The 63rd Coast Artillery was a Coast Artillery regiment in the United States Army. It was deactivated and broken up in 1943, with its last descendants inactivated in 1958.
Lineage
The regiment was constituted and organized 10 December 1917 as 63rd Artillery at Fort Worden, Wa. Shipped to Camp Mills June 1918, arrived in France 14 July 1918. and assigned to 39th Brigade CAC. returned to Camp Mills February 1919, demobilized at Camp Lewis 21 March 1919.
Redesignated 63rd Antiaircraft Battalion, 1 June 1922 and companies given serial numbers as follows-
HHD&CT as 259th Company
Searchlight Battery as 260th Company
Gun Battery as 261st Company
Machinegun Battery as 262nd Company.
Redesignated 63rd Coast Artillery Regiment on 1 July 1924 and reorganized as follows-
HHD&CT as HHC
Searchlight Battery as A Battery
Gun Battery as B Battery
Machinegun Battery as C Battery Reorganized as Gun Battery and deactivated.
D Battery
E Battery
F Battery
G Battery
H Battery
63rd Artillery reconstituted and consolidated with 63rd Coast Artillery Regiment 7 March 1932. 2nd Battalion activated at Fort MacArthur 12 October 1939. Regiment reassigned to Fort Bliss 6 December 1940.
Composite Automatic Weapons Battery organized from elements of the regiment on 23 March 1941 and assigned to Camp Clatsop, Oregon 6 April 1941 for deployment to U.S. Naval Base Sitka. battery disbanded at Sitka 1 July 1941.
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/2 inches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Purple a pile Or, three winged projectiles one and two counterchanged. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “AMOR PATRIAE” in Purple letters.
Symbolism
The shield is the heraldic representation of the golden gate, the yellow opening of the setting sun and the two purple headlands and thereon are three antiaircraft winged projectiles. The motto translates to “The Love Of Country.”
Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 63d Antiaircraft Battalion on 30 January 1924. It was redesignated for the 63d Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 30 October 1951. The insignia was redesignated for the 63d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 22 May 1956.
Coat of arms
Blazon
Shield
Purple a pile Or, three winged projectiles one and two counterchanged.
Crest
On a wreath of the colors Or and Purple, a dexter arm embowed Proper holding a broken lance Gules. Motto: AMOR PATRIAE.
Symbolism
Shield
The shield is the heraldic representation of the golden gate, the yellow opening of the setting sun and the two purple headlands and thereon are three antiaircraft winged projectiles.
Crest
The crest is the crest of General Winfield Scott for whom one of the forts was named and indicates the place of activation after World War I. The motto is also that of the Scott family.
Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 3d Antiaircraft Battalion on 16 December 1921. It was redesignated for the 63d Antiaircraft Battalion on 4 October 1922. It was redesignated for the 63d Coast Artillery Regiment on 1 May 1924. It was redesignated for the 63d Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion on 18 December 1944. The insignia was redesignated for the 63d Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 22 May 1956.
