Shield
Or, a saltire Azure between to chief a rattlesnake coiled Vert, and a Roman sword sheathed palewise to dexter and a fleur-de-lis to sinister Gules; on a chief two Blue lions combatant of the first, all within a bordure counterchanged.
Crest
That for the regiments and separate battalions of the West Virginia Army National Guard: From a wreath Or and Azure, a slip of mountain rhododendron in full and leaved Proper.
Motto
GO MOUNTAINEERS.
Shield
Yellow is the color used for Armor units. The service of the former organization, then the 197th Heavy Tank Battalion, is indicated by the shield of the coat of arms originally approved for the 201st Infantry, differenced by a border, which indicates the descent of the 197th Heavy Tank Battalion, West Virginia National Guard, from the 2d Battalion of that organization. The chief is blue for Infantry. The lions represent the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The blue saltire symbolizes Civil War service in the Union Army; the snake, Mexican War service; the Roman sword, Spanish War service; and the fleur-de-lis, service in France during World War I.
Crest
The crest is that of the West Virginia Army National Guard.
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 197th Heavy Tank Battalion on 4 January 1957. It was rescinded (cancelled) on 11 August 1964. It was reinstated and redesignated for the 197th Regiment with the blazon and symbolism revised on 5 March 1997.