91st Coast Artillery (United States)

History

During the Philippines Campaign of 1941/1942 this unit operated a wide variety of equipment and manned the following batteries. All of these batteries were at Fort Mills, Corregidor unless otherwise noted.

• A Battery stockade/Mine casemate
• B Battery Rock Point
• C Battery Morrison/Grubbs
• D Battery Sunset
• E Battery Ermita (AA) Fort Frank
• F Battery Crofton Fort Frank
• G Battery Ramsey/Mine casemate

Constituted 1924 as 91st CA (HD) Regt (PS) and organized 1 July 1924 at Fort Mills. Organized by redesignating 281st, 282nd, 284th, 277th, 279th, 286th, 276th, & 285th Cos, Philippine Scouts (organized 12-18-22) as HHB and Btrys A-G respectively. HHBs 1st and 2nd Bns activated 6-3-24 at Fort Mills. Initial disposition: Regimental HHB and Btrys A & B stationed at Ft. Mills; Btrys C, D, & E stationed at Fort Hughes; Btry F at Fort Frank, and Btry G at Fort Wint. Manned fixed and mobile seacoast guns. Redesignated TD regiment 1935. Surrendered 5-6-42 as Philippines campaign (1941–1942) ended. Disbanded 28 June 1950.

Distinctive unit insignia

• Description A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 (3.18 cm) in height on and within an annulet Gules bearing on lower part the motto “VERUS ET FIDELIS SEMPER” Or a shield of the first charged with a griffin sejant, wings elevated and addorsed, of the second.
• Symbolism The griffin is a fictitious animal, half eagle, half lion, and symbolizes strength and watchfulness. Red and gold are the colors of the Artillery. The motto translates to “Always True and Faithful.”
• Background The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 3 April 1928. It was rescinded/cancelled on 14 March 1975.

Coat of arms

Blazon

• Shield Gules, a griffin sejant, wings elevated and addorsed, Or.
• Crest On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules a sea horse naiant Or. Motto: VERUS ET FIDELIS SEMPER (Always True and Faithful).

Symbolism

• Shield The griffin is a fictitious animal, half eagle, half lion, and symbolizes strength and watchfulness. Red and gold are the colors of the Artillery.
• Crest The sea horse is taken from the coat of arms of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays and denotes that the unit was organized in these Harbor Defenses, and it also alludes to the activities of the organization near the seashore.

Background

The coat of arms was approved on 3 April 1928. It was rescinded/cancelled on 14 March 1975.

References

• Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army, from ..., Volume 1 By Francis Bernard Heitman https://books.google.com/books?id=rv1CWcxVN04C&dq=5th+coast+artillery&pg=PA62
• Encyclopedia of United States Army insignia and uniforms By William K. Emerson (page 51).https://books.google.com/books?id=trbBXKeHO3sC&dq=national+army+regiments&pg=PA51

References

1. "Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950 Part I, Coast Artillery Regiments 1-196". The Coast Defense Journal.