Military Insignia - United States and Philippines
Approximately 1920 - 1950

Go directly to photos/titles of insignia

Most of the following insignia were collected by my Dad in the 1920's and 1930's. My Grandfather was twice stationed on Corregidor in the Philippines, once from 1927 to 1930 and once from 1935 to 1938. Each time the family traveled in Army Transports to the Philippines and later back. On those voyages, my Grandfather, Robert Ellsworth Phillips (retired as Colonel) would buy my Dad cigarettes. My Dad would then go to the troop decks and trade them for insignia. Initially, cigarettes cost about 18 cents a pack. Eventually, an insignia became more expensive - up to $1.50.

Many thanks to Scott Hughes, who is Adjutant of The American Society Of Military Insignia Collectors (ASMIC), and who so graciously responded to my plea for help in identifying insignia. Most of the labeled insignia below have labels because Scott provided them. Scott can be emailed at adjutant@asmic.org.

Also thank you to the folks at the Fort Sam Houston Museum who also graciously took the time and effort to identify many of the insignia. I have abbreviated the credits below to FSHM.

Some of the insignia I found on the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society website, which has a nice description of the role the Scouts played. I have abbreviated the credits to PSHS.

MSG Jose R. Ramirez Jr. publishes a website on the Infantry Regiments of the US Army which is the best organized, easiest to navigate website I have ever visited. It is also incredibly comprehensive. There are pages devoted to every Infantry regiment. I have linked each Infantry insignia to its page on MSG Ramirez's website.

If anyone who sees these pages happens to have additional information about any insignia, I would appreciate your passing the information back to me at phillipsbob27@yahoo.com.

I will publish information on the insignia as I collect it. If you are willing to have your name, email address, and/or URL link published, I will be happy to credit anyone who provides information.

On an unrelated note, I also maintain websites on other topics of personal interest to me:

Sincerely,
Bob Phillips
Stilwell, KS

1

Motto: ANYWHERE ANY TIME
Philippine Scouts
57th Infantry Regiment (PS)
PSHS
Approved 8/25/1924

2

Motto: TOUJOURS FIDELE
360th Coast Artillery (Anti Aircraft)
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site
Approved 8/6/1926

3

Motto: WE LEAD THE WAY
29th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

4

8th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

5

33rd Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

6

10th Coast Artillery
(Coastal Defense of Narragansett Bay)
Identified by ASMIC

7

Motto: AGE QUOD AGIS
Panama Division Trains
(Misc. support troops)
Identified by ASMIC

8

10th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

9

6th Cavalry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC

10

25th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

11

17th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

12

243rd AntiAircraft Artillery Battalion
Identified by FSHM

13

Motto: MORS AB ALTO
7th Bombardment Group
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

14

7th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

15

Motto: AMOR PATRIAE
63rd AntiAircraft Artillery Battalion
Identified by FSHM

16

15th Infantry Regiment
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

17

143rd Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

18

Philippine Scouts
45th Infantry Regiment (PS)
Post War Variant
PSHS

19

21st Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

20

33rd Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

21

23rd Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

22

Philippine Scouts
12th Quartermaster Regiment
Approved Sept 27, 1937
PSHS

23

38th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

24

Motto: Observe and Report
12th Observation Group
See detailed notes
Approved 4/12/1932

25

59th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense - Corregidor)
Identified by ASMIC

26

24th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

27

Air Corps Technical School,
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

28

Philippine Scouts
57th Infantry Regiment (PS)
1924
PSHS
(See 1 for better condition)

29

Philippine Scouts
26th Cavalry Regiment (PS)
1924
PSHS

30

16th Coast Artillery
(Coastal defense) - Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC

31

16th Coast Artillery
(Coastal defense) - Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC

32

18th Field Artillery
Identified by ASMIC

33

62nd Coast Artillery
(Harbor defense) Fort Totten, NY
Identified by ASMIC

34

14th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

35

245th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
Identified by ASMIC

36

18th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

37

11th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

38

116th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

39

31st Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

40

19th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

41

Motto: LANAKILA O PELE
1st Chemical Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

