Operation Enduring Freedom. Meritorious Unit Commendation Permanent Orders 107-08 dated 16 April 2008, from Headquarters, Department of the Army, awarded the unit for the period of service: 18 September 2005 to 1 September 2006 citing exceptionally meritorious service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Distinctive unit insignia Description A Silver color metal and enamel device in height overall consisting of a shield blazon: Vert, in orle thirty-three plates. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Silver scroll inscribed "MEN OF WAR" in Green letters. Symbolism The shield is green and white for the Armored Force. The thirty-three plates designate the number of the organization. Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 33rd Armored Regiment on 26 March 1942. It was redesignated for the 33rd Tank Battalion on 28 July 1949. It was redesignated for the 33rd Medium Tank Battalion on 20 September 1954. The insignia was redesignated for the 33rd Tank Battalion on 3 April 1956. It was redesignated for the 33rd Armor Regiment on 1 July 1958. It was redesignated for the 33rd Cavalry Regiment effective 28 June 2005. Coat of arms Blazon Shield- Vert, in orle thirty-three plates. Crest- On a wreath Argent and Vert, a mound of the last charged in base with a broken meat hook of the first and supporting a castle of two towers of the like, the castle wall embattled of five and charged with a lion rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules, beneath an escutcheon tierced per pale of the second, the fourth, and the second, charged with a mullet Or. Motto- MEN OF WAR Symbolism Shield- The shield is green and white for the Armored Forces. The thirty-three plates designated the number of the organization. Crest- The white (silver) castle on a green mound is taken in part from the coat of arms of the city of Mons, province of Hainaut, Belgium. Only two towers of the castle are shown in reference to the two savage attacks, spearheaded by the 33rd Armor Regiment, during the period 31 August – 3 September 1944, on Mons which resulted in its capture from the German 7th Army, alluded to by the meat hook (a charge frequently found in German heraldry) the broken pieces simulating the numeral "7." The liberation of Mons, symbolized by the black lion taken from the coat of arms of Hainaut, and the mauling given elements of