OCTOFOIL
The Octofoil shoulder sleeve insignia became official for all units after the First World War and in 1923, the Ninth Infantry Division…With War Department approval…adopted the Octofoil as its patch. The selection was a unique one, as the design dated back to the 15th Century, when it was customary for each son to have an individual mark of distinction.
Perhaps Octo, meaning eight, is a bit confusing to many when speaking of the Ninth Division. But in foiling there are eight foils (positions) and heraldic rules gave the Octofoil to the ninth son, since it was symbolic of his being surrounded by eight brothers; which is an explanation of why this eight sided insignia is correct for the Ninth Regular Army Division.
The design chosen for the Ninth consists of a red quatrefoil atop a blue quatrefoil with a white center. The red stands for the artillery, the blue for the infantry and the white denotes the color of numerals found on division flags. Surrounding the Octofoil is a rim of olive drab…symbolic of nothing else of the U.S. Army.
> Read More Information About Us
> More Articles Written By Our Staff
- Win Big In The Waynedale Shamrock Search! - March 14, 2025
- One-Of-A-Kind Scavenger Hunt To Look For Elk Sheds - March 14, 2025
- Spring Cleanup & Tree Planting Opportunities In Fort Wayne - March 14, 2025