504th Infantry Regiment, US Army

504TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, US ARMY

(Coat of Arms)

(Distinctive Unit Insignia)

Official blazon

Shield: Azure, a sword in bend Argent, hilt and pommel Or, fired Proper.
Crest: On a wreath Or and Azure, a bridge embattled of three arches tenné masoned of the First each arch surmounted by a pheon Argent on the battlements thereof a wyvern Sable winged of the Fourth armed and garnished of the First in base four waves transfluent barry wavy of three of the Fourth and Second.
Motto: STRIKE - HOLD.

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a sword in bend Argent, hilt and pommel Or, fired Proper. Attached below the shield a gold scroll inscribed "STRIKE HOLD" in blue letters.

Origin/meaning

The blue is the color of the Infantry whose functions are represented by the sword, flaming through the sky, the flames symbolizing the zeal of the personnel in the performance of their duties. The motto is expressive of the determination of the personnel to strike swiftly and hold their ground at any cost. The wyvern and the bridge stand for the Regiment's combat service in World War II at Anzio, Italy and at Nijegen Bridge, Holland for each of which actions the Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded. The wyvern is black in reference to the designation "black-hearted devils in baggy pants" given to paratroopers of the Regiment at Anzio. The bridge is orange for the Netherlands. The three pheons stand for the Regiment's three assault drops in Sicily, Anzio and the Rhineland.

The arms were originally approved for the 504th Infantry Regiment on 25 January 1943. It was redesignated for the 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment on 13 August 1952. The arms were redesignated on 2 June 1958 for the 504th Infantry Regiment. On 3 June 1964 the Coat of Arms was amended to add a Crest. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 25 January 1943. It was redesignated on 2 June 1958 for the 504th Infantry Regiment.

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

US heraldry portal

This page is part of the US heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
US heraldry: National arms Arms of States Arms of Counties Arms of cities and towns American Samoa Guam Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Collector's items from the USA Heraldic postcards Heraldic literature of the USA Total pages in the US section : 20,592	Ecclesiastical Heraldry of the USA: Ecclesiastical heraldry Roman Catholic Church Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Ruthenian Catholic Church Catholic Basilicas Episcopal Church Other Churches Military Heraldry: Military heraldry of the United States US Army heraldry US Navy heraldry US Air Force heraldry US Marine Corps heraldry US Space Force heraldry US National Guard heraldry US Coast Guard heraldry US State Military heraldry US Reserve Officer Training Corps and Cadets heraldry