The 506th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest, was originally approved for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 20 April 1943. It was redesignated for the 506th Airborne Infantry on 18 March 1949 and was subsequently redesignated a final time for the 506th Infantry on 27 February 1958. Today, it is worn by personnel in the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 506th Infantry Regiment, reflecting the organization’s redesignation in October 2005.
A blue field denotes the Regiment’s origins and status in the Infantry branch, while a thunderbolt embodies the unit’s threat and tactic: to strike from the sky with surprise, speed, and power. A half-dozen open parachutes commemorate the unit’s status as the sixth Parachute Regiment activated in the U.S. Army. A green silhouette at base is a stylized Currahee Mountain in Taccoa, Georgia, site of the unit’s activation; the peak symbolizes the unit’s independence, strength, and ability to stand alone, traits shared by all paratroopers. Fittingly, Currahee means “Stand Alone” in the Cherokee Indian language. In fact, Currahee is the Cherokee Indian equivalent for "Stands Alone."
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.
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Activated 20 July 1942 as the 506th Parachute Infantry and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division a little over a year later in July 1943, the Regiment would wind up taking part in four World War II campaigns in the European Theater: Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. Given its status as a Parachute Infantry unit in an Airborne Division, it’s unsurprising that two of these campaign streamers (Normandy and Rhineland) are also adorned with Arrowhead devices denoting participation in an assault landing. The Regiment was also recipient of two Presidential Unit Citations, a French Croix de Guerre with Palm, a Netherlands Orange Lanyard, a Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, and a Belgian Fourragere for two citations in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.
By the time of the Vietnam War, the Regiment had been reorganized and redesignated as the 506th Infantry, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System, and it was under this designation that its units fought in a dozen Vietnam War campaigns. It also picked up two more Presidential Unit Citations, two Valorous Unit Awards, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
On 1 October 2005, the Regiment was given its current designation in the U.S. Army Regimental System, the 506th Infantry Regiment. While the campaign participation of the Regiment or its two Battalions in the War on Terrorism is yet to be determined, the array of military decorations since 2005 is a testimony to their courage, enthusiasm, and dedication. 1st Battalion’s honors include a Navy Unit Commendation, a Valorous Unit Award, and three Meritorious Unit Commendations, while 2nd Battalion has received a total of five Meritorious Unit Commendations (one specifically for Company C).
As of Summer 2023, both the Regiment’s Battalion’s are assigned to Brigades in the 101st Airborne Division: 1st Battalion is assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, while 2nd Battalion is part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.