Fifteenth FA Crest
The Crest of the 15th FA Regiment represents a history and almost a legend of the accomplishments of the unit.
A small copy of the Shield of what has been the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, which furnished cadre to form the 15th FA Regiment, is shown in the upper left corner on the shield.
The red of the shield represents the blood that was spilled by members of the unit in the winning of World War One. Each silver stripe denotes a river that the Regiment fired in support of, crossed and assisted in holding.
At the top of the Crest is shown the traditional weapon of the Field Artillery with a Second Infantry Division emblem superimposed on the wheel. At the bottom of the Crest is a scroll with the inspiring motto of the 15th:
"ALLONS"
in French means
"LET'S
GO" in English
Two thumbnail images
of the 15th Artillery
Coat of Arms
Image credits: Institute of Heraldry
(Click images to enlarge)
15th Field Artillery Regiment
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Credit: Dennis Heidbreder
4th Field Artillery Regiment Shield
Dan Gillotti, 15th Historian, added these notes about the 4th FA Regiment shield: Below is the Official US Army Institute of Heraldry Shield and Crest of the 4th FA Regiment. The Shield is the (Gules) Red rectangle with the sinster bend (Yellow). This means it has a Yellow stripe (bend) that extends from the upper right hand corner to the lower left hand corner on a field of Red (Gules). This is the image that is in the upper left-hand corner of our 15th FA Crest.
Image
credit:
Janice E. McKenney, US Army Center of Military History Army Lineage
Series, Field Artillery Regular and Army Reserve, Government Printing
Office, 1985
Collection of 15th FAR Insignia
Collection and photo credit: Dan Gillotti
The following two sets of orders accompanied the 15th Artillery Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia:
AGAH-A
3 DEC 1971
SUBJECT: Coat of Arms and Distinctive Insignia for the 15th Field Artillery
Commanding Officer
1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery
APO San Francisco 96224
1. The coat of arms of the 15th Artillery is redesignated, effective 1 September 1971, for the 15th Field Artillery.
2. The distinctive insignia of the 15th Artillery is redesignated, effective 1 September 1971, for the 15th Field Artillery.
3. Previous redesignations are cited in the
inclosed letter. This letter will become a permanent file of the organization in
accordance with File No. 228-08, Organizational History files, AR 340-18-2.
1 incl
as
Eugene F. Ganley
Colonel, AGC
Commanding
CAMERON STATION
QUARTERMASTER ACTIVITIES
U.S. ARMY
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
IN REPLY
REFER TO:
QMACH 424.2 & 421.4
15th Arty Regt
10 February 1958
SUBJECT: Coat of Arms and Distinctive
Insignia for the 15th Artillery
TO:
Commanding Officer
15th Artillery
1. The coat of arms redesignated this date for the 15th Artillery was
a. Originally approved for the 15th Field Artillery Regiment by letter AG 424.5 Coats-of-Arms (Miscl.)MC 258-4 (5-14-21), the Office of The Adjutant General, 21 January 1922;
b. Redesignated for the 15th Field Artillery Battalion by letter QMGHB 424.2 - 15th FA Bn, the Office of The Quartermaster General, 20 October 1950.
2. The blazonry is as follows:
SHIELD: Gules five closets wavy argent, on a canton or a bend sinister of the field (and for unofficial use pendant to the shield a French Croix-de-Guerre with palm proper).
CREST: On a wreath of the colors a French 75mm Field gun the wheel charged with the shoulder insignia of the regiment (a vertical black oblong with the white star and Indian head of the Second Division) all proper.
MOTTO: Allons.
The description given in the original approval cited in paragraph 1a is as follows:
The regiment was organized in 1917 by transfer of men from the 4th Field Artillery. The old regiment is indicated by the canton. It was part of the Second Division overseas and took part in the heaviest of fighting. The extent of the Operations is indicated by the five wavy bars on the shield representing the four historic French rivers, the Aisne, Marne, Meuse, and Moselle and finally the Rhine which the regiment crossed. The significance of the crest and motto are evident.
(page two)
QMACH 424.2 & 421.4
15th Arty Regt
SUBJECT: Coat of Arms and Distinctive Insignia for the 15th Artillery
3. Records disclose the organizational painting of the coat of arms was furnished the 15th Field Artillery Regiment by letter QM 424 S-C - 15th Field Artillery, the Office of The Quartermaster General, 14 June 1928.
4. The distinctive insignia redesignated this date for the 15th Artillery was
a. Originally approved for the 15th Field Artillery Regiment by letter AG 421.7 - 15th F.A. (11-15-21)(Miscl.)D, the Office of The Adjutant General, 14 September 1922;
b. Amended by letter AG 421.7 - 15th F.A.(11-6-26)Misc., the Office of The Adjutant General, 9 November 1926;
c. Amended by letter AG 424.5 Coat of Arms (9-15-28)(Misc.), the Office of The Adjutant General, 9 November 1928;
d. Redesignated for the 15th Field Artillery Battalion by letter QMGHB 421.4 - 15th FA Bn, the Office of The Quartermaster General, 20 October 1950.
5. The distinctive insignia (metal type for wear on the shoulder loops) is the shield of the coat of arms for this organization which is described in paragraph 2.
TO BE WORN: As prescribed by current regulations.
6. Records further disclose a sample of distinctive insignia was approved for the 15th Artillery Regiment by letter AG 421.7 - 15th F.A. (2-15-29) Misc. Div, the Office of The Adjutant General, 5 July 1929. The manufacturer of this insignia was A.H. Dondero, Inc., 1718 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington 6, D. C., who has the die of the insignia.
7. This redesignation letter is in accordance with letter AGAO-O(M)322 (15 May 57)DCSPER, Subject: Reorganization of Elements of the 2d Infantry Division, dated 24 May 1957, effective date 20 June 1957 and directive DCSPER-CONB, Subject: Organization of Parent Regiments under the Combat Arms Regimental System, dated 12 November 1957.
FOR THE COMMANDER:
(signature)
JOHN G. GOODLETT, JR.
Major, QMC
Chief, Heraldic Services Division
2