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shield is red and black-red for the
Artillery, and black in mourning for those who lost at dice by throwing the lowest spots. "In honor, a deuce spot of dice, lozenged. proper:" The honor point of the shield was given to the lowest marked dice, as it was the one which most frequently appeared to some members, the law of probabilities to the contrary notwithstanding. "In nombril a gridiron sable:" the lower half of the shield given over to the memory of those who did not belong to the "Gridiron Club" but who were constantly roasted by it. The supporters, "two Oozlefinches, regardant, proper," were a natural selection, "regardant" meaning looking, or better, all-seeing, with the great eyes that this bird has to protect while in flight in the manner described.
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The crest "a terrapin, passant dexter proper," was selected owing to the great number of these animals, cooked to perfection by Keeney
Chapman and served with great pomp to the members of the Artillery Board on occasions of state. This was always accompanied by libations of "red top," red top being a
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The
Oozlefinch's eyes are very large, allowing it to see very distant and very clearly in the sky. Its vision is unobstructed by eyelids or eyebrows, and the eyes are said to be able to turn 180 degrees so the Oozlefinch can look inward, symbolizing the need of a good leader for inward reflection.
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The body of the shield "parti per fess, dovetailed" indicates the general woodenness, not of the
Artillery Board and the other members of the "Gridiron Club" but of the passing throng who paid not their toll cheerfully in passing through the Sanctum to the bar. "Gules and Sable:" The color of the
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of the 42nd Field
Artillery Brigade (pictured) included an Oozlefinch, as did the patch of the Railway Artillery Reserve. The French motto "Nous Soutiendrons" means "We Shall Serve".
93:. Soon more people reported seeing this bird, and sketches were made. Eventually, the legend of the bird would become so great that a statue was erected at the club in its honor.
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The
Oozlefinch (unofficial) coat of arms from a 1957 military ceremony pamphlet. The Latin motto "Quid ad sceleratorum curamus" translates roughly as "What the hell do we care?"
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now obsolete drink made in the
Champagne Country of France and once imported to the United States, in times gone by that now seem almost prehistoric.
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of the 42nd Field
Artillery Brigade later included the oozlefinch, describing the insignia as: "On a wreath of the colors (
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that flies backwards (at supersonic speeds) and carries weapons of the Air
Defense and Coast Artillery, most often a
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70:. The Oozlefinch has been portrayed in many different forms and artistic interpretations through its history.
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Matched Pair of
Oozlefinches ca. 1951 by COL John R. M. Covert near Coast Artillery HQ, Fortress Monroe, VA
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There are many legends about the origins of the Oozlefinch. Most agree that the legend began in 1905 at
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The crest of the 53rd Coast Artillery is the symbol of the Railway Artillery Reserve.
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The wavy bar, over which the terrapin is passing, represents the adjacent waters of
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tradition of the Oozlefinch includes a coat of arms, the symbology of which is:
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The Oozlefinch was used on the insignia of the Railway Artillery Reserve during
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337:"Ed Thelen's Nike Missile Web Site History of the Oozlefinch"
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388:"Legend & Lore of the Coast Artillery Corps"
358:"Oozlefinch history from the 2-71 ADA in Taiwan"
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316:"Buster's Battery Oozlefinch illustrations"
219:Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen
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16:Unofficial mascot of various US army units
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51:is the unofficial historic mascot of the
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399:"Oozlefinch Roosts at ADA Museum"
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276:. Freepages.military.rootsweb.com
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246:"42d Field Artillery Brigade"
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339:. Ed-thelen.org. 1957-07-01
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301:2013-07-16
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230:References
205:, Oklahoma
49:Oozlefinch
203:Fort Sill
173:missile,
171:Nike-Ajax
120:Symbolism
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182:See also
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129:Heraldry
74:History
255:21 Feb
110:Gules
257:2024
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