The design of the 105th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, often called a unit crest or DUI, was approved on 14 February 1926. White and light blue are used for the two areas of the shield: white is the old color of Infantry, used from 1776-1851 and from 1886-1902, while light blue was adopted in 1903. An apple served as the badge of the old 2nd Infantry, New York National Guard, which led to the nickname “Appleknockers.” In the chief (upper third of the insignia), a sheathed sword is a symbol of the unit’s Federal service during the War with Spain, the cactus represents Mexican Border service, and the fleur-de-lis stands for World War I action in France. Noticeably absent from the insignia is the unit motto of POSSUMUS ET VINCEMUS, a Latin phrase that translates as “We Are Able And Will Conquer.”
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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Originally formed as the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1898, the 105th Infantry received that designation when it was mustered into Federal service in World War I. Assigned to the 53rd Brigade of the 27th Division, the Regiment fought in three World War I campaigns (Somme Offensive, Ypre-Lys, Flanders 1918). The Regiment would again serve as part of the 27th Division—redesignated as the 27th Infantry Division after February 1942—during world War II and fight in some particularly bloody battles in the Central Pacific, Western Pacific, and Ryukyus campaigns.
During the invasion of Saipan, the Regiment’s Dental officer, Captain Ben L. Salomon, earned a Medal of Honor who sacrificed his life by manning a machine-gun and laying down withering fire to cover the evacuation of a hospital tent and aid station in the face of the last Japanese banzai attack of the war. Two other members of the Regiment, Lt. Col. Wiliam O’Brien and Pvt. Thomas Baker, were also awarded Medals of Honor for similar actions that saved untold scores of lives and ultimately cost them their lives.
The Regiment’s fighting on Saipan in June and July of 1944 was followed less than a year later by its deployment to Okinawa, where it suffered heavy casualties before being relieved by the 1st Marine Division. Arriving in Japan in September following the surrender to serve a temporary garrison role, the Regiment was back in the United States in early December and was inactivated on 12 December 1945.