U.S. Army / U.S. Army Heraldry / Unit Insignia / Distinctive Unit Insignia, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, Coat of Arms / Chemical / 450 Chemical Battalion /

450TH CHEMICAL BATTALION
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Distinctive Unit Insignia


Description/Blazon
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a gold hexagon bearing a blue roundel edged with 27 scallops and centered thereon a gold griffin's head detailed blue and with red tongue all in front of three red swords points up and all enclosed by a continuous wavy gold scroll inscribed "SHIELD THE SOLDIER" at sides and top in blue letters.

Symbolism
Blue and gold are the branch colors of the Chemical Corps which is also represented by the six-sided shape or benzene ring taken from the Chemical Branch insignia. The blue smoke cloud shape with 27 scallops symbolizes the unit's descent from the 27th Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion. The swords are for the unit's three World War II campaigns and red is for valour. The griffin (a vigilant and alert heraldic beast, always ready to defend) the hexagon shield shape and the swords allude to the motto.

Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 25 June 1985.




Coat of Arms


Description/Blazon

Shield

Or, three swords palewise in fess Gules braced with a hexagon annulet environed by another Azure, overall a hurt invected of the like charged with a griffin head erased Yellow, langued Red, eyed Blue.

Crest

That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Army Reserve: From a wreath Or and Azure, the Lexington Minute Man, Captain John Parker (H.H. Kitson, sculptor), stands on the Common in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Motto

SHIELD THE SOLDIER.

Symbolism

Shield

Blue and yellow are the colors associated with the Chemical Corps. The double six sided rings represent the benzene ring, a symbol taken from the Chemical Branch insignia. The inner blue disc invected twenty-seven times suggests a cloud and denotes the unit's lineage as descendant from the 27th Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion. The swords reflect the battalion's valor in three World War II service campaigns. The griffin is symbolic of the unit's spirit as the griffin is a vigilant and alert heraldic beast, always ready to defend.

Crest

The crest is that of the United States Army Reserve.

Background
The coat of arms was approved effective 16 September 2000.





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