Shield
Argent an Ojibway (Chippewa) thunderbird Azure garnished Gules.
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Azure a lion rampant Or langued and armed Gules charged on the shoulder with an escutcheon per pale of the like and of the second and holding in his right paw a staff bend sinisterwise of the third flying a standard per fess of the second and of the third, and in his left paw a key bendwise of the last.
Motto
GERONIMO.
Shield
The colors blue and white indicate the Infantry nature of the organization. The thunderbird is an appropriate symbol for a parachute battalion. The motto has its origin in a cry uttered in the maiden jump of the test platoon and is now tradition with the 501st Parachute Battalion.
Crest
The blue and yellow standard is the official standard of the town of Veghel, Holland. It was presented by the town to the old 501st in honor of their efforts in liberating the village from the enemy. The lion refers to a Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for the action at Bastogne, whose arms are suggested by the red and blue shield on the lion's shoulder. The key refers to the position of Bastogne as a focal point of the German counterattack.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 501st Parachute Battalion on 29 Mar 1941. It was redesignated for the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment on 8 Jul 1942. On 20 Jan 1947 the coat of arms was redesignated for the 501st Infantry Battalion. It was redesignated for the 501st Infantry Regiment on 18 Sept 1958. On 20 Oct 1985 the coat of arms was amended to add a crest.