The colors and imagery of the 53rd Signal Brigade Distinct Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, paint a vivid picture of the Brigade’s storied heritage. Red and white colors are used in the Florida state flag, while the tricolor flag of France is represented by blue, white, and red, symbolizing its predecessor’s service there during World War I; the same three colors are also a nod to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation the unit was awarded in World War II.
Two orange lightning flashes, an element found on many Signal Corps patches, are positioned so the gold color between them forms an obvious arrowhead; palms stand for tropical foliage; the gold color and wavy bars combined symbolize an island, and a seven-pointed star is taken from the flag of Australia. Taken together, these all evoke Australia—site of the unit’s activation in World War II—and the island of New Guinea, where the unit took part in an assault landing. The Brigade’s indispensable role in combat support is summed up in its motto, “Guards The Peace.”
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. Current regulations do not permit the DUI to be worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
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 lineage of the 53rd Signal Brigade reaches back to the 19th century and the organization of Company C (Governor’s Guards), 4th Battalion of Infantry. Over the next seven decades, the unit would undergo a dizzying number of reorganizations, redesignations, demobilizations, and activations/inactivations, at various times being designated as Infantry, Transportation, and Engineer units.
It wasn’t until 20 January 1968 that it became a Signal unit, viz., HQ and HQ Detachment, 53rd Signal Group. On 17 September 1970, its Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) was approved, and subsequently was redesignated for the Group’s next designation as HHC, 53rd Signal Brigade. On 1 October 1997, the Brigade was redesignated as the 417th Signal Battalion, which at some point was given its own DUI.
Related Items53rd Signal Brigade Patch (SSI)