Awarded the official Special Designation of "51st Field Artillery Brigade" because that was its original designation when it was constituted 18 August 1917 and would be the unit's designation two more times, the 26th Infantry Division Artillery was associated with the “Yankee Division” from the moment it was formed. It served in six campaigns in World War I with the 26th Division and an equal number with it in World War II.
At the start of the war, the unit was designated the 26th Division Artillery, or DIVARTY, and would keep that name even after the Division was renamed the 26th Infantry (all Divisions were renamed at the same time in early 1942). It would become Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 26th Infantry Division Artillery on 1 March 1959. It would retain that designation until 1 September 1993 when it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 42nd Infantry Division Artillery.
Approved 5 January 1939, the 26th Infantry Division Artillery Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) is a topsy-turvy version of the DUI of the 79th Troop Command, a unit whose lineage links it to the 26th Infantry Division Artillery. It features an embowed arm extending downward with a sword pointing to the viewer’s left, while the 79th Troop Command insignia as the embowed arm raised upward and the sword pointing to the viewer’s right. The six stars seen on both insignias denote the six campaigns the unit fought in during World War I.
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Also known as a unit crest or DUI, a Distinctive Unit Insignia 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. DUIs are not worn on the Dress variations of either uniform, however.
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.