104th Infantry Division Timberwolf (now 104th Training Division (Leader Training)), US Army
104TH INFANTRY DIVISION TIMBERWOLF (NOW 104TH TRAINING DIVISION (LEADER TRAINING)), US ARMY
 (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Description: On a green disc with a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) dark green border 2 3/4 inches (6.99 cm) in diameter overall, the head of a timber wolf in gray.
Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height overall consisting of a dark green shield bearing a silver howling wolf head issuant from sinister base, overall in base point a silver grenade and resting fesswise on top of the shield a silver stylized bayonet; around the bottom, sides and superimposed on the grenade is a dark green scroll doubled and inscribed with “NIGHTFIGHTERS” in silver.
Origin/meaning
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia: The timber wolf represents the heartiness and vigor of life in the western states, tenacity in pursuit of mission accomplishment and unity of purpose associated with familial behavior.
Distinctive Unit Insignia: The design is based on the historical actions of the Division while training for and campaigning in World War II. The 104th Division was the first Army Division to actively train for nighttime operations as the norm. It was the first military unit to develop written procedures for fighting at night and it was feared by the enemy for its ability to do so. On one occasion while fighting on the European continent at night, its soldiers were issued hand grenades and bayonets (with no ammunition for their rifles) and told to attack the enemy. 104th Division soldiers were instructed that anyone firing a weapon was an enemy and should be attacked. Using these methods, the 104th Division was successful over 195 days of continuous combat – never once giving ground to the enemy.
The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia was originally authorized on 16 August 1924. It was amended to include a border and symbolism on 5 June 1985. The insignia was redesignated for the 104th Division (Institutional Training) and amended to update the description on 15 August 2006. The Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) was approved 20 July 2006. The DUI approved on 8 June 1967 was cancelled as a result of this action approved as an exception by the G-1.
Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.
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