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.
Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia."
The 244th Air Defense Artillery Distinctive Unit Insignia was originally approved for the 244th Coast Artillery Regiment on 23 March 1936, but on the following 23rd of May it was amended to delete the motto. On 3 August 1962 it as redesignated for the 244th Artillery Regiment, and six years later an amendment to add the motto was approved. In July 1972, the insignia was given its final redesignation for the 244th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
A red background for the shield portion of this DUI denotes the organization’s status as an Artillery unit. The imagery in the center of the insignia commemorates the service of two units in the Regiment’s lineage: 2nd Division, 5th Corps and 2nd Division, 1st Corps. The first of these two wore the white cross, known as a cross pattée, as an identifying badge; the latter wore a white disk, but it has been made blue here for contrast (and to here to heraldic law of not placing metal on metal) and to create the combo of white and blue, both Infantry colors.
The sheathed, point-down Roman sword is taken from the Spanish War service medals and signifies that the unit served inside the continental United States during that conflict. Two fleurs-de-lis are for the World War I service in France of the 1st Trench Mortar Battalion and the 57th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps; both were formed from components of the 9th Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps. The “9” reflects the Regiment’s use of that number from as far back as 1812. RATIONE AUT VI, the Regimental motto, translates to “By Reason Or By Force.”
The Regiment appears to have been inactive since the 1970s. We encourage visitors who have any information regarding the Regiment's history since that time to
email us with so we can share it with visitors to our store.