Often called a unit crest or a DUI for short, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 34th Infantry Regiment, which is nicknamed “Leyte Dragons” for their outstanding performance during the WWII battle to liberate the island and in particular the Battle of Kilay Ridge, was approved on 3 May 1923. It celebrates the establishment of the Regiment at El Paso, Texas through the transfer of Soldiers from the 7th, 20th, and 23rd Infantry regiments.
In the canton in the upper left, the masoned wall comes from the coat of arms of the 7th Infantry, while the white-and-blue Maltese Cross is taken from the coats of arms of the 20th and 23rd. A blue background with numerous gold crosslets signifies the unit’s World War I service. The Regiment served in a province of Lorraine that in ancient times was the Barony of Commercy, wand its Barons had blue coats of arms that were dotted with gold crosslets such as these. Fittingly, the unit motto is in French, Toujours en Avant ("Always Forward)."
The 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. 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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In addition to its World War I combat service, the 34th Infantry Regiment, the unit served with the 24th Infantry Division in the previously mentioned Leyte campaign (it earned an Arrowhead device for taking part in the assault landing), as well as in the New Guinea, Luzon, and Southern Philippines campaigns. Its earned two Presidential Unit Citations and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for the extraordinary heroism its Soldiers displayed as they sought to dislodge and expel the Japanese defenders.
During the Korean War, the Regiment was still assigned to the 24th Infantry Division and fought in three of that war’s ten campaigns, garnering a Presidential Unit Citation and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations during their deployment. It would mark the last combat action the Regiment would see; in 1987 it was transferred to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and given the mission of training new Infantry recruits. Following the 2007 transfer of the 165th Infantry Brigade to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the 1st and 3rd Battalions, 34th Infantry Regiment were assigned to it and tasked with Basic Combat Training for new recruits, a mission which they are both still fulfilling as of Summer 2023.