Nicknamed “oval” for obvious reasons, this embroidered patch is officially known as Airborne background trimming because that is precisely the function it performs. Placed beneath Parachutist and/or Air Assault Badges, the patch forms a trim or border around the device, except for the star and wreathed star found on Senior and Master Parachutist Badges.
The two items are considered one when placing them on the coats of the AGSU and ASU, the shirt of the Class B ASU, and the green or blue Army Maternity Tunic. If a lapel covers the oval and badge, wearers are allowed to move them so they are aligned with the left edge of the ribbons or medals. Rules regarding the wear of Skill badges such as these vary between the uniforms on which their wear is authorized; detailed instructions can be found in the January 2021 edition of DA PAM 670-1, Chapter 22-16, subsection (b), “Wear of nonsubdued combat and special skill badges and special skill tab metal replicas.”
Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division was originally constituted as Headquarters Company, 101st Division on 24 June 1921. The Company fought in four World War II campaigns, earning a pair of Arrowhead devices for taking part in assault landings in the Normandy and Rhineland campaigns. It was also the recipient of two Presidential Unit Citations, one embroidered “Normandy” and “Bastogne” for its heroic stand in the Belgian town, as well as several foreign military decorations (French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Orange Lanyard).
The unit received its “almost” current designation as HHC, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division on 3 February 1964 and subsequently took part in fifteen of the seventeen named campaigns of the Vietnam conflict. Its heroism and outstanding service in Vietnam were recognized by both the Army (Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation) and the government and military of South Vietnam, which selected the unit for three Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm awards and a Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class.
The unit was deployed during Operation Desert Shield and fought in Desert Storm, with its superior performance again recognized with a Meritorious Unit Commendation. It also was on hand for the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom roughly a dozen years later, and in 2007 it was tapped for another MUC for its service between March and December 2003.
In September of 2004, the unit underwent a final redesignation as the Brigade became a Brigade Combat Team in keeping with the Army’s transition to a modular force. As of 2021, the 1st Brigade Combat Team—nicknamed “Bastogne”—is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.