Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
HERALDRY AROUSES'
NEW ARMY SPIRIT
Fine Traditions of Several
Commands Add Force to
Coats of Arms.

fine traditions of the American Army.
A coat of arms, with the crest of
the Hamilton family blazoned on the
color and standard of the 5th Field
Artillery, gives descriptive testimony of
the valor and historical traditions of
the only unit of the Regular Army
that survived the War of the Revolu-
ton and is still carrying on with un-
diminished fame.
Six months before the American
Colonies declared their independence
the fiery young patriot, Alexander
Hamilton, had formed an artillery bat
terry in New York, and this same bat
terry. now known as ID" Battery, is one
Of the units of the immortal 5th
So also with the National Guard. A
coat of arms decorates the color of
the 1920 Massachusetts Infantry Regi-
ment, whose organization, dating back
to the early days of the Massachusetts,
Bay Colony in 1886, antedateS that of
the famous 5th Field Artillery by 140
years.
These two emblems of heraldry for
regiments, unique in the history of the
armed services of the Government, Illus
trate the meaning and purpose of coats
OF arms for every unit in the Army, the
federally recognized National Guard
and the Organized Reserves entitled
TO carry color or standard.
To Be Made Complete.
Since the idea of a distinctive coat
OF arms for each regiment and indie
pendent unit was sanctioned nearly IL
years ago by the general staff, nearly
every one of the 360-odd regiments and
independent units of the Regular Army
can point with pride to its individual
of arms will be adopted by all remain
ing regiments in all three branches
under the War Department.
The idea originated with an Amer
lean Army officer of English birth, Col
Robert E. Wyllie who grew up amid
the traditions of the British Army, in
which his forefathers had served with
distinction. AS a boy of Is he came
TO the United States, and when he
entered the American Army he carried
with him and nouriShed the natural
pride an officer and soldier takes in
his individual regiment.
Col. Wyllie, who is stationed at Girls
tobal, in the Canal Zone, is in Wash
ington on leave, and while here is tax
ing personal interest in the progress
OF this work, which he started and Sue
cessfully conducted for two years after
the World War. Preparation of the
coats of arms, with all the voluminous
correspondence and conferences neceS-
the QuartermaSter Corps of the Army
and is now being done by Arthur T.
Du Bots.
Brought Out by World War.
1.-THE World War brought out the
valor and deeds of the American ARMY. -
explained Col Wyllie, "but with the ex-
ception of few units there appeared
to be lacking among its men that esprit
de corps and traditional regimental
pride that characteriZes the soldiers of
Great Britain and other European ma
tons. So l conceived the idea of hav-
ing each regiment adopt coat of arms
as means of promoting a proper esprit
de corps in officers and men, and, more
over, of preserving on the regimental
color the particular battles and history
Of the individual units of the Army. 1t
took patience before the general staff
approved the idea, but In 1919 a general
order to this effect was issued and the
work started"
In the British Army each regimental
color or standard bears a coat of arms
which gives it individual distinction.
Col. Wyllie had long regretted the fact
that American standards were all alike,
except for the name of the regiment.
Now, through his personal efforts, all
is changed. Each has its distinctive
device" said Col. Wyllie, land a soldier
can point with pride to his emblem and
say, That is my coat of arms"
In the Regular Army the instructions
covering the use of the coat of arms,
which consists of shield, motto and
crest, require that the shield be en-
broidered on the eagles breast. the regi-
mental motto on scroll in the eagle S
beak and the regimental crest above the
eagles head.
In the National Guard regiments al
located to two or more States will bear
the crests approved for regiments of
each of the several States, arranged In
order of admission of the States into
the Union. A regiment of the Organ
lied Reserves, having an approved coat
of arms, has as its crest the Lexington
Minute Man above the eagles head.
All coats of arms must be approved by
the Secretary of War.
Most Important Feature.
The most important thing to show
on the coat of arms is the greatest
combat feat in the history of the unit,
no matter when it occurred. Generally.
this form has been carried out in the
insignia already approved. Special
prominence also is usually given to the
most ancient incidents of its combat
record, particularly to the one in which
the regiment received its baptism of
fire.
There are no actually designated or
required heraldic devices to represent
the several wars in which the United
States has been engaged. Various de-
vices, however, have been used in the
designs. For the Revolutionary War,
units have adopted a British lion, the
Gross of St. George, pine tree, a
Tread on Me"-each usually associated
with some section of the Colonies For
the War of 1912, the popular devices
are lion, unicorn or a maple leaf
For the Mexican War, cactus is gen.
orally shown on the coats of arms,
while arrows designate, by their number,
the Indian wars in which the regiment
was engaged, A satire cross, taken
from the Confederate flag, shows the
regiment has seen service in the Civil
War.
The Spanish American War and cam
paigns emanating from it have as
designations a palm tree or castle, or
corps badge, and generally dragon to
designate the Boxer Rebellion in China.
or a carabao for Philippine service.
Usually for service in the World War
the regimental coat Of arms bears the
emblem of the division to which at
tached-for instance, the 4th Infantry
---one of the oldest of the Regular
Army, shows the ivy leafe of the 4th
Division Of the A. E. F.
Must Be Significant.
Heraldry is simply picture writing
and consequently every symbol used
has a definite significance and nothing
is added to which some significance
cannot be attached. In general, the
color of the shield is that of the colors
of the branch or bureau, in order te
associate at once the regiment with
the arm.
The use of these coats of arms is moi
confined entirely to the regimental
standard. They may be used to mark