1-1 Attack Battalion – Gunfighters

The “1-1 Attack Battalion – Gunfighters” is a highly distinguished attack helicopter battalion within the United States Army. The battalion flies the AH-64E Apache Guardian, the most modern and advanced version of the Apache attack helicopter, and its primary role is to engage and destroy enemy armor, vehicles, fortifications, and personnel. It provides close combat attack and aerial reconnaissance for ground forces.

The nickname “Gunfighters” isn’t just a cool title; it’s a core part of the unit’s identity, earned through combat. The call sign was officially adopted during the Vietnam War. The unit was flying the UH-1B/C “Huey” helicopter, heavily modified as a gunship with machine guns and rockets. Their aggressive and effective close-air support for ground troops embodied the spirit of a “gunfighter”: Fast, deadly, and reliable in a fight.

They asked us to manufacture an extraordinary custom challenge coin for their battalion. Instead of having a classic round-shaped coin, they wanted to have a coin with a pentagonal shape, like a badge or a crest. Other than that, the elements put into the design were their insignias and symbols, just like a normal challenge coin.

Our cutting-edge equipment at Embleholics could cut and create a coin from almost any shape imaginable. We have our team of digital graphic designers who lay out the design in 2D, which is readable by our computerized machine, and could be applied to many kinds of base materials, such as metal or plastic.

You can browse through our gallery on the Embleholics website to see many kinds of coins, belt buckles, and bottle openers with different shapes and finishes.