357th Regiment, US Army
357TH REGIMENT, US ARMY
 (Coat of Arms) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shield: Azure, a chevron rompu point debased Argent between in chief a plate charged with the monogrammed "OT" of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 90th Division Proper and in base two mullets of the second.
Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: From a wreath Argent and Azure, the Lexington Minute Man Proper. The statue of the Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the common in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Motto: SIEMPRE ALERTA (Always on Alert).
Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a chevron rompu point debased Argent between in chief a plate charged with a monogrammed "OT" of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 90th Division Proper and in base two mullets of the second. Attached below the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "SIEMPRE ALERTA" in Black letters.
Origin/meaning
The shield is blue, the Infantry color. The broken rompu point debased chevron indicates that the regiment pushed the German salient back at the Bois de Bantheville and Grand Carré Farm. The shoulder sleeve insignia indicates that the 357th Infantry was a unit of the 90th Division, the unit's former assignment. The two mullets (stars) represent the two major operations during World War I, as well as the dual source of the personnel.
The arms were originally approved for the 357th Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves on 19 June 1925. It was amended to withdraw "Organized Reserves" from the designation and to delete the Organized Reserves' crest from the coat of arms for the 357th Infantry Regiment on 16 June 1959. On 7 August 1970 it was amended to reinstate the crest of the Army Reserve. The arms were redesignated for the 357th on 8 July 1999. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 357th Regiment Infantry, Organized Reserves on 8 September 1927. It was amended to withdraw "Organized Reserves" from the designation for the 357th Infantry Regiment. On 8 July 1999 the insignia was redesignated for the 357th Regiment.
Literature: Images and Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.