542 CDSG Monograph Insignia of the Coast Artillery Corps By Greg Hagge, Bolling Smith, and Mark BerhowCoast Arllery insignia on overpass at the entrance to Fort Wineld Scoat the Presidio of San Francisco Tere are several distinct phases in the evolution of uniforms and accessories used by the Coast ArtilleryCorps. Generally speaking, these changes are driven by the periodic modernization of the army’ s uniform regulations as a whole. With few exceptions the personnel of the CAC wore the same regulation uniform and insignia as the rest of the army with the appropriate branch insignia applied. Te following sections will outline general insignia and uniforms examples and changes as they relate to the Coast Artillery only. At the turn of the 19 th century, there was no dierence between eld and garrison artillery uniforms and insignia. Tis changed with the introduction of the Artillery Corps and the specialized insignia for ocers in March of 1902. Te previous 1901 pattern crossed cannon insignia with a red enameled disc at the center was modied to distinguish between eld and coast artillery ocers. Field artillery would have a wagon wheel device in the red disc and Coast Artillery would have a projectile at the center. Enlisted men of both branches of artillery used a stubby crossed cannon insi gnia patterned after the 1895 artilleryinsignia. Te addition of numbers below the cannons identied the numbered independent companies/ batteries. For a short time both eld and coast artillery enlisted men used the same insignia. Later, the Field artillery was again reorganized into lettered batteries, thus leaving the numbered insignia exclusivelyfor the coast artillery. Te cannon pins were nished in black for the olive d rab eld uniform and gold for the dress blue coat. Another dierence is that only the dress uniform used a cap insignia. Cap insignia was attached to the front of the cap with a thumbscrew . Te olive drab service cap was not provided with cap style pins. Te 1901 “fat” style cannon insignia was only manufactured for the rst 126 companies, the black nish made only as a pin back. Te insignia for many branches of the army were redesigned in 1904. Te coast artillery received a new “thin ” style cannon device in black and gold nish. Tis time both service and dress cap badges were provided, and they were manufactured for company numbers up to 170. At dierent times reorganization changed the designation of companies. Te numbers were sometimes broken oto accommodate these changes. Te ocer’s cannon insignia was also redesigned in the “thin” style. Tis was used through the 1920s. Ocer’ s insignia did not have comp any numbers attache d. Te only devices at tached to the oce r’s cannon insignia were to denote service in stapositions. Tese were small devices attached to the bottom of the in- signia for Quartermaster , Ordnance, Mines, Chaplain, Adjutant General, Commissary and a few others. In 1908 a new type of enlist ed insignia was int roduced for the ser vice uniform—the co llar disc. roubles with manufacturing prev ented the distribution of the disc until about 1910. Tis pattern disc is known as “ype-I” discs in the insignia collector’ s jargon. It was about one inch in diameter nished black. Tis type of insignia has a screw stud on the back with a round thumbnut for attachment. Te service branch (i.e.: artillery , infantry , etc) device was worn on the left collar and t he “US” disc on the right (at rst the “US” and branch device were worn in sets on each side just as the previous insignia were). Te background of
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Insignia of the Coast Artillery CorpsBy Greg Hagge, Bolling Smith, and Mark Berhow
Coast Arllery insignia on overpass at the entrance to Fort Wineld Sco at the Presidio of San Francisco
Tere are several distinct phases in the evolution of uniforms and accessories used by the Coast Artillery Corps. Generally speaking, these changes are driven by the periodic modernization of the army’s uniformregulations as a whole. With few exceptions the personnel of the CAC wore the same regulation uniformand insignia as the rest of the army with the appropriate branch insignia applied. Te following sections will
outline general insignia and uniforms examples and changes as they relate to the Coast Artillery only. At the turn of the 19th century, there was no dierence between eld and garrison artillery uniforms
and insignia. Tis changed with the introduction of the Artillery Corps and the specialized insignia forocers in March of 1902. Te previous 1901 pattern crossed cannon insignia with a red enameled disc atthe center was modied to distinguish between eld and coast artillery ocers. Field artillery would havea wagon wheel device in the red disc and Coast Artillery would have a projectile at the center. Enlistedmen of both branches of artillery used a stubby crossed cannon insignia patterned after the 1895 artillery insignia. Te addition of numbers below the cannons identied the numbered independent companies/batteries. For a short time both eld and coast artillery enlisted men used the same insignia. Later, theField artillery was again reorganized into lettered batteries, thus leaving the numbered insignia exclusively for the coast artillery. Te cannon pins were nished in black for the olive drab eld uniform and gold for
the dress blue coat. Another dierence is that only the dress uniform used a cap insignia. Cap insignia wasattached to the front of the cap with a thumbscrew. Te olive drab service cap was not provided with capstyle pins. Te 1901 “fat” style cannon insignia was only manufactured for the rst 126 companies, theblack nish made only as a pin back.
Te insignia for many branches of the army were redesigned in 1904. Te coast artillery received anew “thin” style cannon device in black and gold nish. Tis time both service and dress cap badges wereprovided, and they were manufactured for company numbers up to 170. At dierent times reorganizationchanged the designation of companies. Te numbers were sometimes broken o to accommodate thesechanges.
