53rd Transportation Battalion, US Army

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53RD TRANSPORTATION BATTALION, US ARMY

Coat of arms (crest) of 53rd Transportation Battalion, US Army

(Coat of Arms)
Coat of arms (crest) of 53rd Transportation Battalion, US Army

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)


Official blazon

Shield: Or, a castle tower Gules (Brick Red) issuing four demi-arrows radiating to chief Sable, overall an elephant passant Proper.
Crest: Issuing from a wreath Or and Gules (Brick Red) two elephants' proboscises Proper supporting a wheel of eight spokes of the first with a felloe Gules charged with eight bezants, the hub bearing a decrescent of the fourth.
Motto: SIEGESRADER (Victory Wheels).

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall, consisting of a gold elephant's head bearing with and encircled by his raised trunk, a brick red enameled tower with four conjoined gold arrowheads issuing from the turret and encircled in base by a black scroll inscribed "SIEGESR'A'DER" in gold letters.

Origin/meaning

Shield: Brick red and golden yellow are colors traditionally associated with the Transportation Corps. The heavy equipment (truck) of the organization is symbolized by the elephant and the tower, indigenous to Europe, the general area in which the unit served during World War II. The four arrowheads allude to the four assault landings made by the Battalion. Crest: The wheel highlights the unit's quartermaster heritage and the present transportation mission. Red symbolizes valor and sacrifice; gold, excellence and high ideals. The eight bezants honor the Battalion's campaign participation credit in World War II. The unit's baptism of fire was in Tunisia and is represented by the crescent. The elephant trunks underscore strength and the power of heavy transportation equipment.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: Brick red and golden yellow (gold) are the colors traditionally associated with the Transportation Corps. The heavy equipment (truck) of the organization is symbolized by the elephant and the tower, indigenous to Europe, the general area in which the unit served during World War II. The four arrowheads alluding to the four assault landings made the Battalion.

The arms were originally approved on 27 September 1993. It was amended on 6 October 1999 to include a Crest. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved on 27 April 1966. On 27 September 1993 the description and symbolism was revised.

Literature: The Institute of Heraldry, US Army