The Distinctive Unit Insignia (also called DUI or a unit crest) of the current 101st Field Artillery Regiment was redesignated for it on 18 October 1993; from 1972 to that date it had been designated for the 211th Field Artillery. The insignia was originally approved for the 101st Field Artillery on 18 June 1931 but has been redesignated numerous times, including for the 212th Field Artillery Battalion (redesignated 10 August 1942); for the 212th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (redesignated 24 November 1942); for the 212th Field Artillery Battalion (11 February 1954); and for the 211th Artillery 12 June 1961.According to The Institute of Heraldry, “the bust of the Native American is adapted from the seal of Massachusetts as cut in 1628.” While this is most certainly true, it does make the unit motto of VINCERE EST VIVERE (“To Conquer Is To Live”) at least somewhat ironic when juxtaposed with the image of an Indian. (The phrase was also the motto of Captain John Smith of Jamestown, Virginia fame.)
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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The 101st Field Artillery Regiment is a Massachusetts Army National Guard unit whose lineage dates back over 380 years to 13 December 1636 and the organization in the Massachusetts Militia of the South Regiment from new and existing train bands in Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Hingham, making it the oldest Field Artillery regiment in the Army. It is also one of a handful of active Army or National Guard units that hold campaign credits for the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.
Its battle honors include more than 60 campaign streamers (with the possibility of more being added from the War on Terrorism) spanning those two World Wars plus the Civil War, War with Spain, World War I, World War II, and the War on Terrorism. The Regiment’s military decorations include two Meritorious Unit Commendations from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, an Army Superior Unit Award for 1997, a French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, a citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.