The 184th Ordnance Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, commonly referred as a DUI or a unit crest, was approved on 26 September 1966. In the center is a star with in a star—a gold, five-point star placed atop a crimson star made of flames. The flaming star represents the five campaigns in which the unit took part during World War II, and the union of flames where the flames meet symbolizes the provision of ammunition support and the control of ammo depots and supply points. The gold is an emblem denoting the organization’s supervisory and administrative functions.
On the left and right of the stars are highly angular black lightning flashes that terminate in arrowheads protrudingto in a pair of wavy bands, one blue and the other gold. The flashes themselves are an allusion to the disposal of explosives, while the wavy bands represent water as a reference to the organization’s overseas service. “Without Equal” is the Battalion motto.
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. More 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 184th Ordnance Battalion’s was originally constituted in the Regular Army as the 6th Motor Repair Battalion on 18 October 1927. It was redesignated as the 53rd Quartermaster Regiment (less 1st Battalion on 1 May 1936); HQ and HQ Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 53rd Quartermaster Regiment was activated on 10 February 1941.
It would be converted and redesignated as HQ and HQ Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 53rd Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Regiment on 18 August 1942, followed less than two months later with a reorganization and redesignation as HQ and HQ Detachment, 184th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance Battalion. Finally, on 31 May 1943, the unit received its current designation as HQ and HQ Detachment, 184th Ordnance Battalion on 1 May 1943. Since then, its only reorganizations/redesignations have been minor (HQ Detachments changed HQ Companies and vice-versa, or station location).
During World War II, the Battalion fought in five campaigns in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. It was not sent overseas for the Korean War, but during the Vietnam War it took part in an astonishing fifteen of that conflict’s named campaigns, earning two Meritorious Unit Commendations for service between 1967 and 1969. Its next combat deployment would come during the War on Terrorism, where the dramatic increase in the of Improvised Explosives made the Battalion’s services highly sought after. Between 2008 and 2013, the Battalion’s superior service was recognize d with three different Meritorious Unit Commendations.
The 184th Ordnance Battalion is a part of the 52nd Ordnance Group, which falls under the command control of U.S. Army Forces Command. It is based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.