 1986 for the 56th Field Artillery Command. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 56th Field Artillery Brigade on 11 April 1972. It was redesignated effective 17 January 1986 for the 56th Field Artillery Command.
Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.
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