Our national colors of blue, white, and red are used exclusively for the insignia, with blue representing Infantry units, the branch of the organization before it was disbanded in 1993. The white shield also denotes the 101st Infantry’s service, with a red saltire (“x” shape) signifying service in the Civil War. At the top, a red Maltese cross was the badge of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps at the time of the War of the Rebellion. Beneath is a red, five-sided bastioned fort; it was the badge of the 3rd Brigade of the Provisional Division of the 5th Corps during the War with Spain. Six fleurs-de-lis denote the six campaigns in which the Regiment fought during World War I. SEMPER PARATUS, the unit motto, is Latin for "Always Ready."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. 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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Disbanded since 1993, the 101st Infantry Regiment was a unit in the Massachusetts Militia and subsequently the Massachusetts National Guard/Army National Guard. It was originally constituted as the 9th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and fought in several of the Civil War’s largest and most significant battles, including the Seven Days Battle, Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Spotsylvania. Called into Federal service at the start of World War I, the unit was redesignated as the 101st Regiment and assigned to the 26th Division, also known as the “Yankee Division,” a unit with which it would be affiliated for the rest of its service life. It fought in six campaigns during the War before being mustered out in April 1919.
Still assigned to the 26th Division (which like many Divisions was classified as an Infantry division after February 1942), the Regiment was deployed again during World War II, arriving in France in September 1944 and taking part in the Battle of the Bulge and the subsequent Allied offensive that began the German’s inexorable retreat, crossing the Rhine and bagging thousands of prisoners in the final day before (and after) the German surrender.
World War II would marks the Regiment’s last combat action, but it did continue to serve in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as part of the 26th Infantry Division. Its ties with that unit—now designated the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade—can be seen in its Distinctive Unit Insignia, which features the same embowed arm grasping a sword as the 101st Infantry unit crest.