Heraldry – Army Quartermaster Foundation, Inc.

U.S. Army Heraldry

From 1924 to 1962 the U.S Army Quartermaster Corps was responsible for the research, design and development of distinctive unit insignia, shoulder sleeve insignia (patches), flags, medals, seals, coats of arms and other heraldic items for the Army. In 1960, the…

History of Army Heraldry

Heraldic Activity Established Military heraldic symbols have been used in the U.S. military since the American Revolution. But it was not until 1919 that the heraldry activity was established as a separate function within the Army General Staff. This was in response…

U.S. Army Symbols

Background: The traditional seal used during and since the Revolution was redesignated as the Seal of the Department of the Army by the National Security Act of 1947. The Department of the Army seal is authorized by Section 3011, Title 10, United States Code. The date…

U.S. Army Medals

Illustrations and Description United States Army 1944 – Present Description: A gold five-pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, 1 ½ inches wide, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed “VALOR”, surmounted by an eagle. In the…

Flags

Colonel John D. Martz, Jr.Army Information Digest – July 1959 The design of the 49 and 50 star flags by the US Army Quartermaster Corps. Quartermaster General MG Andrew T. McNamara and President Eisenhowerexamine new 49 star flag For the first time since 1912, the…

History of Army Heraldry

By Arthur Du BoisThe Quartermaster Review – May-June 1928 WHETHER it is fancy, vanity, a dream, or conceit, the Army has developed a desire to be bedecked with symbolic figures representative of ideals, achievements, and exploits. In 1919 the War Department authorized…

U.S. Army Symbols

Background: Prior to the establishment of the Department of the Army Emblem, there was no official display item to identify the Army. The Army seal had traditionally been used to authenticate documents only and was not authorized for display. In recognizing the need…

Flags

by John V. HaggardPhiladelphia Quartermaster Depot HistorianUndated Document (1950s era)from the Quartermaster Museum Library Short history of flag production at the Philadelphia QM Depot The Betsy Ross flag-making story brought to life after the Civil War has been…

U.S. Army Symbols

Short History of Army Flag Fact Sheet Office of The Quartermaster GeneralWashington D.C.1 June 1957 The United States Army Flag was officially adopted by order of President Dwight D. Eisenhower through Executive Order No. 10670, on June12, 1956. The newly adopted flag…

History of Army Heraldry

By Arthur E. DuboisThe Quartermaster Review — September-October 1954 The heraldic Program of the Department of Defense provides assistance to the Secretaries of Defense, Army, Navy and Air Force, either individually or collectively, in establishing and maintaining a…