120th Infantry Brigade, US Army

120TH INFANTRY BRIGADE, US ARMY

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a dark blue vertical rectangular embroidered device, arched at the top and bottom, a white embattled pale, arched at top and bottom, embattled on the left and right side, bearing a red bayonet, point up; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) white border. Overall dimensions are 2 inches (5.08 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in length.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a dark blue band arched charged with three silver caltrops between a Gutte de Sang background enclosed by a black scroll doubled inscribed at top “OUR OUTFITS” and at bottom “IN THE FIGHT” in silver

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: Flag blue is the color traditionally associated with Infantry units. The embattled pale suggests tank tracks, denoting the 120th Infantry’s lineage as an armored unit. Red symbolizes the Brigade’s striking capabilities. The bayonet signifies close combat, illustrating the Brigade’s mission.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: Dark blue, the color traditionally used by the Infantry unit, denotes the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the unit. The arched band refers to the unit’s World War II campaign in the Battle of the Bulge. The caltrops represent the defensive success by the Allies to protect Bastogne, Belgium from the Germans. The field of Gutte de Sang symbolizes the Battle of Ardennes, Siege of Bastogne, one of the bloodiest conflicts during World War II.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was approved on 4 April 2007. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 9 February 2007.

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