Te ocer’s cannon insignia was also redesigned in the “thin” style. Tis was used through the 1920s.
Ocer’s insignia did not have company numbers attached. Te only devices attached to the ocer’s cannoninsignia were to denote service in sta positions. Tese were small devices attached to the bottom of the in-signia for Quartermaster, Ordnance, Mines, Chaplain, Adjutant General, Commissary and a few others.
In 1908 a new type of enlisted insignia was introduced for the service uniform—the collar disc. roubles with manufacturing prevented the distribution of the disc until about 1910. Tis pattern disc is known as“ype-I” discs in the insignia collector’s jargon. It was about one inch in diameter nished black. Tis typeof insignia has a screw stud on the back with a round thumbnut for attachment. Te service branch (i.e.:artillery, infantry, etc) device was worn on the left collar and the “US” disc on the right (at rst the “US”and branch device were worn in sets on each side just as the previous insignia were). Te background of
Type “I” collar disk Type “I” collar disk (with company #) Ocers' collar insignia
(1917-18)
the disc was a scored crosshatch design. Coast Artillery was distinguished from Field artillery by placing thecrossed cannon device above center to accommodate placing the company number below the cannons, justlike the former collar pins. Field artillery was organized in regiments of lettered batteries. Teir left collarinsignia had cannons centered on the disc with the letter below. A variation on this was provided for NCOsta. Tis eld artillery insignia had the letter below with the regimental number above the cannons. Nor-mally the “US” disc has the regimental number below the “US”, when this number is used. Te relevanceto Coast Artillery is that enlisted men of the CAC eld regiments of the First World War used eld artillery collar insignia. Ocers of these eld regiments wore CAC cannon pins with numbers attached above theprojectile device. Te projectile device was added to the enlisted collar insignia in 1917, but seldom usedmuch before 1919. Around 1920 the background pattern was changed to an open crosshatching with tiny
shield shaped “dots” in the open spaces, all in very small detail.In 1924 the Army reorganized the CAC from a mix of independent companies and regiments entirely
into regiments. Tis was accompanied by the introduction of regimental distinctive unit insignia (DUI)for the uniforms.Te DUI was worn on the shoulder strap by ocers and on the lapel below the branchinsignia by enlisted men (behind the disc on standing collars). Te colorful pins were intended to identify each regimental organization and inspire esprit de corps. Each of the regular Army and National Guardregiments had authorized designs registered with the Institute of Heraldry. Te designs, based on the unit’sheraldic crest, often reected historical themes and geographic elements (see following sections on unit agsand heraldry). Tere are many variations of these insignia to be found—some through authorized changes
in the designs and some through manufacturer’s errors, die variations and dierent types of screw or pinattachments. Some of these organizations exist today and use the same DUI design, but most have longago been deactivated or have drastically changed the design (See section on heraldry following).
Type “III” collar insignia
Type “II” collar insignia
About 1930 a new style enlisted collar disc was introduced. Tis was of two-piece construction consist-ing of a at smooth brass disc with a branch device attached by a screw tting from the rear. Any branch of service could be assembled with this disc. Tis is known as “ype-III” brass. It is still in use to the modernera. As before the “US” disc had the regimental number under the “US”. Te left disc had the crossed can-non and projectile device with the battery letter below. A variation on this included a battalion numberabove the device. Another unocial addition was “AA” over the cannons for ocers as well as enlisted men’scollar brass. Tis was mostly a National Guard phenomenon. In 1943, as a wartime measure the insignia was redesigned for economy of materials. Te brass was replaced by stamped and plated steel. Te new brass plated insignia is of one-piece construction. Also at this time the DUIs were commonly made of silver.Tere was no shortage of this metal; “sterling” was not the “high class” model, it was the substitute!
As noted above, the 1924 regulations required all buttons and insig-nia to be gold for the service uniform, so the collar insignia changed as well. Tis new background design in gold nish is known as “ype-II”
collar brass. Ocers began wearing a large cannon insignia with regi-mental numbers on the shirt collar (formerly very small black devices)for eld service. A new smaller design with the regimental numbersabove the projectile device was worn on the lapels of the service coat.Tis style insignia was used with minor variations until the CAC wasdisbanded.
Te most prolic type of cloth insignia specic to coast artillery is enlisted men rating insignia of the1900-1930s. Te great variety of ratings and their associated insignia is too large and complex to treathere, but a set of examples from 1908 are illustrated on the next page. Tey were manufactured in brightcolors for the dress uniform and in drab for the service uniform. Te purpose of the specialized insignia
was to show the specialty and level of qualication of the individual soldier. It was necessary to qualify asa rst class gunner before other specialty qualications could be earned. Some of these ratings also meantextra pay. Te competition was tough and successful achievement could mean a chance to be selected foradvanced training at the Fort Monroe enlisted specialty schools. Te cutting edge technologies of mastergunner (civil engineering skills), electrical and power plant operations (steam boilers and electric genera-tors), radioman and other highly technical skills were on the curriculum.
