212th Coast Artillery (United States)


The 212th Coast Artillery was a Coast Artillery regiment in the New York National Guard.

Lineage

Originally organized as 12th New York Volunteer Infantry in 1859, broken up into Pioneer Infantry 4 January 1918.
It was reorganized as 212th Artillery, 9 December 1921 as follows:
Redesignated 14 May 1924 as 212th Coast Artillery
Regiment broken up 10 September 1943 at Seattle, Washington as follows-
A Silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Vair, a chief nebuly Gules. Attached below the shield a Red scroll turned Silver inscribed “PRO PATRIA” in silver letters.
The shield of vair represents the allocation of the Regiment to southern New York, as fur constituted a great part of the early trade of this state. Vair originated from the fur of a kind of squirrel which was bluey-gray upon the back and white underneath. The red chief is for Artillery and the nebuly partition line is the heraldic symbol for clouds, the field of antiaircraft fire. The motto translates to "For Country".
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 212th Coast Artillery Regiment on 25 November 1927. It was redesignated for the 773d Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 21 August 1952. It was redesignated for the 773d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 25 March 1958. The insignia was redesignated for the 212th Artillery Regiment on 3 April 1962.

Coat of arms

Blazon

Vair, a chief nebuly Gules.
That for the regiments and separate battalions of the New York Army National Guard: On a wreath of the colors Argent and Azure, the full-rigged ship “Half Moon” all Proper. Motto: PRO PATRIA.

Symbolism

The shield of vair represents the allocation of the Regiment to southern New York, as fur constituted a great part of the early trade of this state. Vair originated from the fur of a kind of squirrel which was bluey-gray upon the back and white underneath. The red chief is for Artillery and the nebuly partition line is the heraldic symbol for clouds, the field of antiaircraft fire.
The crest is that of the New York Army National Guard.

Background

The coat of arms was originally approved for the 212th Coast Artillery Regiment on 29 November 1927. It was redesignated for the 773d Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 21 August 1952. It was redesignated for the 773d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 25 March 1958. The insignia was redesignated for the 212th Artillery Regiment on 3 April 1962.