The 123rd Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, also referred to as a unit crest or DUI, was originally approved on 22 July 1968, less than a year after the organization was first constituted and while it was still designated as the 123rd Aviation Battalion. It was amended on 23 October 1987 to clarify the description and symbolism for the design concurrent with its redesignation for the 123rd Aviation Regiment.
The ultramarine blue found throughout the insignia is one of the traditional colors used for Aviation units, while the red and yellow are the colors elements from the flag of South Vietnam and are included to signify the unit’s location when activated. Blue wings supporting a red chevron symbolize aerial support. The yellow engrailed chevron also denotes the broad range of support activities carried out by the organization. Missing from the unit crest is the unit motto of the 123rd Aviation Regiment, “Courage And Strength.”
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.♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
On 8 December 1967, the 123rd Aviation Battalion was constituted in the Regular Army as an element of the 23rd Division and activated in Vietnam. It would serve there until its inactivation on 7 November 1971, earning three Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards (the Battalion’s B Company was awarded an individual ROV Cross of Gallantry for its service from 1968 to 1970) while taking part in eleven Vietnam War campaigns.
The Battalion was activated on 17 December 1985 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as an element of the 101st Airborne Division, then reorganized and redesignated as 123rd Aviation in September 1987 and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division and assigned to the 7th Infantry Division. While assigned to the 7th ID, It would earn a campaign streamer for the Armed Forces Expedition in Panama (Operation Just Cause) in 1989. Inactivated on 15 September 1993 and relieved from assignment to the 7th ID in September 1993, the Regiment was reorganized in October 1997 and activated at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
In October 2005, it was redesignated as the 123rd Aviation Regiment but was inactivated the following year.