2nd Artillery Regiment, US Army

2ND ARTILLERY REGIMENT, US ARMY

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Ermines, a chevron reversed paly of fifteen Gules and Argent, on a chief of the third a saltire Azure.
Crest: On a wreath Argent and Gules, a Kris and an Indian arrow saltirewise Argent surmounted by a serpent Vert, langued and eyed Gules, overall a prickly pear cactus Proper.
Motto: The Second First.

Distinctive unit inisgnia, description: A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 inch (2.54 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Ermines, a chevron reversed paly of fifteen Gules and Argent, on a chief of the third a saltire Azure. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "THE SECOND FIRST" in Black letters.

Origin/meaning

The arms are composed from elements of the former 2nd Coast Artillery and 2nd Field Artillery Regiments. The fifteen red and white stripes allude to the Battle of Fort McHenry in 1814 at which time the flag of the USA was composed of fiteen stars and fifteen stripes. The field of ermines refers to service in Europe during World War I and World War II. The blue saltire refers to the organization's civil War service, particulary the defence of Fort Pickens, the only Fort south of Fort Monroe which remained loyal to the Federal Government throughout the Civil War. The motto "The second first" is taken from the older Coat of arms of the two parent Organisations. The Crest is also composed of elements from the two older Regiments, the Arrow symbolises service in the Indian Wars, the Kris symbolises service in the Philippine Insurrection. And the Snake and Cactus is for service in the Mexican War.

The Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia was approved on 8 July 1959. They was cancelled on 23 August 1971.

Literature: Images from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.

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