Enlisted rank chevrons are another category of cloth insignia with many variations over the years. Fieldand coast artillery used the same chevrons as well as some of the same rating insignia. Some of the namesfor the grades were dierent for coast artillery, sergeant major junior grade being one of them. Te dresschevrons were red artillery branch color facing cloth on dark blue uniform cloth. Service uniforms usedfull color on olive drab background at rst, and then changed to drab or gray on olive drab background. In
the 1920s the service chevrons were all mounted on a dark blue background. Some of the rating insignia was red on blue, some drab on blue. Tese details changed regularly and again are too complex to treat inthis article.
Tere were only a few unit-specic or department-specic CAC shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) “patches.”Te red triangle of the 55th CAC (below left) and the white triangle of the 59th CAC (below, right) used inthe early 1920s are the most noteworthy. Some locations, especially overseas, wore a local department SSIbeginning in the late 1920-1930s, the Hawaiian, Panama Canal Zone and the Philippine departments be-ing the most important. WW II command SSI such as the Alaskan Defense Command (ADC) is anotherexample. State side CAC organizations generally did not wear SSI until about 1942 when the insignia weredeveloped for the continental defense, coastal, and AA commands.
A Note on Collecting Insignia
When contemplating collecting any of these or other types of insignia, be aware that reproductions and“re-strikes” abound. Learn the dierences between modern insignia and “old” types. If your interest is inassembling insignia from a specic era, there are many things to look for. Te accompanying illustrationsmay help in selecting insignia for period uniforms and displays more carefully.
Shoulder patch insignia of the Coast Arllery in World War II.
Te insignia shown here are for dress uniforms from the 1908 Quartermaster uniform catalog in usec. 1904-1917. Note that the titles and designs varied considerably over the years.
Te adoption of arms and badges for organizations of the Army was formally approved towards the endof 1919. Previously regiments were authorized and encouraged to obtain such insignia, but no ocial use was made of them, neither did the War Department exercise any control or supervision over the designs,and the result was a great variety, many defying the laws of heraldry, and a remarkable number containing
historical inaccuracies.In 1919 the War Department authorized the Supply Division of the Chief of Sta to use regimental
arms on the colors in place of the arms of the United States, thus making the color truly regimental incharacter, instead of being a national emblem as it had previously been. Te retention of the eagle showedthe Federal nature of the organization, but the remainder of the design applied only to that particular unit which reected the traditions, ideals, wars, battles, and other incidents connected to that unit’s history.In addition a distinctive insignia was developed from an element of the arms for use as a marker and anemblam to be worn on the uniform.
A coat of arms, in the ordinary acceptation of the phrase, consists essentially of a shield, with the mostimportant accessories being the crest and motto.
Te shield consists of a base metal (gold or silver) and one or more solid colors on which are placeddesigns to illustrate the history of the unit.Te crest was formerly worn on the helmet and, whenever practicable, was so shown. Due to the man-
ner in which the arms and crest were placed on the regimental color, the helmet was oftenomitted, but on drawings, stationery, etc., it was used to support the crest, thus avoidingthe appearance of a crest suspended in midair. Te heraldic wreath typifed the torse of clothor silk formerly used to fasten the crest to the helmet, and was always shown. It was placedbetween the helmet and the crest, or as the support of the crest if the helmet was omitted.Te mantling was an accessory of the helmet. It symbolized the mantle formerly worn overthe knight’s armor, and was always the principal color of the shield, lined with the principalmetal; and the same rule holds true for the wreath.
Te motto was placed on a scroll or ribbon, usually below the shield, but occasionally elsewhere, therebeing no xed rule about its placement or color.
In 1919 the Coast Artillery Corps had few regiments, so coats of arms were designed for the variouscoast defense commands and a small number were authorized distinctive unit insignia.
In 1924, the regimental structure was returned to the entire Coast Artillery Corps and each new regi-ment was required to produce a coat of arms design for approval. Troughout the 1920s and 1930s, WarDepartment policy dictated that the organizational colors would not be issued until a coat of arms wasapproved by the Chief of Sta, or after 1924, the Adjutant General.
Te rst distinctive insignia for uniforms was produced for the 51st Coast Artillery Regiment in 1924,followed by the 55th. Most existing active Regular Army, National Guard, and Organized Reserve regi-ments eventually had a coat of arms approved. Tis policy was continued into the early years of World WarII, until it was more or less suspended in 1943. A color guide to the DUIs for the Coast Artillery Corpsregiments is included at the end of this section.
Coast Artillery, Antiaircraft Artillery, Air Defense Artillery Distinctive Insignia Catalog, compliled by the American Society of Military Insignia Collectors (ASMIC), 526 Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071-1621.
Sawicki, James P., Antiaircraft Battalions of the U.S. Army, Volumes 1 & 2, Wyvern Publications, Dumphries, VA, 1991.
Stanton, Shelby L., Order of Battle, US Army in World War II, Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 1984.
