3rd Infantry Division Marne Division, US Army

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3RD INFANTRY DIVISION MARNE DIVISION, US ARMY

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: Upon a blue square 2 inches, three white stripes each 3/8 inch in width from heraldic sinister chief to dexter base; the blue background between the white stripes also being 3/8 inch in width; all within a 1/8 inch Army Green border. The overall dimension is 2-1/4 inches on each side.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver colored metal and enamel insignia 1 1/8 inches in height consisting of a silver rock issuing from the inner arc of a blue annulet inscribed with the words "NOUS RESTERONS LA" in silver letters; on the rock and surmounting the upper part of the annulet a silver wyvern winged blue bearing thereon three silver diagonal bands.

Origin/meaning

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: The three white stripes of the insignia are symbolical of the three major operations in which the division participated during World War I. The blue field symbolizes the loyalty of those who placed their lives on the altar of self-sacrifice in defense of the American ideals of liberty and democracy.

Distictive Unit Insignia: The rock, inscription and wyvern refer to the two designations by which men of the 3d Infantry Division are popularly known: "Marne Men" and "Blue and White Devils".
The rock represents the Division’s firm stand against the German offensive at the Marne River during World War I. It was there that it became known as the "Rock of the Marne"
and there that the Commanding Officer, General Joseph Dickman, stated "Nous Resterons La". The wyvern, an heraldic form of the devil, bears the Division’s blue and white stripes
on its wing in commemoration of the Division’s action at Anzio, Italy, during World War II where they were called "Blue and White Devils" by the enemy.

The Shoulder Sleeve insignia was originally approved on 24 October 1918 for the 3rd Division, amended to correct the wording of the description on 11 October 1922 and redesignated with an amendment to include the border in the description for the 3d Infantry Division on 15 May 1964. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was apporoved 27 August 1965.