U.S. ARMY 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION UNIT CREST (DUI)

Officially called a Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), the unit crest is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. The focal point of the insignia is the the sunburst (a heraldic device known as a “sun in splendor”) set amid a field of blue, a design similar to that found in the division’s unit patch (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, or SSI) and of course its Combat Service Identification Badge based on the SSI.

The diamond-shaped field and sun represent the 40th Infantry Division’s roots and origins in the sun-drenched Southwest. Nicknamed “The Sunshine Division,” it was organized on September 16, 1917, in San Diego, California in anticipation of deployment to Europe during WWI. The core of the division was comprised of units eventually pulled from six different Southwest states. The crest is topped by a demi fleur-de-lis which represents its service during World War I. The division’s motto “Duty Honor Courage” is prominently displayed on the crest and wraps around its lower half in a semi-circle. The division’s motto denotes the virtues of the division on display during its storied combat experiences, from World War I through the Global War on Terrorism.

Inside the motto’s boundaries is an image of a red arrow seemingly dissecting a Korean torii gate. The red arrow represents one of the division’s proudest moments in combat history: the invasion of Luzon, Philippines where its soldiers pushed back the Japanese to the mountains in just a few months.

The torii gate depicted on the crest references the heroic efforts of the 40th Infantry Division’s combat role in the Korean War. The 40th United States Infantry assumed control of the Kumwha sector of the central front, neutralized the enemy’s advances and maintained the security of the battle area and successfully contained the enemy. Later in the war, the division was assigned to defend the “Punch Bowl” region and the Heartbreak Ridge sector. These actions gained the 40th Infantry Division not only respect and gratitude, but also a Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

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.

Related Items
40th Infantry Division Patch (SSI)
40th Infantry Division Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)

Price

$11.99

Quantity

USPHS

Merchant Marine

AUXILIARY

U.S. ARMY 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION UNIT CREST (DUI)