509th Infantry Regiment, US Army
509TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, US ARMY
 (Coat of Arms) |
 (Distinctive Unit Insignia) |
Official blazon
Shield: Gules, a fess nebuly counter wavy Argent a barrulet wavy Azure, on a pile Sable fimbriated of the second, between in base 4 arrowheads points down palewise of the same, another of the like below a stylized figure of a parachutist Or.
Crest: On a wreath Argent and Gules, a rock proper (gray) charged with a crescent Or, a prowling desert jackal (as depicted on the regimental badge of the 3d Zouaves, French Army) of the like.
Motto: ALL THE WAY.
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: Gules, a fess nebuly counter wavy Argent a barrulet wavy Azure, on a pile Sable fimbriated of the second, between in base 4 arrowheads points down palewise of the same, another of the like below a stylized figure of a parachutist Or. Attached below the shield, a silver scroll inscribed "ALL THE WAY" in black letters.
Origin/meaning
Shield: The stylized yellow (gold) figure of a parachutist on a black ground is adapted from the device worn by the regiment during World War II and by which it was known throughout the Mediterranean Theater. The red field alludes to the red berets worn by the British 1st Airborne Division and the close association between it and the regiment during World War II in England and North Africa. The nebuly (heraldic delineation for water) white and blue bars (the colors blue and white are used for Infantry) refer to the record breaking parachute flight from England to North Africa on 8 November 1942. The 2 segments of the wavy blue bar simulate the streamers of the Distinguished Unit Citations awarded for the gallant actions at Carano, Italy and Liege, Belgium, and in being a heraldic symbol of water refers to the amphibious landing on the Anzio-Nettuno beachhead on 22 January 1944. The black pile simulates a parachute jump and in also being a heraldic symbol used frequently for Engineers, the two sides refer to the ground defense the organization participated in during the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge) Campaigns. The five arrowheads are for the five assault landings made by the regiment in World War II.
Crest: The jackal and crescent are taken from the regimental badge of the 3d Zouaves, French Army, and symbolize the parachute jump and seizure of the airfield at Youks Les Bains near the border of Tunisia. One of the results of this hazardous operations on 15 November 1942 was the authority granted by the Commander in Chief of the French Army for personnel of the 509th Regiment to wear the regimental badge of the French 3d Zouave Regiment. The rock and crescent allude to the subsequent successful action at Faid Pass in Tunisia, the first engagement against the Germans, World War II, in which American troops participated.
The arms were originally approved on 30 September 1963. It was amended on 18 November 1963 to correct the wording of the blazon of the shield. On 28 May 1970 the coat of arms was amended to correct the blazon of the crest. The Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved on 30 September 1963. It was amended on 18 November 1963 to correct the wording of the blazon.
Literature: Images from Wikimedia Commons. Information from The Institute of Heraldry, US Army.
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