8th Coast Artillery ( United States ) The 8th Coast Artillery Regiment was a Coast Artillery Harbor Defense ( Type B ) regiment in the United States Army . Lineage . Constituted 2 February 1924 as the 8th Coast Artillery ( HD ) Regiment , and organized at Fort Preble by redesignating 123rd , 154th , 155th , 171st , 196th , 156th , 246th , and 251st companies of Coast Artillery Corps . only Headquarters and Headquarters Battery , and Battery E activated . HHB for harbor defense Portland , Maine , Battery E for harbor defense Portsmouth , New Hampshire . On 11 September 1943 a third Battalion was authorized . The 8th Coast Artillery ordered to Camp Shelby 25 February 1944 ( less Battery B ) released to Army Ground Forces , and assigned to IX Corps ( United States ) , Second United States Army . 8th Coast Artillery Regiment disbanded 31 May 1944 . A Gold metal and enamel device 1 1 / 8 ( 2 . 86 cm ) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned : Per fess Gules and Argent , in chief a mullet of the last , in base a pine tree Proper . The 8th Regiment was organized under General Orders No . 8 , 27 February 1924 , on 30 June 1924 , from the companies which composed the garrison of the Coast Defenses of Portland and Portsmouth . The design is taken from the coat of arms of the old Coast Defenses of Portland . The star has a dual significance . Its five points represent the five forts in the Coast Defenses ; in addition it represents the Pole Star , those being the most northerly defenses in the country . It is set on a field of artillery red . The pine tree is the emblem of Maine , and is on a white field symbolic of the snows among which this particular pine ( Pinus Rigidus ) grows . The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment on 24 March 1924 . It was amended to add the method of wear on 10 November 1924 . The insignia was redesignated for the 27th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 14 January 1952 . Per fess Gules and Argent , in chief a mullet of the last , in base a pine tree Proper . On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a phoenix Purpure ailleroned Or rising from flames Proper . Motto : TERRAE PORTAM DEFENDAMUS ( We Defend The Land Gate ) . The 8th Regiment was organized under General Orders No . 8 , 27 February 1924 , on 30 June 1924 , from the companies which composed the garrison of the Coast Defenses of Portland and Portsmouth . The coat of arms is that of the old Coast Defenses of Portland . The star has a dual significance . Its five points represent the five forts in the Coast Defenses ; in addition it represents the Pole Star , those being the most northerly defenses in the country . It is set on a field of artillery red . The pine tree is the emblem of Maine , and is on a white field symbolic of the snows among which this particular pine ( Pinus Rigidus ) grows . The motto translates to “ We Defend the Land Gate . ” “ Terrae Portam ” is also the Latin equivalent for Portland and “ Defendamus ” is the motto of the Coast Artillery Corps . The crest is taken from the arms of the city of Portland which was thrice destroyed in war by burning , by the Indians in 1676 , by the French in 1690 and by the English fleet in 1775 , but each time it has risen phoenix like from its ashes . Coat of arms . Background . The coat of arms was originally approved for the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment on 13 March 1924 . It was amended to correct the translation of the motto on 31 March 1928 . The insignia was redesignated for the 27th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 14 January 1952 .