Approved for the 26th Field Artillery on 21 October 1938, the 26th Field Artillery Regiment Unit Crest consists of a red shield charge with an artillery shell superimposed over a horseshoe. The color red was selected because it is the Field Artillery Corps branch color; an artillery shell conveys the function of the organization, and combined with the horseshoe it “suggests the character of the Regiment” (although examining its lineage reveals not ties to Cavalry or even Air Cavalry). The eight nails in the horseshoe represent the eight campaigns in which the unit served during World War II. “Courage And Action” are the motto and bywords for the Regiment.
The Distinctive Unit Insignia is worn by all Soldiers (except General Officers) in units that have been authorized to be issued the device. It is worn centered on the shoulder loops of the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) and the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU, Enlisted only) with the base of the insignia toward the outside shoulder seam. Full guidance on wear of the DUI is found in DA Pamphlet 670-1,
Section 21-22, "Distinctive unit insignia" and 21–3(d) and (e),
"Beret" and
"Garrison Cap," respectively.
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The 26th Field Artillery Regiment was constituted as the 26th Field Artillery and assigned to the 9th Division on 5 July 1918 and organized the next month at Camp McClellan, Alabama. It was not deployed during World War, but after being redesignated as a battalion in 1940 it went to served in eight World War II campaigns, receiving an arrowhead for the assault landing in November 1942 in Algeria and French Morocco. Its WWII service was honored by the award of a Belgian Fourragere 1940, along with two citations in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army, one for Meuse River and the other for Ardennes.
The Regiment fought in a dozen campaigns in Vietnam, earning two Presidential Unit Citations and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Although it did not earn any unit decorations in the Southwest Asia conflict of 1990-1991, it did take part in all three campaigns of that war, and in 1995-1996 its peacetime service was recognized with an Army Superior Unit Award. Since the launch of the War on Terrorism the Regiment has received four more Meritorious Unit Commendations, but the number of campaigns for which it will receive credit for participation has not yet been determined.