176th Support Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard

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176TH SUPPORT BATTALION, TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD


Coat of arms (crest) of 176th Support Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard

(Coat of Arms)
Coat of arms (crest) of 176th Support Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)


Official blazon

Shield: Per chevron reversed Gules (Crimson) and Azure, on a chevron reversed Or, a pair of open end wrenches jaws to chief Sable, between in chief a wildcat face jessant-de-lis of the third, and three mullets in base two and one Argent.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Tennessee Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Gules (Crimson), upon a mount Vert a hickory tree Proper charged with three mullets one and two Argent.
Motto: THE BEST SERVES THE REST.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 (3.18cm) inches in height overall consisting of a crimson disc bearing at its center a gold wildcat's head "jessant-de-lis" (with fleur-de-lis passing through its mouth) surmounting in base two stylized black wrenches pilewise, all encircled by a continuous blue scroll divided with two folds, the upper portion inscribed "THE BEST SERVES THE REST" in gold letters and in base three white stars.

Origin/meaning

Shield: The color crimson is used for maintenance, the black and yellow for tank destroyers; they have been combined to indicate the former designations of the organization. The wildcat's head represents the shoulder sleeve insignia of the tank destroyer forces; the fleur-de-lis symbolizes European service and represents the organization's five battle honors - Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes-Alsace during World War II. The stylized wrenches allude to the unit's previous mission of maintenance, while the blue circular scroll and three white stars are suggested by the State flag of Tennessee.

Distinctive Unit Insignia: The color crimson is used for maintenance, the black and yellow for tank destroyers; they have been combined to indicate the former designations of the organization. The wildcat's head represents the shoulder sleeve insignia of the tank destroyer forces; the fleur-de-lis symbolizes European service and represents the organization's five battle honors - Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes-Alsace during World War II. The stylized wrenches allude to the unit's previous mission of maintenance, while the blue circular scroll and three white stars are suggested by the State flag of Tennessee.

The arms were originally approved for the 176th Maintenance Battalion on 24 February 1998. It was redesignated effective 1 September 2006, for the 176th Support Battalion with the symbolism of the shield updated. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 176th Maintenance Battalion on 3 January 1978. It was redesignated effective 1 September 2006, for the 176th Support Battalion with the description and symbolism updated.


Literature: Images and Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army