20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 20th Field Artillery Regiment is an Field Artillery
regiment
of the United States Army
first formed in 1916.
On a gold color metal and enamel device 7/8 inches in height overall consisting of the shield from the coat of arms blazoned: Gules, on a bend Or a fusil of the field. Attached below the shield is a gold scroll inscribed "DUTY NOT REWARD" in red letters.
The regiment was organized in 1917 and served in France in the 5th Division, primarily in Lorraine. The shield is red for artillery, with a gold bend from the arms of Lorraine and the red diamond of the 5th Division.
The insignia was originally approved for the 20th Field Artillery on March 28, 1933. It was redesignated as 20th Field Artillery Battalion on August 12,1948; redesignated as 20th Artillery on June 13, 1958; and redesignated for the 20th Field Artillery on September 1, 1971.
Gules, on a bend Or, a fusil of the field.
On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, issuant from base a demi-trident with prongs in the form of a fleur-de-lis of the First, looped about its shaft with ends upturned and forked a ribbon of the Second edged Vert.
Motto
None
The symbolism for the shield is as described above for the distinctive unit insignia. The golden trident on the crest simulating a fleur-de-lis refers to the unit's participation in the D-Day landing at Normandy, which was known as Operation Trident. The ribbon is in the colors of the Belgian Fourragere for which the unit was twice cited for action in Belgium and the Ardennes.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 20th Field Artillery on April 9, 1921. It was redesignated for the 20th Field Artillery Battalion on August 20, 1942; redesignated for the 20th Artillery on 13 June 1958; amended to add a crest on April 13, 1965; and redesignated to the 20th Field Artillery Battalion on September 1, 1971.
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
first formed in 1916.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description
On a gold color metal and enamel device 7/8 inches in height overall consisting of the shield from the coat of arms blazoned: Gules, on a bend Or a fusil of the field. Attached below the shield is a gold scroll inscribed "DUTY NOT REWARD" in red letters.
- Symbolism
The regiment was organized in 1917 and served in France in the 5th Division, primarily in Lorraine. The shield is red for artillery, with a gold bend from the arms of Lorraine and the red diamond of the 5th Division.
- Background
The insignia was originally approved for the 20th Field Artillery on March 28, 1933. It was redesignated as 20th Field Artillery Battalion on August 12,1948; redesignated as 20th Artillery on June 13, 1958; and redesignated for the 20th Field Artillery on September 1, 1971.
Blazon
- Shield
Gules, on a bend Or, a fusil of the field.
- Crest
On a wreath of the colors, Or and Gules, issuant from base a demi-trident with prongs in the form of a fleur-de-lis of the First, looped about its shaft with ends upturned and forked a ribbon of the Second edged Vert.
Motto
None
- Symbolism
The symbolism for the shield is as described above for the distinctive unit insignia. The golden trident on the crest simulating a fleur-de-lis refers to the unit's participation in the D-Day landing at Normandy, which was known as Operation Trident. The ribbon is in the colors of the Belgian Fourragere for which the unit was twice cited for action in Belgium and the Ardennes.
- Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 20th Field Artillery on April 9, 1921. It was redesignated for the 20th Field Artillery Battalion on August 20, 1942; redesignated for the 20th Artillery on 13 June 1958; amended to add a crest on April 13, 1965; and redesignated to the 20th Field Artillery Battalion on September 1, 1971.
Current configuration
- 1st Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 3rd Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
- 4th Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment
- 5th Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment
- 6th Battalion 20th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)
See also
- Field Artillery Branch (United States)
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- Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of U.S. Artillery RegimentsCoats of arms of US Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with field artillery, air defense artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...