The 134th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia (aka a “unit crest” or DUI) was originally approved on 1 December 1932 for the 134th Infantry Regiment. It was redesignated for the 134th Cavalry Regiment, nicknamed “First Nebraska,” on 22 August 2006. Its white and blue colors pay homage to the Infantry branch, its original home, and the image of the Katipunan sun is an allusion to its service in the Philippine Insurrection, while the palm tree is a reference to the War With Spain. A gold olla (urn) in the upper right denotes the unit’s World War I service with the 34th Division, and the snake refers to service along the Mexican border just before that.
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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It is uncertain which predecessor unit in the 134th Cavalry Regiment’s lineage is referred to by the nickname “First Nebraska.” It could be the 1st Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry; 1st Nebraska Cavalry; 1st Regiment of Mounted Infantry; or the 1st Infantry Regiment, all of which were organized before 1901 in either the State Militia, Nebraska National Guard, or as independent companies. It most likely is the 1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry: As this unit drove Philippine rebels back during Battle of Quingua, Brigadier General Hale marveled, “There goes the First Nebraska—and all hell can’t stop them,” a remark that inspired the unofficial Regimental motto “All Hell Can’t Stop Us.” (The official motto is “Lah We Lah Is,” a Pawnee phrase meaning “The Strong, The Brave.”)
Ironically, the numerical designation of the Nebraska National Guard unit that became the 134th Cavalry was actually the 5th Regiment—and its lineage already included credit for 17 U.S. Army campaigns (from the Indian Wars, Civil War, War With Spain, and Philippine Insurrection) by the time it sailed for France as part of the 34th Division in October 1918. The Regiment, part of the 67th Infantry Brigade, was awarded an uninscribed World War I streamer because the 34th Division was broken up upon arrival. Following induction into Federal service for World War II, the 134 Infantry was assigned to the 35th Infantry Division and fought in the European Theater, earning a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at Bastogne at a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its contributions during the breakout at St. Lo.
World War II would mark the last combat action for the Regiment, which was reorganized in 1959 to consist of the 1st and 2nd Battle Groups, elements of the 34th Infantry Division, until the outbreak of the War On Terrorism. Between 2003 and 2005, it was designated as the 167th Cavalry and comprised solely of the 1st Squadron, an element of the 35th Infantry Division, but on 1 September 2005 it was given reorganized and redesignated as the 134th Cavalry, consisting of the 1st Squadron; it was simultaneously relieved from assignment to the 35th Infantry Division.
A month later, on 1 October 2005, it received its current designation as the 134th Cavalry Regiment. Its battle honors from the War on Terrorism include two Iraq campaigns (National Resolution and Iraqi Surge), and it has also been awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2011. As of Summer 2023, the 1st Squadron, 134th Cavalry Regiment is assigned to the 92nd Troop Command, Nebraska Army National Guard.