104th Cavalry Regiment DUI

When I first began collecting military insignia, I focused my acquisition efforts on cavalry distinctive unit insignia (DUI). If you've read more of my blog than just this post, you already know that my focus isn't so much laser-like as it is open-bore-shotgun-like. Be that as it may, cavalry insignia remains atop my list of most sought-after militaria and my eyes are always peeled for items to fill the substantial gaps in my collection.

My latest cavalry pick-up is this nice DUI of the 104th Cavalry Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard. The cavalry traditions of the 104th stretch back to the Revolutionary War, but the "official" start to the unit history came in June of 1921 when the 8th Infantry Regiment (PANG) was converted into a mounted outfit. Subsequent years found the 104th assigned to a number of domestic mission, including flood relief and strike breaking, until the unit was federalized in February of 1941. Transferred to Oregon, the federalized regiment was segmented into three separate units: 104th Cavalry Group (Mechanized); 104th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized); and 119th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized). Of the three, only the 104th Cav Recon Sqdn was shipped overseas during World War II, seeing action in Germany while assigned to the 115th Cavalry Group (Mechanized).

After the war, the 104th was reassembled and endured a number of redesignations:

• 104th Armored Cavalry Regiment (25 August 1952 - 1 June 1959)
• 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 103rd Armor (1 June 1959 - 1 April 1963)
• 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 223rd Cavalry Regiment (1 April 1963 - 1 April 1975)
• 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment (1 April 1975 - 2003)
• 104th Cavalry Regiment (2003 - present)

The regiment's two squadrons (one Armored, one Stryker) have spent the last decade deployed to hot spots in Europe and the Middle East as peacekeepers, humanitarians, and combat forces.

The symbolism of the DUI, approved on 24 January 1924, encompasses the regiment's long and varied history. The "yellow" circle represents the traditional color of the Cavalry branch, while the diagonal blue line signifies the unit's history as an Infantry regiment. The black Maltese cross represents the unit's service in Puerto Rico (during the Spanish-American War) and the red keystone is the divisional insignia of the 28th Infantry Division, to which the 104th is assigned.

So, finally, back to this little gem that I picked up on eBay for $2.99 (plus $3.15 shipping, which is a bit of a gouge). I've cataloged this guy as ASMIC 104A1, a no-hallmark pin-back piece that dates it to either just before or soon after World War II. If it were pre-war, then it may have been worn by any of the three units into which the 104th was segmented in 1941. Without a good bit of evidence as to its provenance, there's no way to tell for sure. That's just one of the drawbacks to building a collection from items purchased from a retailer.