Revised: May 27, 2008
CREST AND SHIELD: The 143rd Signal Battalion's Distinctive Unit Insignia depicts an orange and white chessboard pattern, which alludes to a Signal grid system and the battalion's tactical flexibility and strategies, used in the game of chess.
The organization's active participation in the invasion of Belgium during Word War II are symbolized by colors black and gold and the lion symbolic from the Coat of Arms of Belgium where the unit received three of their four decorations for service.
The
five postal horns are symbolic of the old German Post System Bündespost and
represent the five campaign honors earned by the battalion in the European
Theater. It also alludes to the organization's area of operation as
well as the unit's communications mission.
The unit's motto: "Vox Ferrorum", Latin for "Voice of Iron" is also depicted at the bottom of the insignia. The design was originally approved 11 September 1958; manufacturing drawing approved 9 April 1979 by the Institute of Heraldry, U. S. Army.
The 143rd Signal Battalion was tasked to provide Encrypted Voice and Data communications to the combat and support elements of the 3rd Armor Division, Spearhead.
From WWII to the Persian Gulf War, the Voice of Iron ensured that not only did unit commanders have contact with their battlefield elements; the unit also provided morale boosting contact with families in Europe and Stateside.
I wanted the site motto to reflect in a short and simple statement how the Voice of Iron website maintains the history of the 143rd Signal Battalion, and connects the past to the future.
I’m not an expert in linguistics, but it has a nice sound and flow.