The 77th Sustainment Brigade is the descendant of the 77th Infantry Division, constituted on 5 August 1917 in the National Army. Referred to as the "New York City National Army" and the "Metropolitan Division," it was the first of the National Army Divisions to arrive in France. It was also the parent organization of the "Lost Battalion," six companies of the 308th Infantry cut off by German forces for a week and that were saved by the successful delivery of a request for aid by a carrier pigeon named "Cher Ami." The Division earned official credit for participation in four World War I campaigns: Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, Champagne, and Lorraine. (See our page dedicated to the 77th’s
Unit Patch for more information on its World War I history.)
During World War II, the division took part in four official campaigns—Western Pacific, Leyte, and Ryukyus, earning streamers for all three with an arrowhead for the Leyte campaign indicating it took part in assault landings. Additionally, it was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its operations during the period from October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945. Inactivated in December 1965, it was redesignated as the 77th Sustainment Brigade on 12 April 2006 and activated on 18 September 2008 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
The design of the 77th Sustainment Brigade’s s Combat Service Identification Badge is identical to its
Unit Patch, or Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI). The image of the Statue of Liberty (without the masonry base) rendered in gold set on a blue background pays homage to the 77th Division’s origins in New York City and is also the inspiration for the Division’s nickname—now an official Special Designation—of “Statue of Liberty.”
Both the unit’s patch and its crest pay homage to the 77th’s origins in New York City, however the
unit’s crest uses different symbolism than the CSIB and the patch.