The 202nd Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), often referred to as a “unit crest,” was originally approved for the 502nd Field Artillery Battalion on 15 July 1958. It was rescinded on 11 May 1960, but was reinstated on 11 December 1996 and redesignated for the 202nd Field Artillery Regiment.
“Despejar Via,” the Regimental motto, is Spanish for “To Clear The Way”—one of the most obvious tactical goals of field artillery, especially as it relates to Infantry tasked with seizing and controlling the battlespace. Its two primary colors, scarlet and yellow, have long been associated with Artillery. A yellow Zia on the scarlet portion of the insignia is adapted from the state flag of New Mexico, where the unit was organized in 1928. The scarlet conquistador head on the yellow background is a reference to the troops of the Spanish explorer Coronado.
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. 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.
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The 202nd Field Artillery Battalion was organized at Las Cruces in the New Mexico National Guard as the Medical Department Detachment, 120th Engineer Regiment, and element of the 45th Division. Though redesignated, it would remain a Medical Detachment throughout World War II, during which time it earned eight World War II campaign streamers, three of them (Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Southern France) complemented with Arrowhead devices indicating the units took part in an assault landing; its service was also honored with French Croix de Guerre with Palm award.
Following the war, the unit was reorganized as the HQ Battery, 200th Antiaircraft Artillery Group in October 1947, a title it would hold for a dozen years until it became the HQ Battery, 2nd Gun Battalion, 200th Artillery on 1 September 1959. It remained a part of the 200th Artillery when it was redesignated as HQ Battery, 2nd Automatic Weapons Battalion in April 1962; five years later, it remained an HQ Battery, but of the 2nd Battalion (instead of 2nd Automatic Weapons Battalion).
From November 1972 to until December 1995, it was designated as an Air Defense Artillery organization, first as the HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery and then, after expansion in October 1993, the 2nd Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery. It was not until 15 December 1995 that the organization was finally designated as a unit in the Field Artillery branch: the 202nd Field Artillery, a parent regiment in the United States Army Regimental System consisting of the 1st Battalion, or 1-202 FA. The Battalion is no longer listed as part of the New Mexico Army National Guard, but it is unclear whether it was inactivated/deactivated, redesignated, converted, or reorganized. We encourage customers aware of the Battalion's history since 1995 to
email us with any and all pertinent information regarding its subsequent history and/or lineage.