43d CRESTS   [Home]  [1] [2] [3] [4]   5   [6] [7] [8]
I hope everyone has found the Distinctive Unit Crests of the 43d Infantry Division as interesting as I have.  If I have left one out or some need corrections, please contact me with the information.  I have added three more D.U. Crests to the page below.  They are from the 31st Infantry Division.  I have included them because on New Guinea, the 43d dispatched parts of the regiment to the 31st.  Some men also volenteered to go with the 124th Infantry, a division of the 31st, because they were in dire need of troops.  They stayed with them, and were discharged as members of the 124th, not the 43d.
31st Infantry Division                           Nat. Guard

Approved on June 22, 1931 for the 31st Division, of the Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana National Guard. The badge is a rectangle, long side up, with the blue outline of a four bastioned fort.  Between the extremities of the fort, the crests of the Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Lousiana National Guard.  In the center, a fleur-de-lis for Worl War I service.  Some of the Regiments that comprise the 31st date back to 1798.  The 31st Division serverd with distingtion in France during World War I, but never saw combat as a division.  Instead, the regiments were sent to augment existing divisions already in combat there like the 39th and 42nd Divisions.
On November 25, 1940, the 31st Division was activated into Federal service and assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida.  
COMING SOON - 31st
Infantry Division
Most of the Divisions that were stationed at Camp Blanding engaged in the same types of training as the 43d did.  Maneuvers in Louisiana and the Carolina's, training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, back and forth to Blanding, etc.  In January of 1944, the 31st Division boarded transport ships at Hampton Roads, Virginea and shipped out to the Pacific. 
The 31st arrived in New guinea on April 24, 1944 were they were sent into action.  The division assaulted Morotai Island in September of 1944, and landed on Mindanao, Philippines on April 22, 1945.  After arriving in San Fracisco on December 19, 1945, The 31st was inactivated from Federal service at Camp Stoneman, California on December 21, 1945.

Campaigns: New Guinea, Southern Philipines.
31st Infantry Division                           Nat. Guard

Originally approved on March 7, 1919 for the 31st Division of the Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana National Guard.  Because almost all of the men who comprised the 31st Division were from the deep south, the nickname "Dixie Division" was a natural.  The badge is a red circle on a white disc.  The red letters "D D" back to back in the form of an octagon.
Redesignated for the 31st Armoured Brigade on February 25, 1974, it was redesignated again on September 30, 2002 for the 31st Chemical Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard.
COMING SOON - 124th
Infantry		 124th Infantry                             Florida National Guard

Originally approved on November 19, 1927 for the 124th Regiment Infantry of the Florida National Guard.  On a white shield, a red saltire with a sheathed sword, a fleu-de-lis and a prickly pear down center.  On a streamer around the bottom, the motto:  "Florida and Country".  The shield is white for Infantry, and the saltire was taken from the Florida State flag.  The sword represents service during the Spanish War, and was taken from the Spanish War service medal.  The prickly pear cactus symbolizes Mexican Border service, and the fleur-de-lis, World War I service in France.
Redesignated for the 124th Armored Infantry Battalion on April 20, 1956, was redesignated once more on June 27, 1960 for the 124th Infantry, Florida National Guard.

Campaigns: New Guinea, southern Philipines.
This ends the Distinctive Unit Crests section.  The next section documents the Medals and Awards for the 43d Division of 1941 - 1945.  I will be posting Unit crests and awards for the 43d in Korea after I have finnished with all of the World War II Crests.  Once again, if you have color Crests and descriptions that I do not show for the 43d, please let me know.