Wyllie, Robert E. "Coats of Arms and Badges of Te Coast Artillery Corps" Coast Artillery Journal Volume 59 (August 1923)pp. 123-142.
Coat of Arms of the Third Artillery RegimentText adapted from Sawicki, James P., Antiaircraft Battalions of the U.S. Army, Wyvern Publications, Dumphries, VA, 1991;
see this reference for denitions of heraldic terms consult this reference.
Shield: Or , on a chevron gules above an imperial Chinese dragon of the like armed azure three mullets argent, on a chief of the second two pallets of the fourth an arrow infess counterchanged.
Crest: Out of a mural crown or masoned gules a garland—the dexter branch cactus, the
sinister palm—proper encircling a sun in spendor argent.
Motto: Non Cedo Ferio (Yield Not, Strike).
Symbolism: Scarlett is used for artillery. Te two white stripes on the scarlett chief, the colors of the campaign streamers for the War of 1812, commemorating the participation of several companies of the regiment. Te arrow alludes to the Indian wars. Te chev-ron and stars indicate service in the Civil War. Te stars also refer to the numericaldesignation of the regiment. Te dragon represents service in China; the claws andteeth are blue to indicate that elements of the regiment served in the China Relief Expedition as infantry. Te mural crown, cactus, and palm signify the regiment’sparticipation in the Mexican War and elements of the regiment in the PhilippineInsurrection. Te sun in its glory commemorates the laurels earned by the regimentduring its days of glory.
Distinctive Insignia: An adaption of the crest and motto of the coat of arms (right).
Bolling W. SmithExerpted from CDSG Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 2 (May 1996) pp. 85-91
In the U.S. Army, ag is a general term, while a color was originally the ag of an unmounted unit anda standard the ag of a mounted unit. Over time, this distinction inevitably became more complicated.
Although the sizes of colors and standards changed, colors were always larger than standards. Te sta fora color was termed a pike, while the sta for a standard was called a lance.
Organizational Colors and Standards
Units that were issued a silken national color or standard were also issued a regimental color or standard.Tey were the same size, of the same material, with the same fringe and carried on identical pikes or lances.Te restrictions on the use of the silken national ags also applied to the organizational ags.
Te 1923 regulations describe the regimental colors and standards, the fabric being red for the artillery.In place of the coat of arms of the United States, a regiment having an approved coat of arms displayed it ona shield on the breast of an eagle, with the regimental motto on a scroll in the eagle’s beak. Te regimental
crest was above the eagle’s head. A regiment having an approved badge, but no coat of arms, replaced thecrest with the badge, while the eagle’s breast would remain feathered. In either case, a scroll below the eaglecarried the unit’s designation. Te cord was scarlet and gold.
In 1931, the regulations were expanded to cover regiments in the National Guard and Organized Re-serves. Guard regiments with approved coats of arms would display them the same as active army regiments, while the crest would be that approved for regiments of their state. In the case of a regiment allocated tomore than one state, each state crest would be displayed above the eagle’s head. In the case of a regimentin the Organized Reserves with an approved coat of arms, the crest would be the image of the LexingtonMinute Man.
(Le) the colors of the Third Coast Arllery
(Right) Rering the regimental colors of the 240th Coast Arllery Regiment, 1950 (H. Lawrence)
Guidons are small, swallow-tailed ags, normally carried by company size units. Te 1923 regulationsgive the rst description found of coast artillery guidons. Tey were scarlet, of course, with a yellow coastartillery device. In yellow above the device was the regimental number, and below it was the battery desig-nation. Te regimental headquarters battery was indicated by “HQ,” the service battery by “S,” and a bat-
talion headquarters battery and combat train by the number of the battalion. In the case of companies notassigned to a regiment, the device was raised on the guidon to maintain balance. Te guidons were of woolbunting, swallow-tailed, 2 feet 3 inches on the pike or lance, 3 feet 5 inches on the y, and forked 15 inches.
By 1944, reecting the changing organization of the Coast Artillery Corps, the regulations provided forthe number over the device to be either a regiment or separate battalion. For separate batteries the number was placed below the device, which was then raised enough to “preserve the symmetry of the guidon.”
Ocer Personal Flags
Certain coast artillery ocers, by virtue of their rank or position, were entitled to personal ags. In the1904 regulations, general ocers were authorized boat ags of scarlet bunting, 4 feet 9 inches by 3 feet.Rank was indicated by white stars placed on the center line of the ag. Te chief of artillery used the generalocer’s ag appropriate to his rank. By Change No. 66 to Army Regulations (C.A.R. No. 66), December31, 1917, a similar ag, 26 inches by 18 inches, was issued to be own from an automobile while engagedin ocial duties.
