12th Infantry Regiment

Authorised 20 June 1923

A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, in chief two crosses moline Argent and in base a wigwam of the second, with five poles and garnished Or; on a chief embattled of the last a sea lion holding in dexter paw a sword Gules.

This Regiment took part in the Civil War, its great achievement was its first engagement at Gaines' Mills, Virginia, June 27 and 28, 1862, where its loss was almost 50%. This is shown by the Moline crosses which represent the iron fastening of a mill stone and the pair recall the crushing losses sustained. The wigwam with its five poles is for the five Indian Campaigns in which portions of the Regiment took part. The chief is for the Spanish and Philippine Wars, yellow and red being the Spanish colors, red and blue, the Katipunan colors; the embattled partition line is for the capture of the blockhouse at El Caney; the sea lion is from the arms of the Philippine Islands.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved on 20 June 1923. It was amended to change the blazon of the shield on 12 October 1965. The insignia was amended to update the description on 22 December 2011. It was amended to correct the description on 30 June 2016. Coat of Arms

Authorised 20 June 1923

Azure, in chief two crosses moline Argent and in base a wigwam of the second, garnished Gules, with five poles of the third; on a chief embattled Or, a sea lion Gules, teeth and eye of the second langued a pupil of eye of the first, holding in dexter paw a sword of the first. From a wreath Argent and Azure, an armored arm embowed Proper grasping in the hand a broken flag staff, Gules, pennant of the first. DUCIT AMORE PATRIAE (Having Been Led By Love Of Country).

The field is blue for Infantry. This Regiment took part in the Civil War, its great achievement was its first engagement at Gaines' Mills, Virginia, June 27 and 28, 1862, where its loss was almost 50%. This is shown by the Moline crosses which represent the iron fastening of a mill stone and the pair recall the crushing losses sustained. The wigwam with its five poles is for the five Indian Campaigns in which portions of the Regiment took part. The chief is for the Spanish and Philippine Wars, yellow and red being the Spanish colors, red and blue, the Katipunan colors; the embattled partition line is for the capture of the blockhouse at El Caney; the sea lion is from the arms of the Philippine Islands. The crest in the Spanish colors is to commemorate the capture of a Spanish flag at El Caney.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved on 20 June 1923. It was amended to change the blazon of the shield on 12 October 1965. The insignia was amended to update the description on 22 December 2011. It was amended to correct the description on 30 June 2016. Coat of Arms