42

Coast Artillery School
Identified by ASMIC

43

20th Fighter Group (20th Pursuit Group)
Identified by FSHM

44

Philippine Scouts
91st Coast Artillery Regiment (PS)
1928
PSHS

45

11th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

46

Philippine Scouts
14th Engineer Regiment (Combat) (PS)
1926
PSHS

47

12th Coast Artillery
Identified by FSHM

48

HQ, Hawaiian Division
Identified by ASMIC

49

2nd Medical Regiment
Identified by FSHM

50

14th AntiAircraft Battalion
Identified by FSHM

51

8th Field Artillery regiment
Identified by ASMIC

52

15th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

53

13th Coast Artillery Regiment
(Harbor Defense), Charleston SC
Identified by ASMIC

54

52nd Artillery Group
Identified by FSHM

55

344th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

56

13th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

57

9th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense) Fort Banks, MA
Identified by ASMIC

58

10th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

59

Philippine Scouts
92nd Coast Artillery Regiment (PS)
192?
PSHS
Note variation in placement of 155 mm gun

60

60th Air Defense Artillery
Identified by FSHM

61

2nd Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense) Fort Monroe, VA
Identified by ASMIC

62

30th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

63

3rd Bombardment Group
Identified by ASMIC

64

Walter Reed
Army Medical Center
Identified by ASMIC

65

3rd Field Artillery Regiment
Identified by ASMIC

66

83rd Field Artillery
Identified by ASMIC

67

55th Coast Artillery Regiment
(Coastal Defense) Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC

68

1st Coast Artillery,
(Harbor Defense)
Panama Canal Zone
Identified by ASMIC

69

244th Coast Artillery Regiment
(Tractor Drawn)
Identified by ASMIC

70

7th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
Fort Hancock, NJ
Identified by ASMIC

71

4th Cavalry
Identified by FSHM

72

14th AntiAircraft Battalion
Identified by FSHM

73

7th Field Artillery Regiment
Identified by ASMIC

74

21st Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
Fort Miles, DE
Identified by ASMIC

75

12th Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

76

27th Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

77

6th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
Fort Scott CA
Identified by ASMIC
See note from Joe Armstrong SgtMaj USMC (Ret)

78

13th Engineer Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

79

12th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

80

15th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense) Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC

81

13th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense) Charleston SC
Identified by ASMIC

82

6th Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

83

3rd Engineer Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

84

1st Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

85

972nd Coast Artillery Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

86

59th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
(Tractor Drawn) Corregidor
Identified by ASMIC

87

Philippine Scouts
24th Field Artillery Regiment (PS)
1924
PSHS
4 Legged Mule Variant

88

11th Engineer Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

89

Philippine Scouts
12th Medical Regiment (PS)
1925
PSHS

90

4th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

91

8th Coast Artillery
(Harbor Defense)
Fort Preble, ME
Identified by ASMIC

92

51st Coast Artillery Camp
(Now Fort) Eustis, VA
Identified by ASMIC

93

6th Engineer Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

94

Headquarters, Hawaiian Division
Identified by ASMIC

95

3rd Coast Artillery Regiment
(Harbor Defense)
Fort MacArthur, CA
Identified by ASMIC

96

Motto: UNION LIBERTY AND THE LAWS
180th Field
Artillery Regiment
Identified by ASMIC

97

24th Medical Battalion
Identified by ASMIC

98

66th Infantry
(Light Tanks)
See detailed notes
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

99

11th Cavalry
Identified by FSHM

100

61st Air Defense Artillery
Identified by FSHM
See also ASMIC note

101

35th Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

102

5th Bombardment Group,
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

103

305th Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

104

1st Cavalry
Identified by FSHM

105

4th Composite Group,
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

106

65th Coast Artillery
(Antiaircraft) - Canal Zone
circa 1020 - 1930
Identified by ASMIC