In 1908, the Quartermaster Department adopted specications for a boat ag for artillery districtcommanders. It was to be of the best scarlet duck bunting, with the coast artillery device in yellow bun-ting sewn in the center, 18 by 24 inches for small boats and launches and 27 by 36 for larger boats. In theregulations dated April 15, 1917, this ag was specied for only coast defense commanders, while district
commanders were authorized an automobile ag, 18 by 26 inches, of the same design. On the last day of 1917, however, C.A.R. 66 restricted the use of the boat ag to district commanders, while authorizingcoast defense commanders to y the same pennant as post commanders. District commanders who weregeneral ocers ew the general ocer’s ags instead of the district commander’s.
In the 1923 regulations, no automobile ags were authorized for commanders who were not generalocers, and district commanders lost any distinctive ag, while coast defense commanders continued touse the two sizes of boat ags. Te smaller, or launch, ag was lengthened to 26 inches, the same size as theearlier automobile ag. Te boat ag for general ocers remained unchanged, while the automobile aggained a fringe of knotted yellow silk 1 1/2 inches wide. Te automobile ag for chief of coast artillery,however, now contained the corps device, surrounded by an appropriate number of white stars.
Coast Artillery VesselsTe coast artillery operated a substantial number of vessels, the great majority of which were involved
in the planting of submarine mines. A ag for these mine boats is described in Quartermaster Departmentspecications approved in 1905. Te ag was to be of white bunting, four by six feet, made of two, 24 inch wide strips joined with a horizontal seam. Dyed on the ag was the design, a blue mine superimposed ontwo white crossed cannon, with the words “SUBMARINE” above and “DEFENSE” below, in white, inthe form of an arc. Te background of the ag was dyed scarlet. Although this ag does not appear in the1910 or 1917 regulations, it does appears in the October 1917 National Geographic Magazine. In the 1923,1931 and 1944 regulations, the lettering was omitted, and it is called a mine planter ag.
Exerpted from "Coats of Arms and Badges of Te Coast Artillery Corps"by Colonel Robert E. Wyllie, C. A. C. Coast Artillery Journal Volume 59 (August 1923) pp. 123-142.
and other notes in the Coast Artillery Journal 1928 & 1929.
Coast Defenses of Portland the shield is divided horizontally, the upper half red, the lower silver. On thered is a silver star of ve Points, and on the lower half is a pine tree in natural colors. Te star bas a double
signicance; it symbolizes the Pole Star, this being the most northerly defense on the Atlantic Coast, whileits ve points represent the ve forts, Williams, McKinley, Levett, Preble and Baldwin, Tis star is placedon a background of artillery red. Te pine tree is the old emblem of the State of Maine, and appears on thecoat of arms of that State. Te crest is a phoenix, and is taken from the arms of the city of Portland, whosehistory it well typies. In this case the body and head are purple, the wings gold. Te ames are alwaysshown in natural colors. Te motto for these defenses is Terrae Portam Defendamus, the translation being“We defend the land gate (or port).” Defendamus is the motto of the Coast Artillery School, and erraePortam is a latin rendering of Portland. (Shield adopted by the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment.)
Coast Defenses of Boston a shield of artillery red, on which is the Mayower under full sail in naturalcolors. Te crest consists of a wreath of the colors on which is a dexter arm, embowed, habited gray with
white ru grasping a sta with the ag of Bunker Hill attached, all proper. Te motto is Prima Libertatio Acie, (in the rst line of battle for liberty.)(Shield adopted by the 9th Coast Artillery Regiment)
Coast Defenses of Narragansett Bay . Te shield is red on the upper half for artillery, and blue below takenfrom the arms of Rhode Island, which has a gold anchor on a blue shield. Te dividing line between thesetwo colors is embattled to show fortications. On the red is the gold sundial-compass of Roger Williams(Date 1638) the founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. In the lower half is agold eur-de-lis, to commemorate the services of the French during the Revolution. Te crest is two goldcrossed cannons supporting the anchor of Rhode Island in blue. Te motto of the state, Hope, is also usedby the Coast Defenses. Te anchor, the device of Rhode Island, is the symbol of stability.
Coast Defenses of Long Island Sound the shield is gold, and bears a blue diagonal stripe, known as abend, on which are three silver towers. Te bend with its towers represents the line of three forts, Wright,Michie and erry, placed diagonally across the entrance of the Sound. On each side of the bend is a narrow parallel stripe of black, symbolizing the iron defenses. Te crest is the head of a sh hawk in natural colors, which bird abounds in that vicinity. Te motto is a command to the enemy, Stop. (Crest adopted by the11th Coast Artillery Regiment.)
Coast Defenses of Sandy Hook has a shield of artillery red on the upper half and gold below, the linebetween the two being embattled. On the red and rising out of the embattlements is the Statue of Liberty in gold, and in the lower half is the Sandy Hook lighthouse placed between two bursting shells. Te light-house and shells are black, while the ames from the shells are in the natural color of re. Te crest is a goldpanther, breathing re, placed on the battlements of a red tower. Te motto of these defenses is Obscuratalucidior, and refers to the incident when the darkening of the lighthouse furthered the light of liberty in thecountry. A supporter for these arms to be used in all cases except on the colors. When Hudson exploredNew York Bay and the river which bears his name in 1609, his ship, the “Half Moon,” was anchored inthe Horse-shoe near Sandy Hook, in commemoration of which the shield of these defenses is displayed infront of the “Half Moon.” (Crest adopted by the 7th Coast Artillery Regiment.)
