U.S. ARMY 20TH ENGINEER BATTALION UNIT CREST (DUI)

The 20th Engineer Battalion was originally constituted as the 42nd Engineer Battalion in the National Army on 7 December 1917. Because its troops were scattered across Europe in support of American and Ally units, the Battalion received a World War I streamer, but without an inscription of any specific campaign. It did not receive its current numerical designation until 1942 when it became the 20th Engineer Combat Brigade and fought in an amazing eight campaigns from North Africa all the way to the Battle of the Bulge and the German surrender in May 1945. In addition to an Army Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the fighting in Normandy, it was also honored with a French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, proving that it took its motto of CONDITE ET PUGNATE—Latin for “Build and Fight”—very seriously.

As of Summer 2023, the 20th Engineer Battalion is assigned to the 36th Engineer Brigade and is stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas (formerly Fort Hood).

After being designated as the 20th Engineer Battalion on 8 June 1953, the unit went on to serve in 13 of the 17 named Campaigns and was awarded three Meritorious Unit Commendations by the Army and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First class. In Southwest Asia, it was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for it support of the First Gulf War in 1990-1991 and another for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006-2007, and was also recognized with two Valorous Unit Awards, most recently for its service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand and Kandahar Provinces in Afghanistan.
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.