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176 Maintenance Battalion

176 Maintenance Battalion
Unit Insignia

  • Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 (3.18cm) inches in height overall consisting of a Crimson enamel disc bearing at its center a gold wildcat's head "jessant-de-lis" (with fleur-de-lis passing through its mouth) surmounting in base two stylized black wrenches pilewise, all encircled by a continuous blue scroll divided with two folds, the upper portion inscribed "THE BEST SERVES THE REST" in gold letters and in base three white enamel stars.
  • Symbolism: The color crimson is used for maintenance, the black and yellow for tank destroyers; they have been combined to indicate the present and former designations of the organizations. The wildcat's head represents the shoulder sleeve insignia of the tank destroyer forces; the fleur-de-lis symbolizes European service and represents the organization's five battle honors - Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes-Alsace during World War II. The stylized wrenches allude to the unit's mission of maintenance, while the blue circular scroll and three white stars are suggested by the State flag of Tennessee.
  • Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 3 Jan 1978.

176 Maintenance Battalion
Coat of Arms

  • Description: Shield: Per chevron reversed Gules (Crimson) and Azure, on a chevron reversed Or, a pair of open end wrenches jaws to chief Sable, between in chief a wildcat face jessant-de-lis of the third, and three mullets in base two and one Argent. Crest: That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Tennessee Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Gules (Crimson), upon a mount Vert a hickory tree Proper charged with three mullets one and two Argent. Motto: THE BEST SERVES THE REST.
  • Symbolism: Shield: The color crimson is used for maintenance, the black and yellow for tank destroyers; they have been combined to indicate the present and former designations of the organizations. The wildcat's head represents the shoulder sleeve insignia of the tank destroyer forces; the fleur-de-lis symbolizes European service and represents the organization's five battle honors - Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes-Alsace during World War II. The stylized wrenches allude to the unit's mission of maintenance, while the blue circular scroll and three white stars are suggested by the State flag of Tennessee. Crest: The crest is that of the Tennessee Army National Guard.
  • Background: The coat of arms was approved on 24 Feb 1998.