Coast Defenses of Chesapeake Bay has for its base the arms of Lord Delaware, the rst Governor of theColony of Virginia. His arms consisted of a silver shield bearing a jagged black stripe placed horizontally across the centre known to heralds as a fess dancetty. o this is added a red cross, symbolic of the landingof the rst settlers at Cape Henry in 1607, their rst act being to erect a cross and oer thanks for their safearrival. Te crest is a hand in a gauntlet of silver mail grasping a gold trident, which commemorates thebattle between the Monitor and the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. Te mailed hand grasping the tridentof Neptune, the god of the seas, ttingly symbolizes that supremacy.Te motto is Portam Primam Defendo(I defend the rst gateway).
Coast Defenses of Pensacola is based entirely on the defense of Fort Pickens during the Civil War. Tatfortication was the only place within the territorial boundaries of the Confederacy over which the Starsand Stripes ew during the whole of the Civil War. Tis was a specially meritorious incident and the WarDepartment has commemorated it by permitting the use the eagle in gold on a shield of artillery red. Te
crest is an arm clothed in Union blue, while a gold aming torch of liberty is held erect in the hand. Temotto is Fides ultra nem (Faithfulness beyond the end).
Coast Defenses of San Francisco has a shield of purple on the upper half, with gold below. On this is acharge known in heraldry as a pile, an inverted triangle having the base coincident with the top line of theshield and the apex very near the bottom. Te upper half of the pile is gold, the lower blue. In the centerof the pile is a red demi-sun. Tis combination represents the setting sun seen through the Golden Gateof San Francisco Harbor.Te crest is a grizzly bear, the emblem of California, in black. (Crest adopted by the 6th Coast Artillery Regiment)
Coast Defenses of Puget Sound has a shield of artillery red and on it are ve horizontal stripes of gold.
At each side of the shield is a semi-circular piece (aunch) of ermine. Ermine is represented in heraldry by black tails, very much conventionalized, on a white or silver background, and in this case it recalls the furtrade and the positions of the ermine on the shield indicate the straits across which are placed ve fortica-tions which bar the way to an invader. Te red is not only for artillery, but, in connection with the gold of the bars, commemorates the Spaniard who discovered the Straits in question. Te crest is a full-faced sun,known as a “sun-in-splendor.” Tis is always shown with rays issuing from the entire perimeter, alternately straight and wavy, the straight rays denoting the light received from the sun, while the wavy rays representthe heat. A human face is depicted on the sun itself. Tis was the crest of Lieutenant Peter Puget, RoyalNavy, one of Captain Vancouver’s ocers, for whom the Sound was named.
Coast Defenses of Cristobal has a shield of artillery red, and in the centre a medieval vessel known as acaraval in gold. In the upper corner is a silver portcullis, the barred gateway used in the middle ages at theentrance of castles. Te red and gold together again make the Spanish colors to commemorate the discoverersof this part of the continent. It was in 1502 that Columbus skirted this coast and landed near the ChagresRiver, which is indicated by the caraval. Te portcullis is symbolical of the canal, which when open formsa passage between the two oceans, but when closed by these defenses bars the way to the enemy.
Te crest of this command is unique, the arm of a pirate, tattooed with skull and crossbones, havingon the upper arm a sleeve of white and green with crimson cu and gold buttons, the hand brandishing apirate’s cutlass in black. Te motto is Nullius pavit occursum (He fears no encounter) and can be consideredas referring both to the old buccaneers and to the present defenders of the canal.
Coast Defenses of Balboa has a red shield. On it is a gold chevron sprinkled with red hearts. Above thechevron are two portcullises in gold and below is an old type gold cannon, placed vertically and on its sum-mit a garland of Holy Ghost orchids. Te gold and red of the chevron form the Spanish colors. Te heartsare an allusion to Amador, the principal fort of these defenses, named after the rst President of Panama.Te portcullis has the same signicance as in the arms of the Coast Defenses of Cristobal, two are used inthis case to represent the two sets of locks at the Pacic end of the canal. Te cannon is for artillery, and itsgarland is formed of orchids which are said to grow only on the Isthmus. Like the crest of its neighbor atthe Atlantic end of the canal, that of these defenses is based on the old buccaneers; an arm in a blue rolledup sleeve, tattooed on the forearm with skull and crossbones, and holding a smoking pistol of 17th century
type. Te motto of the command is Strength, Loyalty, Valor.
Until March, 1921, there was but one coast defense command in Hawaii, known as the Coast Defenses
of Oahu, but it was then split into the Coast Defenses of Pearl Harbor and Coast Defenses of Honolulu. Tearms of these two are designed to show their common origin. In each case the shield is gold, surroundedby a border of eight horizontal stripes (or bars), silver, red, blue, silver, red, blue, silver, red, commencingat the top. Te interior line of the border is embattled to show fortications. Te eight stripes are takenfrom the old Hawaiian ag and arms and signify the eight islands of the group.
