Inactivated on 7 August 2010 in a ceremony held at the National Guard Armory in Altus, Oklahoma, the 171st Field Artillery Regiment had a lineage that officially began 1 April 1963 with the constitution and organization of the 171st Artillery consisting of the 1st Battalion, an element of the 45th Infantry Division. But the existing units that were used to form the Battalion had histories that dated back as far as 1942 and had earned credit for participating in nine different World War II and four Korean War campaigns.
In 1968, the Regiment was reorganized so that the 1st Battalion was no longer an element of the 45th Infantry Division, and in May 1972 it was redesignated as the 171st Field Artillery. Withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System on 1 June 1989, the Regiment was reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System, followed by the allotment of its C Battery to the Texas Army National Guard in December 1991.
The Regiment was ordered into active Federal service on 3 September 2002 and was released from that active duty on 2 September 2003. In October 2005, the unit was redesignated as the 171st Field Artillery Regiment, with a reorganization three years later that reduced it in size to a single battery (Battery B) which was not organized and Federally recognized until 25 February 2010, less than six months before the Regiment was inactivated and its colors cased. Its lineage is carried on by the 271st Brigade Support Battalion.
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Approved on 10 May 1972, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 171st Field Artillery Regiment recalls the lineage of the units used to organize the regiment in 1963 with three crossed arrows symbolizing their assault landings during the Sicily, Naples-Foggia, and Southern France campaigns while assigned to the 45th Infantry Division. Superimposed over the arrows is a buckskin shield that pays tribute to the Indian heritage of Oklahoma, the unit’s home state (a buckskin shield is also see on the state flag). A sunburst pattern alludes to the unit’s mission of general target acquisition and is also a favored Indian design; its sixteen rays stand for that number of battle honors (campaign credits) held by some of the organization’s units. A taeguk in the center is a reference to some of the founding units’ participation in four Korean War campaigns. “Eyes Of The Artillery” summarizes the responsibility involved in target acquisition, surveying, and meteorological support.
Also known as a unit crest or DUI, the Distinctive Unit Insignia is 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.
More 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.