Like so many units that were constituted in the National Army on 5 November 1917, the 174th Infantry Brigade was organized twenty days later on August 25, 1917. It was assigned to the 87th Division, which upon arrival in France was broken up so its units could be turned over to Service of Supply. The Brigade was subsequently awarded a World War I campaign streamer, but because of its piecemeal introduction into combat it was not presented with any campaign streamers for individual battles.
Redesignated as 3d Platoon, 87th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized), the unit was again assigned to the 87th Division (by now the 87th Infantry Division) and eventually took part in three campaigns in the European Theater. After the war, the unit was redesignated several times but activated only once before entering an inactive status for more than fifty years; it was finally activated in 2006 through the reflagging of 2nd Brigade, 78th Division Training (Training Support) and assigned a training mission.
Because it is assigned as a subordinate unit in First Army – Division East, the unit’s personnel wear the First Army unit patch rather than the 174th Infantry Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, even though wear of the 174th insignia was approved after the unit had been reactivated. Please refer to the 174th Infantry Brigade CSIB page (link below) for information on the meaning and symbolism of the imagery used in this insignia because the two accouterments have identical insignia.
You may also wish to visit our page dedicated to the 174th Infantry Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia, sometimes referred to as a unit crest, which features the unit motto “PIUM IN CUSPIS,” Latin for “Patriots On Point” and a reference the leadership or “point” position that the Brigade has taken since being placed under First Army control.
Related Items
174th Infantry Brigade Unit Crest (DUI)
174th Infantry Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)