Coast Defenses of Pearl Harbor has two upright black sticks, each surmounted by a silver ball, placed onthe gold. Tese are known as tabu sticks, and were formerly placed in front of the entrance to the king’spalace, etc., every[thing] behind the sticks being “tabu” to the common man. Te crest of the Coast Defensesof Pearl Harbor is the Helmet of King Kamehameha the Great in red and gold, placed on a garland of palmbranches. Te principal fort of these defenses is named after that monarch, while red and yellow were the
royal colors. Te palm branches symbolize victory. Te motto is “Defenders of Pacic Pearls.” In place of these tabu sticks the Coast Defenses of Honolulu uses two ancient Hawaiian spears, crossedlike the letter “X,” red in color. Crossed spears were used in the old times immediately at the door of theKing’s tent. Diamond Head, known by reputation all over the world, is used as a crest in red to denoteboth artillery and the color of the soil at Fort Ruger, which is located at that famous extinct volcano. Temotto is the well known Hawaiian word Kapu, which means “Keep out.” (Shield adopted by the 16thCoast Artillery Regiment.)
Coast Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays is based on the arms of the Philippine Islands, although dier-ent meanings are attached to the devices used. Te arms of the Philippines are red in the upper half, blue
in the lower. On the red is the Spanish castle in gold, below is a silver seahorse grasping a sword. Te wholeis set upon the shield of the United States, so that the latter forms a border. Tese defenses omit the borderand have reversed the shield, putting the blue on top, and separating the blue and red by a wavy line, theheraldic way of indicating water, which, in this case, consists of the two bays defended. Te seahorse in theupper half is denuded of his sword and represents the island of Caballo, on which Fort Hughes is located.Te castle below represents Corregidor, or Fort Mills, the principal fortication, and it is placed betweentwo croziers of gold, symbolizing the monk (El Fraile, Fort Drum) and the nun (La Monja) of the legend,familiar to all who have served in Manila. Te crest of these defenses is a carabao’s head, full face in thenatural colors, and represents Fort Frank on Carabao Island. Te motto is Corregidor omnia vigilat (Cor-regidor guards all).
Coat of Arms for the Harbor Defenses of Charleston
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 69 (1928) p. 349.
Shield: Gules a palmetto tree proper.Crest: On a wreath or and gules, a dexter arm, embowed, habited in the Continental artillery
uniform (blue with red cus and yellow buttons) grasping the Fort Moultrie ag(blue with a white increscent in dexter chief and the word “LIBERY” also in whitealong lower edge of proper).
Motto: Let’s not ght without a ag.
Coat of Arms for the Harbor Defenses of Eastern New York
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 68 (1928) p. 347.
Shield: Ermine on a chevron vert a mine case between two Engineer castles agent.Crest: On a wreath of the colors a dexter arm in armor, embowed proper charged with
a mullet gides grasping in the naked hand a sword argent hilted or. Motto: Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.
Shield: Gyronny of eight azure and gules, a three-bastioned fort voided argent.Crest: On a wreath of the colors a ship gules agged proper in stocks argent, from the seal
of the State of New Hampshire. Motto: We Are One.
Harbor Defenses of New Bedford
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 68 (1928) p. 451.
Te Coat of Arms for the Harbor Defenses of New Bedford bears on a Shield: Gules, an arm embowedbrandishing a harpoon proper. Te City of New Bedford from its earliest days was known as the “WhalingCity” which accounts for the arm and harpoon on the shield.
Coat of Arms of the Harbor Defenses of Southern New York
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 69 (1928) p. 73.
Shield: Vair, three bars gules, jessant from the middle one a demilion saliant, ragardant or.Crest: On a wreath of the colors (argent and azure) a beaver couchant proper. Motto: Volens et Potens.
Coat of Arms of the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 69 (1928) p. 161.
Shield: Azure, three lions’ heads earsed or, 2 and 1.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors a grin’s head earsed azure, beaked and eared or. Motto: Semper Paratus.
Coat of Arms of the Harbor Defenses of the Potomac
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 69 (1928) p. 264.
Shield: Gules. two bars, argent. in chief three mullets of the like.Crest: On a wreath of the colors an eagles head earsed sabled. armed or. Motto: Exitus acta probat.
Coat of Arms of the Harbor Defenses of Baltimore
Te shield is the Coat of Arms of the Calvert family, to which Lord Baltimore, the founder of Maryland,belonged. Tis now forms the 1st and 4th quarters of the arms of the State of Maryland. Te chief com-memorates the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key during the battle of Fort McHenry,September 13, 1814. Te ag at that time had fteen stars and fteen strips. Te embattled partition lineis for the defense of the fortress. Te translation of the motto is “with song and deed.” Te crest features asoldier in the uniform of 1812. Courtesy of the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.
Coat of Arms of the Harbor Defenses of Galveston
Coast Artillery Journal Vol. 69 (1928) p. 495.
