Grant of Arms
By authority of the Secretary of the Army, The Institute of Heraldry, United States Army, gives, grants and assigns unto the 16th Infantry, the arms following:
Symbolism
The shield is the fur vair, white and blue, from the arms of Fleville, France. This town was captured by the 16th Infantry on 4 October 1918 after very heavy fighting in the Meuse-Argonne campaign of World War I. The crossed arrow and bolo recall the Indian Wars and Philippine Insurrection and the five-bastioned fort was the badge of the V Corps in Cuba.
The crest is the white Maltese cross of the V Corps in the Civil War. The shaef of wheat and the trident amd crest represent the desperate fighting in the Wheatfield and Devil's Den at Gettysburg where the regiment lost approximately 50 percent of its effective strength. The motto "Always Prepared" has been used by the Regiment since 1908.
Under the provisions of Title 18, Untied States Code, Section 701 and 704, the arms here given, having been registered and recorded in the Institute of Heraldry, United States Army, are affirmed from this date and hereafter mat be borne, shown and advanced by the 16th Infantry as sole proprietor of said arms.
In testimony whereof these letters are given under my hand at the City of Alexandria in the Commonwealth of Virginia this first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three and in the Independence of the Untied States of America the two hundred and seventh.
Signed Richard H. Allen
RICHARD H. ALLEN
Colonel, General Staff
Director