The 397th Engineer Battalion Distinctive Unit Insignia, better known to most Soldiers as a “unit crest” or DUI, was approved on 31 January 1961. Bifurcated into scarlet and white halves, the jagged partition between them is an allusion to the mountainous terrain of Luzon where the Battalion saw action during World War II (it was later awarded a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its outstanding service during the Luzon campaign).
In the canton (inset) in the upper left is a piece of engineering equipment called a transit head, displayed here with the bayonet in the lower half of the insignia to denote the unit’s engineering-combat functions. Additionally, the canton recalls the organization’s descent from its parent Regiment, the 353rd Engineer. “Essayons Tout De Suite,” the unit motto, is French for We Shall Do [It] Immediately.”
The 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.
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The 397th Engineer Battalion traces its origins to the constitution of the 2nd Battalion, 353rd Engineer Regiment on 5 May 1942 in the Army of the United States. On 15 August 1942, the unit was simultaneously activated and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 353rd Engineer General Service Regiment. After service in the Pacific (see Luzon above), the Battalion was inactivated in Japan on 28 February 1946.
Just under a year later, it was redesignated as the 397th Engineer Construction Battalion on 6 February 1947 and allotted to the Organized Reserves (later called the Organized Reserve Corps and then the Army Reserve) before being activated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin (19 February 1947). It was inactivated for a nearly nine-year stretch beginning on 17 November 1950 and ending on 18 May 1959. Almost half-a-century elapsed before the Battalion was called into active military service between 22 May and 14 July 2006 for a tour that would see its elements gradually released from active service beginning on 11 November 2007 and ending 9 January 2008.
For its outstanding performance during this first deployment in support of the War on Terrorism, the Battalion’s C Company was tapped for a Navy Unit Commendation—but announcement of the award was not made until May 2014. Company C was also selected for a Valorous Unit Award for service between 7 February 2007 to 31 July 2007, with announcement of this honor coming much faster (on 8 October 2009) than for the Navy Unit Commendation.
As of Summer 2023, the 339th Engineer Battalion is an Army Reserve unit assigned to the 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 416th Theater Engineer Command. The Battalion is headquartered at Marina, California.