Heraldic Items:
Coat of Arms: The Regiment was organized in 1833 as the Regiment
of United States Dragoons. Many of its officers and men came from the Battalion
of Mounted rangers which had taken part in the Black Hawk War, shown by
the crest. The color of the Dragoons was Dragoon Yellow (Orange-Yellow),
shown by the color of the shield. The dragon is an illusion to the name
Dragoon. The gold eight-pointed star encircling the belt was the insignia
of the Dragoons until 1851.
Shield: Tenne (Dragoon Yellow) a dragon passant or. And for informal
use the escutcheon encircled with a sword belt sable, buckled at base with
the belt plate of the dragoons of 1836 proper bearing the regimental motto
in base and First Cavalry in chief between two eight pointed mullets of
rays, one on dexter side, the other on sinister, all or.
Crest: On a wreath of colors, or and Tenne (Dragoon Yellow),
a hawk rising with wings addorsed and elevated sable, langued and membered
gules.
Motto: Animo et Fide (Courageous and Faithful)
Distinctive Badge: An orange eight-pointed star with a Black
Hawk standing on a gold orange wreath, all within a black belt with gold
Dragoon buckle and inscribed Animo et Fide in gold letters. The tip of
the hawks beak and talons are red, which symbolizes courage. The sample
of the badge was approved 17 February 1966. Actual origins go back much
earlier in the Regiment's history.
Unit Colors, Standards, and Guideons:
