Approved on 5 December 1928, the 52nd Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, or unit crest, pays tribute to the units that were pivotal in the organization’s creation and first combat action. The red lozenge (diamond shape) and Maltese Cross on the canton are emblems of the 11th Infantry, the organization from which personnel were taken to organize this regiment. A gold bend with silver borders is taken from the arms of Alsace; it is charged with the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the 6th Division to denote that the regiment was assigned to that division during World War I. FORTIS ET CERTUS, the regimental motto, is Latin for "Brave And True."
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.
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The 52nd Infantry Regiment’s lineage begins with the constitution and organization of the 52nd Infantry in the Regular Army on 15 May 1917 and 16 June 1917, respectively. Assigned to the 6th Division, the Regiment took part in a pair of World War I campaigns, Meuse-Argonne and Alsace 1918. The Regiment was inactivated in September 1921 and would remain inactive until 15 July 1942 when it was redesignated as the 52nd Armored Infantry. That unit was broken up in October 1943, with its components being designated as elements of the 9th Armored Division (except for the 3rd Battalion which was disbanded).
During World War II, these units took part in three World War II campaigns and took home an astonishing four Presidential Unit Citations between them for the extraordinary courage displayed in combat actions at Bastogne, St. Virth, the Remagen Bridge, and in Luxembourg. The units were were also honored with a Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm and was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army. By the time the Regiment took part in the first of an amazing fifteen campaigns of the Vietnam War, it was designated as the 52nd Infantry, a parent regiment in the Combat Arms Regimental System. In addition to fifteen campaign streamers, the units in the Regiment’s lineage had also been awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and three Meritorious Unit Commendations.
While the Regiment’s campaign participation credits for the War on Terrorism are yet to be determined, several of the Regiment’s companies have been honored with military decorations for action while they were attached to other units. Valorous Unit Awards have been given to Company A (2) and Company B (1), and Meritorious Unit Commendations have been awarded to Company C (3), D (1) and F (2).