The 110th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia, colloquially referred to as a unit crest or a DUI, was approved on 13 May 1927. A castle in the chief is an emblem recalling the fighting at Manila during the War with Spain, emphasized by the Spanish colors of red and gold. The palm tree in the center recalls the unit’s overseas service during the Philippine Insurrection, with the two mullets (stars) representing battles at Manila and Malolos (also a nod to the five-pointed star appearing on the Philippine flag). Six fleur-de-lis stand for the six campaigns the Regiment fought in during World War I.
Unlike the majority of the Distinctive Unit Insignias, the 110th Infantry’s DUI does not include its unit motto, CUIUSQUE DEVOTIO EST VIS REGIMENTI, Latin for “The Devotion Of Each Is The Strength Of The Regiment.”
Distinctive Unit Insignias 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.
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Currently represented only by its 2nd Battalion assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, the 110th Infantry Regiment was originally organized as the Tenth Regiment of Infantry on 28 November 1873 in the Pennsylvania National Guard, the source of its “Fighting Tenth” special designation after it became the first American unit to face enemy fire in the War with Spain. It followed its service in that war by fighting in the Philippine Insurrection.
Called again into Federal service for service along the Mexican border in 1916, the unit would have almost no respite before it was mustered into service again for World War I. Assigned to the 28th Division, also a unit in the Pennsylvania National Guard, the Fighting Tenth was redesignated as the 110th Infantry and fought in six World War I campaigns. During World War II, the Regiment was once again assigned to the 28th Division, now called the 28th Infantry Division. Over the course of five campaigns, the Fighting Tenth was present at the liberation of Paris and also at the Battle of the Bulge, where it managed to survive seemingly relentless onslaughts by portions of six different German Divisions.
After deployment to Germany in the early 1950s, the Regiment was redesignated first as a Battle Group (1959) and then as a Battalion in the 1960s. It was reorganized as the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry in December 1971 and assigned to the 28th Infantry Division. It would be reorganized and redesignated as the 1st Battalion, 110th Mechanized Infantry Battalion in 1995. As mentioned above, it is currently assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, PA Army National Guard and is headquartered at the Mount Pleasant Armory in Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania.