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. 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.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 34th Field Artillery Regiment was first approved on 16 June 1938 for the 34th Field Artillery Regiment, but has been redesignated three times since then for the 34th Field Artillery Battalion (1940), the 34th Artillery Regiment (1958), and the 34th Field Artillery Regiment (1971). It is in the running for the distinction of being the insignia with the shortest description of its symbolism ever written by The Institute of Heraldry: “The red shield and its charges indicate the character of the Regiment.” The unit motto of “We Support” is equally unambiguous in stating the unit’s purpose in supporting the Commander’s mission.
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Constituted as the 34th Field Artillery in the National Army and assigned to the 12th Division on 5 July 1918, the Regiment was organized on 7 August 1918 at Camp McClellan, Alabama. It saw no action in World War I and was demobilized in February 1919. Reorganized and redesignated on 1 October 1940 as the 34th Field Artillery Battalion, the unit served with the 9th Infantry Division in World War II and took part in seven campaigns in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, earning a President Unit Citation and a Belgian Fourragere 1940 with two citations in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.
In 1957, the unit was relieved from assignment to the 9th Infantry Division and reorganized and redesignated as the 34th Artillery under the Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS). Under this designation, the unit participated in eight Vietnam War Campaigns and in 1969 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the 3rd Battalion’s outstanding service along the Mekong Delta. It was redesignated as the 34th Field Artillery in 1971, and in 1986 was withdrawn from CARS and reorganized under the U.S. Army Regimental System. As of 2023, the Regiment has no active battalions.