Shield: Gules, a ship under sail, in chief a mullet, both argent.Crest: On a wreath of the colors a cotton boll proper.
Shield: Azure, a pile raguly or.Crest: On a wreath of the colors or and azure and anchor proper (grayish) behind
an eight point mullet of rays or. Motto: Paratus (Prepared).
Coat of Arms for the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles
Coast Artillery Journal Volume 69 (Feb. 1929) pp. 151-152
Shield: Parti per fess wavy gules and azure, in chief two angels habited of the secondand argent and winged or proper and in base two keys in saltire of the fourth and third.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors (or and gules ) a crescent gules . Motto: Nosotros Los Defenderemos.
Other Coast Artillery Coats of Arms
Harbor Defenses of Savannah Te Coast Artillery School
Coast Artillery Regiments 1924-1941Prepared by Mark Berhow
with Greg Hagge, Bob Capistrano, & the American Society o Military Insignia Collectors (www.asmic.org)
Abbreviations: RA = regular army, RAI = regular army, inactive, NG = national guard, OR = organized reserve, PS = Philippine Scouts,HD = harbor deense artillery, RY = railway artillery, AA = antiaircrat artillery, TD = tractor drawn artillery, DUI = distictive unitinsignia, inact = inactivated, redes = redesignated, react = reactivated, assign = assigned, trans = transerred, conv = converted, org =organized, CAR = coast artillery regiment, reg = regiment, Bn = battalion.
Tis guide shows only insignia that were ofcially approved (or worn) during the period 1920-1941 A great number o unit and insigniachanges and inconsistancies occured during the period. 1942-1945 are are gnerally not shown here.
Key:Regiment number, Army Cadre (RA, NG, OR) Unit Type (HD, AA, TD, RY)
Year Organized, initial HQ postDUI - Year authorized/approvedNotesInact: year, location
1st RA HD1924 Ft DeLessups, PCZDUI - 1925/1926Original 1st Artillery 1821redesig (HD/AA) 1934redesig (HD) 10-26-39Inact Nov 1944
2nd RA HD1924 Ft Sherman, PCZDUI - 1924/1926Original 2nd Artillery 1821trans Ft Monroe 1932inact Oct 1944
3rd RA HD1924 Ft MacArthur, CADUI - 1925/1925Original 3rd Artillery 1812
2nd Bn HD SD, 3rd Bn HD CR caretaker status 1929inact Oct 1944
4th RA HD1924 Ft Amador, PCZDUI - 1928/1929Original 4th Artillery 1821inact Oct 1944
varient 1
varient 2
5th RA HD1924 Ft. Hamilton, NY DUI - 1925/1925Original 5th Artillery 1861caretaker status 1929inact Apr 1944 Cp Rucker, AL
6th RA HD1924 Ft W. Scott, CADUI - 1924/1924Original 6th Artillery 1898inact Oct 1944
dexter
sinister
7th RA HD1924 Ft Hancock, NJDUI - 1924/1924Original 7th Artillery 1898
caretaker status 1929inact Apr 1944 Ft. L. Wood, MO
dexter
sinister
8th RA HD
1924 Ft Preble, MEDUI - 1924/1924Caretaker status 1929inact Apr 1944 Cp Shelby, MS
9th RA HD1924 Ft Banks, MADUI - 1924/1924Caretaker status 1929inact Apr 1944 Cp Hood, TX
52nd RA RY 1917 Ft. Eustis, VADUI - 1929/1929moved to Ft Hancock 1930sinact May 1943
53rd RAI RY
1917DUI - redesig 1942?react 1942inact Jun 1944 Cp Pendleton, VA
54th RA TD1941 Cp Wallace, TX 44th CAR redes 54th CAR 1941inact Apr 1944 Ft Ord CA
55th RA TD1917 Ft Kamahemeha, HIDUI - 1922/1923inact Jun 1944
varient 1
varient 2
56th RAI TD
1918 Ft. Cronkhite, CADUI - redes 1941demobilized 1921,506th redes 56th 1941inact Feb 1944
57th RAI TD1918 Ft Monroe?DUI - 1931/1931demobilized 1921,Const as RAI 1926react 1941 Hawaii
inact May 1944
58th RA TD1942 Chile , South Americadisb Jun 1944 59th RA TD1918 Ft Mills, PIDUI - 1930/1930switched armament with 91st HDsurrendered 1942inact Apr 1946
60th RA AA1922 Ft McKinley, PIDUI - 1924/1924surrendered 1942inact Apr 1946
61st RA AA
1921 Ft Monroe, VADUI - 1923/1923trans to Ft Sheridan, IL 1920s,Ft Williams, ME 1940inact Aug 1943 England
62nd RA AA1922 Ft Totten, NY DUI - 1923/1923inact Mar 1943 Italy
varient 1
varient 2
varient 3
63rd RA AA1921 Ft W. Scott, CADUI - 1924/1924trans to Ft MacArthur 1930inact Dec 1943 Seattle, WA
64th RA AA1921 Ft Shater, HIDUI - 1922/1923inact Dec 1943 Hawaii