Nicknamed "Deuce Four," the 24th Infantry Regiment can trace its origins to 28 July 1866 and the constitution of the 38th Infantry which was subsequently organized at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri. It received its current numerical designation in March 1869 when it was consolidated with the 41st Infantry to create the 24th Infantry. Following World War II, the Regiment was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in February 1947, but was relieved from that assignment in August 1951 and then inactivated two months later.
Nearly forty-four years would elapse before the Regiment was reorganized as a parent regiment in the U.S. Army Regimental System on 16 August 1995, and its redesignation as the 24th Infantry Regiment did not come until 1 October 2005. In 2006, the Regimen was reflagged with the exception of its 1st Battalion, which retains the history, lineage, and honors of the Regiment and became a component of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division for the next ten years.
The Regiment fought in the Indian Wars, War with Spain, Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Expedition, World War II, and the Korean War, garnering a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its exceptional courage during the first American counterattack of the Korean War at Masan-Chinju. In the War on Terrorism, the 1st Battalion was chosen for a Valorous Unit Award along with its parent organization, the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, for its actions during the Battle of Mosul in 2004. It was also honored with a Meritorious Unit Citation for its reconstruction and humanitarian efforts during a 2007 – 2008 tour in Iraq. It was subsequently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12 and saw action in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan.
As of Summer 2023, the only Regimental unit that remains active is its 1st Battalion, which has been assigned to the 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne since June 2022.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia is 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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 24th Infantry Regiment was approved on 12 January 1923, with imagery celebrating one of the Regiment’s greatest combat achievements up to that point in its history: the capture of the blockhouse at Santiago during the Battle of San Juan Hill in the War with Spain. Blue in the insignia denotes the organization as Infantry, while the Latin motto “SEMPER PARATUS” translates to “Always Ready.”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.