76th Infantry Division Onward or Liberty Bell Division, US Army

76TH INFANTRY DIVISION ONWARD OR LIBERTY BELL DIVISION, US ARMY

History: Activated 5 August 1917 as the 76th Division. Organized 26 August 1917 at Camp Devens (Massachusetts). Inactivated 14 January 1919 at the same location. Assigned 24 June 1921 to the Organized Reserve. Activated 16 june 1942 and reorganized at Fort George G. Meade (Maryland). Re-designated as 76th Infantry Division on 1 August 1942. Designated a Replacement Pool Division between 2 October 1942 to 1 March 1943, when it again become 76th Infantry Division. Inactivated 31 August 1945 in Germany.

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: A shield with a 1/8 inch (.32cm) green border 2 3/4 inches (6.99cm) in width and 2 9/16 inches (6.51cm) in height overall blazoned: Per fess enhanced Azure and Gules a barrulet enhanced Vert, in chief a label points dovetail Argent.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel "eared" shield 1 inch (2.54cm) in height overall consisting of a red enamel base with a blue enamel chief charged with a white enamel label with three dovetailed points.

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: Red, white and blue are the National colors, while the label, a symbol of cadency, denotes that the division was one of the first National Army divisions.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: Blue, white and red are the National colors. The label, a symbol of cadency, is used to recognize the 76th Division as the first division to be constituted in the National Army, 5 August 1917.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was approved on 23 June 1922. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 11 April 1977.

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