Worn from 8 October 1965 and apparently approved sometime in early 1988, the 326th Medical Battalion oval, or Airborne background trimming, was authorized for Battalion members who had earned a Parachutist or Air Assault Skill badge. The embroidered oval is placed beneath the badge, which has its main portion centered on the insignia, and then the pair are attached to an authorized uniform.
Wear regulations for background trimming and badges were obviously very different even in 1988; the most recently published Army Uniform regulations authorize the wear an oval-badge combination on Service Uniform coats (AGSU and ASU), Service Uniform shirt (Class B ASU only), and the Army Maternity Tunic (female Soldiers only). General guidance is found in
Chapter 21-32 (b) of DA PAM 670-1, while more detailed instruction regarding the wear and positioning of Skill badges such as these is found in
Chapter 22-16 (b).
During World War II, the unit served under the designation 326th Airborne Medical Company and provided invaluable medical support for the 101st Airborne troops besieged at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. During the Vietnam War, it was famed for its all-volunteer Air Ambulance Platoon of Company D, also called “Eagle Dustoff.”
For its service in Vietnam between 1968 and 1971, the Battalion as a whole was honored with two Republic of Vietnam (ROV) Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards (for service between March and October of 1971 with the XXIV Corps and 101st Airborne Division) and a third Gallantry Cross for service less Company B, which itself was awarded the prestigious medal twice for service in 1969. Company C, 326th Medical Battalion was tapped for a Presidential Unit Citation (10 May to 21 May 1969) and a Meritorious Unit Commendation (March to October 1968).
The Battalion was deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, with Company C earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service between 4 September 1990 and 11 April 1991. Company D, “Eagle Dustoff,” was also tapped for an MUC for its service between 28 August 1990 and 7 March 1991.
There is indication that the Battalion is still in active service. Some sources indicate that its last remaining component, Company D, was inactivated in 2015, but no other readily available public information on the unit’s history can be found online. We encourage customers with any information on the status of the Battalion to
email us so we may appropriately update this page.