The Octofoil is a device that dates back to the 15th Century when it was customary for each son to have an individual mark of distinction. Under the rules of heraldry there are eight foils or positions. Heraldic rules gave the Octofoil to the ninth son, a device symbolic of his being surrounded by eight brothers.

The 9th Infantry Division insignia is a red and blue octofoil; a design of eight petals with a white center. Red and blue designate colors of an infantry division headquarters flag; white is for the numbers used in divisional flags. The circular background is olive drab.

The subdued variant (also shown above) consists of olive drab and black for less visibility to be worn on field uniforms.

The red crescent is for the Tunisian campaign; the nine rays of the sun denote the unit's numerical designation and also refers to the campaign in Sicily; the gold disk in center is for Central Europe, and the fleur-de-lis thereon represents service in Northern France. The insignia is enamel on metal and 1 1/8” in height.

This insignia would be worn by those division elements that did not have their own “colors” or insignia.

To increase pride and esprit de corps, The Institute of Heraldry began, in 1929, to design Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI or DI) to be worn by the officers and men of selected units. The metallic and enameled DUI was designed based on the unit's nature, missions, accomplishments, and lineage.

Prior to 1929, many Regular Army units had already designed coats of arms to represent their history and accomplishments. The Institute of Heraldry usually incorporated these designs into the new DUI.

DUIs are often called “crests” although a crest is technically a part of a heraldic coat of arms. Unit commanders must request to have Distinctive Unit Insignias authorized and designed by The Institute of Heraldry.

The 9th Infantry Division was created as the 9th Division during World War I, but never deployed overseas. Later, the division was an important unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War. It was also activated as a peacetime readiness unit from 1947 to 1962 at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Carson, Colorado, and from 1972 to 1991 as an active-duty infantry division at Fort Lewis, Washington. Nicknamed the “Old Reliables”, the division was eventually deactivated in December 1991. ¹⁾

For information on Generals of the 9th Infantry Division, please see the following page: Generals

• Constituted 8 July 1918 in the Regular Army as Headquarters 9th Division.
• Organized 18 July 1918 at Camp Sheridan, Alabama. *
• Disbanded 15 February 1919 at Camp Sheridan, Alabama.
• Reconstituted 24 March 1923 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 9th Division.
• Activated 1 August 1940 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• Reorganized and re-designated 1 August 1942 as Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division.
• Inactivated 15 January 1947 in Germany.
• Activated 15 July 1947 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
• Inactivated 31 January 1962 at Fort Carson, Colorado.
• Re-designated 1 February 1966 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry Division, and activated at Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Inactivated 25 September 1969 in Hawaii.
• Activated 21 April 1972 at Fort Lewis, Washington.
• Inactivated 15 December 1991 at Fort Lewis, Washington.