"WE SERVE"
Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Parti per chevron wavy Azure and Argent in dexter chief a cross patée of the second in sinister chief a sea lion with sword in dexter paw of the like langued Gules in base a northern hemisphere with a transport in each ocean both sailing from east to west, all Proper. Attached below the shield a silver scroll inscribed "WE SERVE" in Blue.
Symbolism: The shield is blue and white, the present and old Infantry colors. The Civil War service is indicated by the white cross of the 5th Corps and the early Philippine service by the sea lion taken from the seal of Manila. The Mont Blanc Campaign of October 1918 in the World War is commemorated by the outline of the lower half of the shield. The regiment has the unique distinction of being the first American regiment to circumnavigate the globe and this is indicated in the base of the shield.
Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved on 29 Oct 1924. It was amended on 6 Aug 1968 to add the motto.
Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield: Party per chevron wavy Azure and Argent in dexter chief a cross pattée of the second in sinister chief a sea lion with sword in dexter paw of the like langued Gules in base a northern hemisphere with a transport in each ocean both sailing from east to west, all Proper.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure a fleur-de-lis in front of two crossed arrows of the first surmounted palewise by a sword-breaker with seven barbs Sable charged at the hilt with a taeguk Proper all in front of and within an open laurel wreath Vert.
Motto: WE SERVE.
Symbolism:
Shield: The shield is blue and white, the present and old Infantry colors. Civil War service is indicated by the white cross of the V Corps, and Philippine Insurrection service by the sea lion taken from the seal of Manila. The Mont Blanc operation of October 1918 in World War I is commemorated by the outline of the lower half of the shield. The 23d Infantry has the unique distinction of being the first American regiment to circumnavigate the globe and this accomplishment is indicated in the base of the shield.
Crest: The seven barbs of the sword-breaker (a medieval close combat weapon) and the red and blue taeguk upon its hilt are symbolic of the seven Presidential Unit Citations awarded to the unit in Europe during World War II and in the Korean War. The fleur-de-lis refers to the four awards of the French Croix de Guerre during World War I, three with palm, which are symbolized by the encircling laurel wreath. The arrows allude to participation in the Indian Wars.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved on 4 May 1922. The original crest was cancelled and a new crest approved with symbolism revised on 28 Mar 1980.
23rd Infantry Regiment
Coat of Arms
Symbolism: The Crest of the 23rd Infantry Regiment consists of eleven distinct sections, each having its own history. The Totem Pole at the top of the shield represents service in Alaska. the American Eagle portrays the new owner of the Alaskan Territory, the Russian Bear, the old owner. Between the Totem Pole and the shield is depicted a plate, denoting the feast given the Eagle by the Bear during the change-over. The Totem Pole is encircled by the French Fourragere which was awarded the 23rd Infantry by Marshall Henri Pere in 1918 for the Regiment's heroic duty in France during the First World War. The Shield in Blue and White denote the new and old colors of the infantry. The Maltese Cross in the upper left corner represents service in the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac during the War Between the States. In the upper right corner is the Sea-Lion of the Pacific, taken from the seal of Manila, and denotes Philippine service during the Spanish-American War. World War I service and commemoration of the Mont Blanc campaign of October 1918 is depicted by the outline at the lower half of the shield. The distinction of being the first American Regiment to circumnavigate the globe is depicted on the lower portion of the shield by the globe and two steamships. Along the bottom of the shield is a streamer upon which is the motto of the 23rd Infantry Regiment "We Serve".
Distinguished Unit Insignia
The distinctive insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
Motto: We Serve
Lineage of the 23rd Infantry
1861 Constituted 3 May as the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, Regular Army
Organized 8 July 1861 at Fort Trumbull, Connecticut
1862 Redesignated 30 April, 2d Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment
1917 Assigned to 2nd Division [later redesignated as the 2nd Infantry Division] 22 September
1957 Inactivated 20 June in Alaska, relieved from assignment to 2nd Infantry Division organized as the 23rd Infantry under the Combined Arms Regimental System.
Campaigns
Civil War
Peninsula
Manassas
Antietam
Fredericksburg
Chancellorsville
Gettysburg
Wilderness
Spotsylvania
Cold Harbor
Petersburg
Virginia 1862
Virginia 1863
Indian Wars
Little Big Horn
Arizona 1866
Idaho 1868
War With Spain
Manila
Philippine Insurrection
Manila
Malolos
Jolo
Mindanao
Jolo 1903
World War I
Aisne
Aisne-Marne
Saint Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
Lorraine 1918
Ile de France 1918
World War II
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Korean War
UN Defensive
UN Offensive
CCF Intervention
First UN Counteroffensive
CCF Spring Offensive
UN Summer-Fall
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953
Vietnam
Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered WIRTZFELD, BELGIUM
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered ST. VITH
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered KRINKELTER WALD, BELGIUM
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BREST, FRANCE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered TWIN TUNNELS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered CHIPYONG-NI
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered HONGCHON
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH PROVINCE
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SAIGON
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I, Streamer embroidered AISNE-MARNE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I, Streamer embroidered MEUSE-ARGONNE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I, Streamer embroidered CHATEAU THIERRY
French Croix de Guerre, World War I, Fourragere
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered NAKTONG RIVER LINE
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1952
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1953
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1952-1953
Belgian Fourragere, 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at ELSENBORN CREST
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, 1st Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1970
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