The 9th Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, also known as a unit crest or DUI, was approved on 10 January 1925 and hearkens back to the Regiment’s origins from the 1st Field Artillery, from which it was organized in 1916 in Hawaii. In the upper left of the insignia is a yellow canton with a stand of grapeshot, a reference to the famous remark made by General Zachary Taylor to then-Captain Braxton Bragg at the Battle of Buena Vista: “A little more grape, Captain Bragg” (although this is apparently a bowdlerized version of Taylor's command to "double-shot your guns and give 'em hell, Bragg").
The Regiment’s origins and first assignment in Hawaii are celebrated by a pair of Hawaiian
puloulou—a black staff topped with a white ball—that were ancient emblems of the country positioned on each side of the gate leading to the king’s quarters. The motto, too, is Hawaiian: “Kjlia-i-ka-nuu,” which means “Strive To Reach The Summit.”
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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
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Although originally constituted as the 9th Field Artillery in 1916, the unit went a slew of redesignations leading up to World War II and its reorganization and redesignation as the 9th Field Artillery Battalion on 1 October 1940. Assigned to 3rd Infantry Division during World War II, the Battalion took part in an amazing ten campaigns, four of them involving assault landings resulting in the Regiment being awarded Arrowhead devices; the Regiment was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and two French Croix de Guerre (one with Palm, one Fourragere).
The Regiment saw action in all ten campaigns of the Korean War and ten Vietnam War campaigns, earning two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and a Valorous Unit Award inscribed “QUANG NGAI PROVINCE” (for Vietnam). It also received the Greek Cross of Valor (Chryssoun Aristion Andrias) for Korean War service. Any awards in the War on Terrorism are yet to be determined. As of Summer 2023, the regiment's single active component, the 1st Battalion, is assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.