The 476th Chemical Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, more commonly known as a unit crest or DUI, was approved on 17 June 1992. In the center of the shield portion of the insignia is a red benzene ring, adapted from the Chemical Corps’ branch insignia. The gold outline of the benzene ring and of the sword blades and handles is for excellence and high achievement, while the red in the ring is a symbol of courage and valor; blue is for loyalty and faithfulness to duty.
A pair of bolos denotes the unit’s campaign participation in the Philippines during World War II and its selection for the Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation. They also re-emphasize the unit mott of “Protect The Force.”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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
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The 476th Chemical Battalion is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Washington and is a part of the U.S. Army Reserve. It was originally constituted on 8 September 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 94th Chemical Composite Company; it was activated December 26 1942 at Camp Sibert in Alabama. Before being disbanded on 2 November 1944 in the Philippines, it took part in the Leyte campaign and was honored with a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
It was reconstituted in June 1949 in the Organized Reserve Corps as HQ, 476th Chemical Service Battalion at activated on 11 July 1949 at Los Angeles, California. It was reorganized and redesignated as the HHC, 476th Chemical Battalion in February 1952, and then in November 1953 it was given its current designation of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 476th Chemical Battalion. Several more activations/inactivations occurred over the next several decades, with a September 1989 activation bringing the Battalion’s last and longest period of inactivation to an end.
As of Autumn 2023, the 476th Chemical Battalion is assigned to the 455th Chemical Brigade, 76th Operational Response Command and is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.