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| 2nd Division 38th Infantry Regiment K Company | ||||||||
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Second (IndianHead) Division Association Second to None in Three Wars and Still Serving 38th Infantry Regiment "The Rock of the Marne" |
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The Second Infantry Division (Indianhead) patch is one
of the most recognized
unit emblems in the U. S. Army because of its distinctive design and 80 years of
proud service by it's Warriors. The origin of the patch goes back to the
earliest day of the division's history. While training with French in 1917, Col.
Herringshaw of the Service and Support Supply of the Second Infantry Division
noticed that the French trucks were marked with symbols representing the unit to
which each belonged. He sponsored a contest among his men to design a symbol for
his trucks. There were three winners: first prize winner was a design featuring
an Indianhead: second prize went to a plain white star and the third prize is
lost to history. The colonel was not completely satisfied and it is believed
that, by chance, he combined the two symbols of the white star and the
Indianhead and liked what he saw. Some theories say the single star represented the state of Texas, while other claim the star is from the American flag. Regardless, the design was then sent to command headquarters for approval. Brig. Gen. Omar Bundy, division commander, not only approved the symbol but also ordered it put on his staff car. The size and shape of the patch changed in October 1918 when Maj. Ben. John A LeJeune, the new division commander, decide the color of the cloth behind each patch should represent the different divisional units. He also directed the Indianhead was to be patterned after the Indian on the $10 gold piece. After World War I, the background of the patch was adopted from the design of the American shield. In World War II it finally took the shape, size, and color it has today. Insignia of the 38th United States Infantry Regiment The insignia of the 38th Infantry Regiment has a shield with a clear field of blue, representing loyalty, steadfastness and devotion to the principles of right and justice. This shield is cut diagonally by three clear-cut white stripes which symbolize the three major operations of World War I in which the 3rd Division (of which the 38th Infantry was a part) participated. A broken chevron, its right wing parallel to the diagonal stripes, originates from each of the upper corners of the shield. This represents the German attack broken at the Marne by a "Rock" which surmounts the crest. Upon a ribbon below the shield are inscribed the words, "The Rock of the Marne". Links | K Company Contacts | Articles about K Company | Announcements | Contact Us | Products | Photos from Iraq Reunions | ||||||||
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