The 133rd Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia—commonly referred to as a unit crest or DUI—was originally approved for the 103rd Infantry Regiment on 14 July 1924. It would be redesignated twice, once for the 103rd Armored Cavalry Regiment on 7 December 1959 and for the 20th Armor Regiment on 10 August 1961—before it would be approved for the 133rd Engineer Battalion, with revised symbolism, on 23 November 1970.
“To The Last Man,” unit motto of the 133rd Engineer Battalion, reflects the tenacious fighting spirit of the organization, which over the decades has served in a variety of combat roles, including but not limited to Infantry, Armor, Armored Cavalry, Coast Artillery, and Antiaircraft Artillery. White is used for the shield portion of the insignia to reflect the Battalion’s origins in Infantry branch (white was the Infantry color from 1776 to 1851 and 1851 to 1902), while the blue saltire (“X”) represents Civil War service. The fleurs-de-lis refer to World War I service in France.
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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Originally constituted on 21 June 1760 as the Cumberland Regiment in the Massachusetts Militia, today’s 133rd Engineer Battalion has served under myriad designations in several branches of the Army, and is one of just a handful of National Guard units whose lineage includes units that fought in the the Revolutionary War (seven campaigns, all in the Northeast) and War of 1812 (two campaigns).
During the Civil War, it fought in an astonishing eighteen Civil War campaigns, with its defense of Little Round Top during the second day of fighting at Gettysburg earning it a place in the annal of Civil War heroism. Led my Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, the Regiment repelled multiple Confederate assaults until its ammunition was almost completely depleted, then launched a bayonet charge with took the enemy completely by surprise and quashed any hopes they had of taking the strategic position. Chamberlain was commanding the 20th Infantry Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and the unit’s special designation of “Twentieth Maine” pays tribute to the unit’s valor and commitment to duty.
In the modern era, the Battalion (designated as the 103rd Infantry at the time) served in six campaigns during World War I while assigned to the 52nd Infantry Brigade, 26th Division (“Yankee Division”). Still designated as the 103rd Infantry, the unit was assigned to the 43rd Infantry Division after being inducted into service for World War II; the units in the Battalion’s lineage, some merged into it through consolidation, earned the Regiment credit for participation in eight World War I campaigns—three in the Pacific, five in Europe—and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1963, the unit was finally designated as part of the Engineer Corps under its current designation of 133rd Engineer Battalion. The launch of the War on Terrorism marked the return of the unit to a combat zone, as it was ordered into Federal service for the first time since World War II in December 2003. Although its campaign credits in the War on Terrorism are yet to be determined, the Battalion was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service in Iraq in 2004-2005.
As of Summer 2023, the Battalion is under state control in the Maine Army National Guard, headquartered in Brunswick.