In 1925 a unit crest was adopted for use by the regiment to commemorate the use of captured artillery by members of the fourth infantry at the battle of Monterey.  Members of the regimental band acting as stretcher bearers were organized into scratch gun crews for captured Mexican canons.  These guns were turned on the Mexicans and helped turn the tide of the battle.  After the war the regimental band was permitted to wear red piping (red being the arm of service color of the artillery) around the chevrons of their uniforms.  This tradition lasted until the blue uniform was replaced in the early twentieth century.

The first crests adopted were made of wool, felt, or ribbon material.  Currently the fourth infantry is still the only infantry regiment to have a non-metallic distinctive unit crest.

A metallic device was created for the overseas hat in the 1960’s.

When displayed the crest was intended to have the ribbon displayed vertically.  However, the Army in 1989 revised this to display them horizontally.  Photographs and documents in my collection from the 1930’s thru the 1980’s suggest this is an error on the part of the modern army.  They should be displayed vertically.