42nd Infantry Division Unit Rings
42nd Infantry Division— Rainbow
“Never Forget”
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
The 4th quadrant of a rainbow of three bands red, yellow and blue, each 3/8 inch (.95cm) in width, outer radius 2 inches (5.08cm); all within a 1/8 inch (.32cm) Army green border.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally authorized by telegram on 29 Oct 1918 for the 42nd Division. It was officially authorized for wear on 27 May 1922. On 8 Sept 1947 it was authorized for the 42nd Infantry Division.
Distinctive Insignia
A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02cm) in height overall consisting of an arc of three concentric red, gold metal and blue bands, the ends curving downwards and terminating behind a vertical white enamel fleur-de-lis on either side above in base a yellow enamel demi-sun with gold rays on a light blue background, all above a red scroll, the ends curving behind the lower area of each fleur-de-lis, inscribed “RAINBOW” in gold letters.
Blue is the color used for Infantry. The rainbow alludes to the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Division and spanning across two fleurs-de-lis symbolizes their combat service in France during both World War I and World War II. The sun, adapted from the seal of the State of New York, home of the 42nd Infantry Division.
The distinctive unit insignia was authorized on 3 Jun 1976.
The division was activated on August 1917 and sailed to France on November 1917. It entered the frontline on March 1918 gaining experience in trench warfare. The 42nd was activated at the onset of US participated in World War II in 14 July 1943. In December 8-9 1944, elements of the division arrived in Marseilles France and formed Task Force Linden entering combat in the vicinity of Strasbourg. By the end of the war, the division was the first in its corps to enter Germany. The 42nd was the first to penetrate Siegfried line and first into Munich. The division served as occupation forces in Austria by the end of the war and was activated in June 1946. The 42nd Infantry Division was involved in numerous domestic emergencies while actively training for its war mission during the Cold War years as a component of the New York Army National Guard from 1947 to 1970s. The division headquarters was moved from New York City to Troy New York in December 1989 and it is where it remains today.
The 42nd has been extensively involved in the Global War on Terror since the onset of the September 11 attacks focusing in both Homeland Security and Expeditionary Operations. Elements of the division were deployed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba as part of the Joint Detention Operation Group in 2004. Elements were also deployed to the Iraq Theater of Operation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom eventually assuming responsibility for the security of Baghdad International Airport Road in 2004 to 2005. The Rainbow division contributed in Task Force Liberty through combat actions, raids, seized weapon caches, trained Iraqi army forces and worked on reconstruction to ensure free elections in Iraq. In 2008, elements of the Rainbow division was mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
42nd Infantry Division Unit Rings
Our unit rings are a great way to celebrate service with a particular Unit.
Each ring includes the particular unit insignia, they can also be inscribed
with the soldiers name, rank, even details of overseas deployments.
