23 Infantry Division
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Unit
Insignia
- Description: A
gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/8 inches (3.49cm)
in height overall consisting of a blue enamel saltire
with each arm charged at its terminus with a white
enamel five-pointed star, the vertical axis of each star
diagonally from upper left to lower right, in front of a
horizontal gold anchor, crown to left and gold cable
passing through the anchor ring and behind the saltire
arms, and a vertical stylized red enamel arrowhead
between and touching the two upper arms of the saltire
and surmounting a gold sun with gold rays extending
above the saltire, overall a gold unsheathed sword,
point to top and within the confines of the arrowhead,
the ends of the guard between and conjoined with the
inner edges of the two lower arms of the saltire and the
pommel resting on a continuation of the gold anchor
cable, the areas to each side of the blade where it
extends below the saltire and the hilt above the anchor
cable all in red enamel, all other areas between the
anchor, anchor cable and arrowhead and the saltire of
gold stippled, all above a gold motto scroll, the ends
terminating at the lower arms of the saltire, bearing
the inscription "AMERICAL" in blue enamel
letters, the area between the scroll and anchor cable of
gold stippled.
- Symbolism: The
saltire (or cross of St. Andrew) alludes to New
Caledonia in the Southwest Pacific where the Division
was created and first activated 27 May 1942, and with
its blue color (for Infantry) and four white stars forms
a "Southern Cross" and refers to the
Division's shoulder sleeve insignia (approved 20
December 1943) and the area in which the Division
initially served. The four stars (the brightest in the
Southern Cross constellation) also allude to the four
campaigns (Guadacanal, Northern Solomons, Leyte and
Southern Philippines) World War II in which the Division
participated. The anchor refers to the Presidential Unit
Citation (Navy) awarded the Division for Guadacanal and
the red arrowhead and Philippine sun for the assault
landing, Southern Philippines, and the award of the
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (17 October 1944
to 4 July 1945). The unsheathed sword with point to top
refers to Vietnam where the Division was recently
activated. In view of the Division's origin and
outstanding service in World War II and inasmuch as it
was one of the few U.S. Army Divisions to bear a name
instead of a number, the Division's former name "Americal"
has been taken as a motto, the association with that
name being both inspirational and of historical military
significance.
- Background: The
distinctive unit insignia was approved on 14 Dec 1967.
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Shoulder
Sleeve Insignia
- Description:
N/A
- Symbolism: N/A
- Background: N/A
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