Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 5 July 2006
DUI Symbolism
The insignia is the crossed arrow collar insignia (insignia of branch) of the First Special Force, World War II combined with the fighting knife which is of a distinctive shape and pattern only issued to the First Special Service Force. The motto is translated as “From Oppression We Will Liberate Them.”
DUI Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 8 July 1960. The insignia of the 1st Special Forces was authorized to be worn by personnel of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units on 7 March 1991. The wear of the insignia by the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units was cancelled and it was authorized to be worn by personnel of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and their subordinate units not authorized a distinctive unit insignia in their own right and amended to change the symbolism on 27 October 2016.
Constituted 27 August 1965 in the Regular Army as the 39th Special Forces Detachment, 1st Special Forces
Activated 1 September 1965 in Germany
Inactivated 1 October 1984 in Germany
Activated 16 October 2005 in Korea