U.S. ARMY 111TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT UNIT CREST (DUI)

Commonly called a unit crest or DUI for short, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 111th  Field Artillery Regiment, which was given the special designation “First Virginia Artillery” as an official nickname, was originally approved for the 111th Field Artillery Regiment on 16 April 1925, but with the motto NUNQUAM NON PARATUS (“Never Unprepared”) included on the insignia. On 11 May 1925 it was amended to omit the motto, and on 9 October 1942 it was redesignated for the 11th Field Artillery Battalion. It has been amended twice since then—in 1960 for the 111th Artillery Regiment and in 1976 for the 111the Field Artillery Regiment.

The insignia's red shield with two vertical white stripes is an allusion to the battle streamer for the War of 1812 (the Regiment was awarded an uninscribed streamer from the War of 1812). A  blue saltire with white trim indicates service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, while the fleur-de-lis is for World War I service in France.
 

Distinctive Unit Insignias are worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.

The lineage of the 111th Field Artillery Regiment found online at the U.S. Center of Military History and in the 2010 Army Lineage Series book Field Artillery: Part 2 both start the lineage of the 111th Field Artillery Regiment on 8 November 1877 with the organization of the 1st Battalion of Artillery in the Virginia Volunteers from existing units.  (Note: Virginia Volunteers was redesignated the Virginia National Guard on 3 June 1916). And the legacy of those existing units is impressived indeed, with the entire Regiment being credited with thirteen Civil War campaigns and individual Batteries of the 1st and 2nd Battalions combining to be credited with participation in seven additional Civil War campaigns.

The 1877 date is notable because the Regiment as a whole is credited with thirteen Civil War Campaigns, and Battery A (First and Third Companies, Richmond Howitzers), 1st Battalion is given credit for five more—all earned from the exisiting units from which the Regiment None of these units are named in an Annex or other explanatory section of the lineage, but their service is recognized.

Prior to World War I, the Regiment was expanded, reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Field Artillery, hence the nickname “First Virginia Artillery.” Before being deployed to France, the unit was redesignated the 111th Field Artillery and assigned to the 29th Division; it was awarded an uninscribed World War I streamer for its wartime contributions. It still carried that designation when it was inducted into Federal service from the Virginia National Guard, but the Regiment was broken up in March 1942, its HQ disbanded and its 1st and 2nd Battalions becoming the 111th and 227th Field Artillery Battalions, elements of the 29th Infantry Division. In all these units would take part in four campaigns in World War II, earning an Arrowhead device for taking part in the assault landing at Normandy.

World War II marked the last combat deployment for the Regiment’s units until the War on Terrorism; the Regiment’s campaign participation credits have yet to be determined, but Battery B, 1st Battalion was awarded an Iraqi Governance streamer from Operation Iraqi Freedom. As of Summer 2023, the only active battalion in the 111th Field Artillery Regiment is the 1st, which is assigned to the 116th Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division and is based in Norfolk, Virginia.