U.S. ARMY 118TH CAVALRY REGIMENT UNIT CREST (DUI)

Commonly called a unit crest or DUI for short, the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 118th Cavalry Regiment, a defunct Cavalry unit in the Arizona Army National Guard, was approved on 9 January 1998. Yellow (gold) is used extensively in the design because it is the color that was used by Cavalry units before the color was assigned to Armor in 1952.

A five-pointed star forms the backdrop for the insignia and a frame for a depiction of a sunset; these are both adapted from the stage flag of Arizona, the unit’s home state. The black horseshoe is a reference to the unit’s history and its foundation in traditional cavalry units. Inside the horseshoe is a horse and rider that suggest Captain William Owen “Buckey” O’Neill, a famed citizen and soldier from Arizona who was part of the Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, O’Neill was killed in action as he fearlessly led his troops in preparation for an assault during the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Distinctive Unit Insignias are 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.
Very little information is available on the 118th Cavalry Regiment. The book United States Army Infantry, Artillery, Armor/Cavalry Battalions 1957-2011 by Timothy S. Aumiller lists the Regiment as being formed in the Arizona Army National Guard on 1 September 1996 in Tuscon, presumably from units whose lineage included organizations that had served in the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, better known as Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders (hence the unit motto  “Rough Riders”). According to the book, the Regiment consisted solely of Troop E and was disbanded on 1 September 1998.