The 197th Infantry Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI), or unit crest, features a gold- or yellow-bordered oval with a blue field; blue is the traditional color of infantry, and in heraldry gold or yellow has always represented achievement or leadership. A gold caltrop stretches from the oval’s top to its bottom, reflecting its ability to stop enemy forces and prevent them from advancing. The unit motto of “Forever Forward” is inscribed on a scroll at the bottom of the insignia. (Some sources claim the unit’s motto is “Follow Me,” but this likely because that is the motto of the Infantry Training School where it was stationed for much of its non-combat service.)
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During World War II, the 197th took part in three Campaigns—Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe—but did not see combat again until the First Gulf War, where it took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon retuning to the U.S., it was inactivated in August 1991 and did not return to active service until 2008. Just five years later, it cased its colors as part of a reorganization of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, but in July 2020 it was activated and once again tasked with training Infantry Soldiers. As of Autumn 2023, it continues that mission while stationed at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Georgia.Related Items197th Infantry Brigade Patch (SSI)197th Infantry Brigade Combat Service ID Badge (CSIB)