3 Infantry Division
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Unit
Insignia
- Description: A
silver colored metal and enamel insignia 1 1/8 inches in
height consisting of a silver rock issuing from the
inner arc of a blue annulet inscribed with the words "NOUS
RESTERONS LA" in silver letters; on the rock and
surmounting the upper part of the annulet a silver
wyvern winged blue bearing thereon three silver diagonal
bands.
- Symbolism: The
rock, inscription and wyvern refer to the two
designations by which men of the 3d Infantry Division
are popularly known; i.e., "Marne Men" and "Blue
and White Devils". The rock represents the Division’s
firm stand against the German offensive at the Marne
River during World War I. It was there that it became
known as the "Rock of the Marne" and there
that the Commanding Officer, General Joseph Dickman,
stated "Nous Resterous La". The wyvern, an
heraldic form of the devil, bears the Division’s
blue and white stripes on its wing in commemoration of
the Division’s action at Anzio, Italy, during World
War II where they were called "Blue and White
Devils" by the enemy.
- Background: The
insignia was approved on 27 Aug 1965.
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Shoulder
Sleeve Insignia
- Description:
Upon a blue square 2 inches, three white stripes each
3/8 inch in width from heraldic sinister chief to dexter
base; the blue background between the white stripes also
being 3/8 inch in width; all within a 1/8 inch Army
Green border. The overall dimension is 2-1/4 inches on
each side.
- Symbolism: The
three white stripes of the insignia are symbolical of
the three major operations in which the division
participated during World War I. The blue field
symbolizes the loyalty of those who placed their lives
on the altar of self-sacrifice in defense of the
American ideals of liberty and democracy.
- Background:
This insignia was originally approved on 24 Oct 1918 for
the 3rd Division, amended to correct the wording of the
description on 11 Oct 1922 and redesignated with an
amendment to include the border in the description for
the 3d Infantry Division on 15 May 1964.
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