Military Field Artillery Brigade Patches History

197thFAB1

Worn from:  23 January 1979 - Current.

Organized in 1861 at Concord as the Concord Volunteers and mustered into federal service at Portsmouth.  The tied bundle of five arrows, adapted from the New Hampshire state crest, refers to the unit's home location and symbolizes the mission as well.  A bundle of arrows was one of the first missiles used in an artillery manner.

Campaigns:  Civil War (Bull Run; Peninsula; Manassas; Fredericksburg; Gettysburg; Cold Harbor; Petersburg, Virginia 1862/1863/1864), World War I, World War II (Rhineland, Central Europe, New Guinea, East Indies, Luzon).

Decorations:  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945).

209thFAB1

Worn from:  18 September 1978 - Current.

A griffin is symbolic of the early history of the Great Lakes and the Rochester, New York area.  The heraldic griffin is renowned for his guardianship and vigilance, combining the keen vision, alertness, and swiftness of an eagle with the strength and courage of a lion.  It is an apt symbol for a Field Artillery organization.  The crescent is adapted from the coat of arms of the city of Rochester, New York and denotes the unit's home location.

Campaigns:  World War II (Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley).

210thFAB1

The black vertical cannon barrel and the crossed lines, symbolic of a sighting device, suggest accuracy and firepower; the crescents suggest high trajectory and long distance.  The crescents and crosswise division further allude to the roman numeral for 210, the unit's numerical designation.

Campaigns:  World War II (Rhineland, Central Europe), Armed Forces Expeditions (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).

212thFAB

The crossed lines of the field refer to target finding and the two decrescents suggest the aerial route of the artillery projectile; the arrows denote artillery.  The roman numeral designation is represented by the two C-shaped symbols for 200 and the X-shaped field and two vertical arrows for twelve.

Campaigns:  World War II (Central Europe), Armed Forces Expeditions (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).

 214thFAB

 The large arrow symbol on the background suggests a missile firing and represents the missile units of the brigade; the crossed bayonets represent infantry and the cannon barrel refers to the howitzer battalion.  The points at top and bottom suggest firepower and accuracy.

Campaigns:  World War II (European-African-Middle Eastern theater).

224thFAB

The projectile refers to the mission of artillery/  The gray lightning flash represents speed and firepower and also alludes to the unit's location in the state of Virginia.

227thFAB

Worn from:  19 January 1974 - 1993.

The alligator, a symbol of Florida, refers to the unit's home location.  The animal's fierce and tenacious characteristics allude to the fighting spirit of Field Artillery.  The  lightning flash symbolizes the speed and striking power of the brigade.

428thFAB

The wheel and cross point, simulating the muzzles of guns in action, symbolize the basic mission of the organization.  The numerical designation of the unit is indicated by the quatrefoil, two colors, and the eight segments between the spokes of the wheel and cross.

Campaigns:  World War II (Rome-Arno , North Apennines, Po Valley).

434thFAB

Worn from:  30 January 1979 - 1994.

The alternating red and yellow squares represent a grid pattern of fire indicating the unit's mission, and the three cannon balls allude to three consecutive hits symbolizing accuracy.  The four sections on either side with three cannon balls in center indicate the unit's numerical designation.

Campaigns:  World War II (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe).

479thFAB

Worn from:  8 January 1980 - 1995.

The saltire symbolizes strength and its shape forms an "X" indicating a target and alluding to the mission of field artillery, while the pellet centered thereon symbolizes "on target accuracy" or a direct hit.  On a map showing deployment of forces, an "X" indicates the presence of a brigade and a dot indicates field artillery.  The design symbolizes the branch mission, and echelon of the unit.

Campaigns:  World War II (Rhineland, Central Europe).

631stFAB

Worn from:  30 October 1979 - Current.

The trident, an attribute of Neptune, the roman god of waters, alludes to the Indian word "Mississippi," which means "father of waters."  The dragon's head, symbolic of a fire-breathing beast, is emblematic of artillery.  The six sides of the insignia, three prongs of trident, and the single dragon's head indicate the unit's numerical designation.

Campaigns:  World War II (New Guinea, Southern Philippines).

Decorations:  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (streamer embroidered 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945).

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