U.S. ARMY 126TH FINANCE BATTALION UNIT CREST (DUI)

The 126th Finance Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, also called a unit crest or a DUI, was originally approved on 1 February 1993 and was cancelled on 17 October 2007 when the unit was redesignated as a Company. Its silver gray and golden yellow tones are the branch colors of the Finance Corps, while black is associated with financial solvency (“in the black”). A tower in heraldry is associated with defense and also recalls the castles of Central Europe, thus commemorating the unit’s baptism of fire in World War II. Counterchanged colors emphasize cooperation and unity. The key symbolizes security and is also an allusion to Logistics while the lozenge containing the tower is adopted from the branch insignia of the Finance Corps. The red used for the scroll with the motto “Dragon Purser Pay Ready” signifies valor and sacrifice.

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. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1, Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e), "Beret" and "Garrison Cap," respectively.

The 126th Finance Battalion’s service history begins as a Finance Disbursing Section established on 13 March 1944 and activated 25 March at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. It was inactivated for an uncertain period of time before reactivation on 15 February 1966 at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), where it began five years of service that ended with inactivation on 15 April 1971 in Vietnam. Nearly twenty years would elapse before it was redesignated and reactivated as the 126th Finance Battalion on 16 October 1992. It was reassigned to the 18th Soldier Support Group (Airborne) 16 June 1998 and retained its designation after consolidation with the 107th Finance Battalion a week later.