The 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, frequently called a unit crest or a DUI for short, was first approved when the Regiment was designated the 44th Coast Artillery Regiment on 1 February 1937. It was redesignated four times between then and 1 September 1971, when the unit was given its current designation.
A scarlet shield reflects the unit’s branch identity as Artillery. The horizontal gold band bordered by point-counterpoint patterns is called a “gold bend cottised potenté counterpotenté” in heraldry-speak and is an allusion to the arms of Lorraine and Champagne. Because the elements of the Regiment changed quite a bit between 1917 and 1918, a variegated (multi-colored) chameleon is included in the crest as a reference to the unit’s ever-shifting identity at that time. The chameleon rests on a double quatrefoil, i.e., two sets of four that denote the unit’s numerical designation.
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."
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Before it was designated as the 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in September 1971, the 44th ADA was originally a unit in the Coast Artillery Corps (its first designation was the Howitzer Regiment, 30th Brigade, Coast Artillery Corps in March 1918) and the Field Artillery Corps. It underwent a multitude of redesignations, including a Regimental breakup in 1944 that created numerous lines tied to the same lineage, that are wearying to pursue. More interesting and certainly inspiring is the record compiled by the units that are in the Regiment’s lineage.
During World War I, the Regiment took part in five campaigns as the 44th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps), all between March 1918 and the end of the war in November. In the Second World War, the Regiment and units in its lineage fought in ten campaigns in both the European-African-Middle Eastern Theaters, earning two Presidential Unit Citations in the process. The Regiment was represented in all ten Korean War campaigns, a number it would exceed by three during the Vietnam War. In addition to the battle streamers, the Regiment was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Valorous Unit Award, two Meritorious Unit Commendations and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
The Regiment’s peacetime achievements have been noteworthy, as it was the recipient of an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1978-1980 and two Army Superior Unit Awards (1996-1997, 2007-2008). But this is outstripped by its service under fire during the War on Terrorism: as of 2018, the Regiment has received at least eleven Meritorious Unit Commendations between 2007 and 2018 (this total includes award to individual battalions and attachments).