Army Airborne Glider Badge (World War II)

Criteria: The Glider Badge was a decoration of the United States Army which was first created in June 1944. The award was originally intended to recognize those members of the Army who had been trained in glider assault tactics and was presented upon completion of a combat glider flight into enemy held territory. The badge was considered a successor decoration to the Glider Pilot Badge. Following the close of World War II, the Glider Badge was authorized to any service member who had completed glider or airborne unit training at the Airborne Department of the Infantry School. During the Korean War and Vietnam War, the decoration was also bestowed to any service member who performed a combat glider assault into enemy territory. Subsequent to 1974, the United States Army ceased issuing the Glider Badge, due in part to the decline of glider warfare in the modern age. In the 1980s, the Glider Badge was declared obsolete.