by stephen slater fhs
For over 50 years now, I have had a bit of a love affair with that 'Great Land', the State of Alaska, although I've never actually been there. I'm a martyr to midges and mosquitos, which Alaska is home to in its summer and the local folk do like to take pot shots at the local wildlife and I'm told I rather resemble an 'old grizzly', so ....!
But I can enjoy Alaska from far, its wildlife, mountains and history of its native tribes, through the excellent medium of the insignia of its military units, both past and present.
So, I'd like to share with you some of those badges via my own collection of Alaskan themed insignia in my own collection- they have given me a good education into the excellent and innovative work of the US Army Institute of Heraldry, which is in fact the only authorised governmental heraldic organisation in the USA (it designs many of the ships badges for the US Navy and USAF squadron badges).
Although the Institute of Heraldry - known by most as TIOH, was formed in 1960, it looks to origins as far back as 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson expressed the wish for the US Army to have an official heraldry programme and shortly after the War Department authorised the creation of coats of arms and for regiments and other 'badges' , for use on uniforms. The first actual coat of arms for a US Army unit, is that of the 51st Artillery, approved on March 18, 1922.
I say 'coat of arms' or 'and that is indeed what US Army regiments and 'separate battalions' are entitled to apply for. They have, as with any proper achievement of arms, both the shield of arms and crest. On uniforms the unit might actually wear just the crest, the shield of arms or both. Whatever their form (they are usually made in metal and enamel). The official term that TIOH gives to these badges are 'Distinctive Unit Insignia' (DUI), but to most US soldiers, they are affectionally termed 'unit crests'.
Other major units such as divisions, brigades and commands are entitled to distinctive insignia, in way of arm badges and metal 'crests' but these are not of a truly 'armorial' pattern and the shape of each item can come in various forms, such as circles, ovals etc.
While speaking of TIOH, at the moment I believe there are just over 20 civilian staff in the institute, who draw, design each of the insignia and they have strict rules on colours and what symbols are allowed and not (for instance numbers are not allowed). Often the background and main symbols are in US Army branch colours i.e blue/white = infantry; red/gold = artillery
As for symbols, if the unit has a combat history, often you will spot a cactus, for Mexican border service or a Cross of Lorraine- for wartime action in that province. The DUI and arm badges will also probably 'mention' unit locations, local flora and fauna and important natural features such as mountains.
Happily, for us heraldic nerds, when TIOH blazons a design, it gives a complete run down on reasons for the the choice of symbols.
One further fact I'd like to share with you, before I finally get down to showing something of those Alaskan badges- apart from the regular US Armed Forces, of great local importance are the various state national guards, they are proud of their independence from the regular army and play major parts in local emergencies, such as earthquakes, floods etc.
Army National Guard 'color bearing units' are entitled to their own shields of arms but, as each state NG has its own proper heraldic crest, this is used instead of an individual unit crest (as you'll soon see with the Alaska Army NG).
In many of the insignia TIOH designed for Alaskan units a pictorial mention will be made of 'The Big Dipper', the collection of stars in the Ursa Major constellation, the pattern includes one large star, Polaris or 'the North Star'. The constellation is now the one feature on the flag of the State of Alaska and was designed in 1927, by a local Alaskan gent, Benny Benson.
The Big Dipper actually appeared on the very first fully Alaskan military unit- the Alaskan Territorial Guard
which was formed during the 2nd World War, mainly from local tribespeople, to protect the state from Japanese invasion plans (Japanese forces did actually occupy the Aleutian Islands, part of the State of Alaska!).
After the 2nd World War the major threat to the US was obviously the Soviet Union and the coast of the latter was just 55 miles from Alaska - 'incidents' did happen.