107

6th Bombardment Group,
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

108

3rd Cavalry
Identified by FSHM

109

6th Field Artillery
Identified by FSHM

110

Motto: Aut Vincere Aut Mori
First Pursuit Group
See Langley AFB Description
Approved 1/21/1924

111

64th Coast Artillery
(Antiaircraft) Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC
See Notes

112

9th Infantry
Identified by FSHM
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

113

55th Coast Artillery
(Mobile) Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC
See Notes

114

Hawaiian Division's
Quartermaster detachment
Identified by ASMIC
See Notes

115

Reserve Officer Training Corps
Identified by FSHM

116

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

117

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

118

Marine Corps Badge
Identified by ASMIC

119

4th Composite Group,
Army Air Corps
Identified by ASMIC

120

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

121

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

122

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

123

242nd Coast Artillery (Harbor Defense)
Connecticut National Guard unit
Identified by ASMIC

126

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
Infantry Officer Collar Insignia
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

127

41st Coast Artillery
(Railroad) Hawaii
Identified by ASMIC
On Dec.7, 1941 The 41st Coast Artillery was part of the harbor defense of Pearl Harbor

128

Expert Pistol Qualification Badge
Identified by ASMIC

129

Shooting Competition Award
Identified by ASMIC

130

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
Identified by ASMIC
See MSG J.R. Ramirez Jr. Site

131

Infantry Officer Collar Insignia
Identified by ASMIC

132

The University of Georgetown ROTC
(Probably)
Identified by ASMIC

133

Enlisted Collar Insignia
Battery D of a Coast Artillery Unit
Identified by ASMIC

134

Enlisted Collar Insignia
242nd Coast Artillery Regiment,
Connecticut National Guard
Identified by ASMIC

135

Infantry Officer Collar Insignia
Identified by ASMIC

136

Enlisted Collar Insignia
242nd Coast Artillery Regiment,
Connecticut National Guard
Identified by ASMIC

137

138

Army General Staff
Officer's Insignia
Identified by ASMIC

139

World War I Victory Medal
Identified by FSHM

140

Coastal Defense of
Long Island Sound
Identified by ASMIC

#24 Note
12th Observation Group - This insignia was identified at the Valor Collectables website page.

#77 Note
Thank you to Joe Armstrong, SgtMaj USMC (Ret), who provided the following information and can be contacted at joe "dot" armstrong "at" togetherweserved.com

"Army DUI item #77 6th Coast Artillery

6th Coast Artillery Regiment - at Fort Winfield Scott CA, Presidio of San Francisco - had at least 4, probably 5 battalions on south and north ends of the Golden Gate Bridge entrance to San Francisco Harbor. Two battalions were in Marin County on the north end of Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Baker, Fort Barry and Fort Cronkite, all outlying posts of Presidio. This was at least from 1946 thru 1950. Fort Barry was the Regimental Hq forward and had at least 3 support companies. One was the tow target/crash boat company with 4 boats. My Dad was a Tech Sgt and skipper of one of the boats from 46-50."

#98 Note
This piece has been worn by a number of units. It's either the 15th Tank Battalion (1924-1930), the 1st Tank Regiment (1930-32) or the 66th Infantry battalion (Light Tanks) (1932-42). One reference lists the 1st Tank Regiment in one part of the description and 2nd Tank Regiment in another part, so not certain which is right.

#100 Note
61st ADA - This was originally the 61st Artillery Battalion (Coast Artillery Corps) Fort Monroe, VA

#111 Note
"This is another one that has had a number of designations over the years. To properly ID to the 1920-30 period", ASMIC identifies it as the 64th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) Hawaii
Alternate identification: 64th AntiAircraft Battalion
Identified by FSHM

#114 Note
"Most probably the Hawaiian Division's Quartermaster detachment, it also was worn by the 11th Quartermaster Regiment and most recently by the 24th Supply and Transportation Battalion." - From ASMIC

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