39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard

39TH INFANTRY BRIGADE, ARKANSAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a red shield arched at the top and base 2 inches (5.08cm) in width overall a blue lozenge surmounted diagonally from upper left to lower right by a white Bowie knife, hilt down, all within a blue 1/8 inch (.32cm) border.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02cm) in width overall consisting of a red diamond standing on its shortest axis and charged on its horizontal axis with a wavy blue bar bearing a silver arrow with point to the left, above the diamond on the center lobe of a three lobed green background three silver five-pointed stars and below the diamond on a silver scroll double-folded at each end the word COURAGE in black.

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: The Bowie knife alludes to "The Bowie State" a nickname used for Arkansas, home station of the Brigade. The Bowie knife, a weapon used for close fighting and implying hand-to-hand combat, is also indicative of the aggressive spirit of the Infantry. The lozenge or diamond refers to the unique aspect of the state as having the only diamond field in North America.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: The three stars stand for France, Spain and the United States, the countries to which the Arkansas Territory belonged. The diamond shape was suggested by the state flag, while the wavy bar symbolizes the Arkansas River with the arrow referring to the Indian name ARKANSA. The green background alludes to the wooded hills of the Ouachita and the Ozark National Forests. The arrow in flight is used as a symbol of the 39th Infantry Brigade defending the state. The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was approved 24 September 1968. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 18 February 1969.

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

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