Alaska is a vast land and no one knows its often wild weather conditions and Arctic moods better than the local 'Indian' tribes, that have populated the state (mainly on its coasts) for centuries, these include the Tlingit and many of the hardy folk often called 'eskimos' (now days this can be a contentious term, especially in neighbouring Canada). So it was that 2 remarkable NG units were raised which became known as the Eskimo Scouts' , both made use of Husky Teams and later, snow mobiles and knew the Arctic land better than any others. Each of the 2 Scout Battalions were granted arms by the then US Army heraldic authorities and their designs, simple, in blue and white (infantry) colours made fine use of the local fauna and weather features. The 2nd Scout Battalion had 2 wolves heads and a chief rayonne, suggesting both the northern lights and icicles. The arms of the 1st SB has the head of an Arctic Fox. The arms approved in 1954 is said to suggest that the fox was well known by the 'Indians' in sign language as suggesting intelligence, stealth and craftiness. Furthermore the fox is one of very few creatures from the far north which does not hibernate, even in the severest of weather.
As said, each state national guard has its own heraldic crest- that for Alaska is rather spectacular.
Having as it does a totem pole of 3 figures, an eagle, a bear and a walrus. Totem poles are of course a major symbol for many native Indian tribes of the northern areas of the US. The tribes folk, when looking at each pole would be able to work out the 'lineage' of the particular person it represented. You will see how the totem poles also make their way into the crests and shields, not only of the state national guard, but also for major regular army units based in Alaska.
In my collection I have a DUI of one of the Alaskan Army NG's newest units, the 'crest' is so finely made, its almost a gem
it is for the 49th Missile Defense Battalion, almost unique among national guard units, which are normally manned by part time volunteers, the 49th is a full time battalion and has advanced missiles forming part of the US anti-missile forces for defence of the nation.
Of other major units past and present in the Alaska Army NG I'd like to include TIOH's official information for the arms and DUI's of both the 297th Infantry and 297th Cavalry, they give good examples of design and rationale. Do notice the use of a 'Tlingit eagle', reference to local native symbols.
I wrote that non colour bearing units were entitled to insignia, but not of a traditional coat of arms and crest- 1 major unit of the guard that was granted a very fine DUI
was the 207th Infantry Group, once again made up of many native folk. TIOH kindly supplied me with one of their original design descriptions which exactly specifies, size, colours and manufacture, which, I think gives the viewer an insight into TIOH's precise workings.
As I said, TIOH also helps create insignia for both the US Navy and Air Force. In my collection I have a patch of the Alaska Air National Guard's 211th Rescue Squadron, the main feature which is a splendid representation of a native Indian totemic eagle.
For an example of a US Navy insignia I show the patch of the USS Alaska, a ballistic missile submarine.
I'd like to finish with some examples of regular US Army insignia which I think neatly sum up the history of Alaska, from the time when the territory passed (by purchase) from imperial Russian control to that of the United States.
In the 1960s, as the Cold War escalated, 2 infantry brigades, the 171st and 172nd were re-raised to defend Alaska. True to its aims, TIOH designed both DUI's and shoulder patches for both brigade commands. The sleeve patches were on Roman type shields, favoured at the time for brigade patches, that of the 171st
had the Arctic Lights as a main feature, while that of the 172nd shows the Big Dipper.
The crests (DUIs) of the 2 brigades both make mention of that extraordinary moment, in 1867, when imperial Russia sold to the USA, the vast territory of Alaska, the asking price being a mere $ 7.2 million (about $130 mill in today's money).
The hand over ceremony took place at Siska on October, 18th, 1867, when the imperial flag with its double headed eagle was hauled down and replaced by the 'Stars and Stripes', but the majestic bird didn't want to go easily and an onlooker recorded it seemed to wrap its claws round the pole, a Russian soldier shinned up and took possession of the flag, troops of F Company of the US 9th Infantry then hoisted the US flag, the deed was done.
Therefore the DUI of the 171st Infantry Brigade, features the imperial Russian eagle, whilst that of the 172nd is a bit more 'cheeky', bearing (sorry no pun intended!) a totem pole upon which an American eagle sits upon the Russian bear.
But its a rather aggressive polar bear which features on the shield of Alaskan Command, which provides a fitting finish to my article.
My thanks go to the personnel of both the US Army Institute of Heraldry (TIOH), for supplying so many examples of their work, and of the State National Guard of Alaska, for all their kindness in sending me actual free, many of their unit insignia.
Stephen Slater is an author and renowned expert on Heraldry and a Fellow of the Heraldry Society in England.
This article is the copyright of Stephen Slater and may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written consent of the author.
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