Distinctive Unit
Insignia. Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 7/32 inches (3.10 cm) in height
consisting of a coat of arms blazoned as follows: Shield: Or a cross
moline Sable, on a chief embattled of the last a Maltese cross Argent. Crest:
On a wreath of the colors (Or and Sable) a bundle of five arrows Sable armed
and flighted Gules, tied with a rattlesnake skin having five rattles Proper; the
device enclosed within a motto scroll arcing over the top of the shield and
inscribed "Loyalty" on the dexter side and "Courage" to
sinister in Black letters.
Symbolism: The
shield is yellow for Cavalry. The cross
moline
symbolizes the charged of this
Regiment on Longstreet's troops at Gaines Mills in 1862; a charge which saved
the Union artillery and which is characterized by the Regimental historian as
"its most distinguished service." The cross
moline
is supposed to represent the
iron pieces of a mill stone (moulin, the French word Mill). The chief is for the
Puerto Rican Expedition of 1898. The original name of the island was
San Juan
, named for the old knights of
St. John
who wore a white maltese cross
on a black habit. The partition line is embattled to suggest the castle on the
Spanish arms. The crest is for the Indian campaigns of the Regiment; the number
of arrows corresponds to the numerical designation of the organization.
Background: The
distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 5th Cavalry on
19 January 1923
. It was redesignated for the
5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry) on
16 December 1953
. The insignia was redesignated
for the 5th Cavalry on
10 July 1959
. It was amended to revise the
symbolism on
23 June 1960
.
Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield: Or a cross
moline
Sable, on a chief embattled of the last a maltese cross Argent.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors (Or and Sable) a bundle of five arrows
Sable armed and flitted Gules, tied with a rattlesnake skin having five rattles
Proper.
Motto: LOYALTY AND COURAGE.
Symbolism:
Shield: The shield is yellow for Cavalry. The cross
moline
symbolizes the charge of this Regiment on Longstreet's troops at Gaines Mills in
1862; a charge which saved the Union artillery and which is characterized by the
Regimental historian as "its most distinguished service." The cross
moline
is
supposed to represent the iron pieces of a mill stone (moulin, the French word
Mill). The chief is for the Puerto Rican Expedition of 1898. The original name
of the island was
San Juan
,
named for the old knights of
St.
John
who wore a white maltese
cross on a black habit. The partition line is embattled to suggest the castle on
the Spanish arms.
Crest: The crest is for the Indian campaigns of the Regiment; the number
of arrows corresponds to the numerical designation of the organization.
Background: The coat
of arms was originally approved for the 5th Cavalry on
11 June 1921
. It
was redesignated for the 5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry) on
16 December 1953
.
The insignia was redesignated for the 5th Cavalry on
10 July 1959
. It
was amended to revise the symbolism on
23 June 1960
.
http://pao.hood.army.mil/1CD_1-5Cav/history/history.htm
- Great site with pictures
1st
Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
C Co 1-5 A great site with
numerous photos, stories, daily logs and historical info!
Vietnam War Battle
of Binh An
1-5
Cavalry Vietnam Email list Database
