[edit] Distinctive Unit Insignia.

[edit] Description:

• A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02cm) in height overall consisting of a blue enamel disc with a red enamel border, the blue area bearing throughout a white enamel capital letter "A" (as depicted on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia for the Third United States Army) in front of in base a gold stylized fleur-de-lis, the center petal of the fleur-de-lis extending behind and above the cross bar of the letter "A" and behind and below the red border and the tops of the two outer petals extending under, downward and over the red border and terminating at and conjoined with the feet of the letter "A" and the lower ends extending behind and below the red border which bears at top five gold five-pointed stars and the inscription "Tertia Semper Prima" in gold letters, the word "Tertia" in base and between the outer petals of the fleur-de-lis and the stars, the word "Semper" on the left and the word "Prima" on the right.

[edit] Symbolism:

• The design is based on the authorized shoulder sleeve insignia of the Third United States Army.
• The fleur-de-lis in base alludes to the initial activation of the Headquarters, Third Army, at Ligny-en-Barrois, France, 15 November 1918.
• The five stars refer to the five campaigns Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe, World War II in which the Third United States Army participated.
• The motto reflects the Third Army’s constant readiness.

[edit] Background:

• The insignia was approved on 10 Oct 1968.

This image shows a flag, a coat of arms, a seal or some other official insignia produced by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry. It is in the public domain but its use is restricted by Title 18, United States Code, Section 704 and the Code of Federal Regulations (32 CFR, Part 507). Permission to use these images for commercial purposes must be obtained from The Institute of Heraldry prior to their use.

- US Army Institute Of Heraldry

• Third United States Army