181st Field Artillery Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

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181ST FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

(Shoulder Sleeve Insignia)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Or, a gigant cactus Vert between three lions rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Tennessee Army National Guard: From a wreath of the colors Or and Vert, upon a mount Vert a hickory tree Proper charged with three mullets one and two Argent.
Motto: Hit 'em first

Distinctive Unit Insignia, Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 5731 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Or, a gigant cactus Vert between three lions rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules. Attached below the shield a Gold scroll inscribed "HIT 'EM FIRST" in Black letters.

Origin/meaning

The Shield is Yellow for Cavalry. The Giant Cactus symbolises Mexican Border Duty. The Three Lions represents World War I Service in Flanders, Picardy and Belgium. All which have Black Lions in their Arms.

The Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved for the 109th Cavalry Regiment on 31 May 1939. They was redesignated for the 181st Field artillery Regiment on 5 December 1940, and for the 181st Field Artillery Battalion on 13 May 1943 and for the 181st Armored Field Artillery Battalion on 19 October 1955. They was redesigned for the 181st Artillery on 11 October 1960 and for the 181st Field Artillery on 19 July 1972.

Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons. DUI and Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.