US, Australian cavalry units renew bond of friendship in Kandahar

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.24.2013

Story by Spc. Joshua Edwards 

2d Cavalry Regiment

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- On Aug. 21, 1974, two cavalry regiments from across the globe established a bond of friendship that would continue more than 39 years as the 56th Colonel of the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Col. Charles P. Graham, visited with the Australian 2nd Cavalry Regiment, exchanged gifts with leadership and forged a relationship that would be reaffirmed at Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Leaders of the two units gathered for a meal and to re-establish the relationship between them Nov. 18, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Independence and liberty are a common interest between the two. They fight for the same ideals which are common links between them.

"I found that there is a degree of poetic linkage here," said Lt. Col. Michael T. Bye, commanding officer of the Australian 2nd Cavalry Regiment. "We would once again find ourselves in a place trying to promote the virtues of democracy and freedom together as two nations."

Australian leaders spoke about the similarities that the units share now and how those similarities were also present when the friendship was formed. A number of years ago, the U.S. regiment relocated from the U.S. to Vilseck, Germany, where they are stationed today. The Australian regiment is soon to make a similar journey.

"We moved the regiment from Fort Lewis across the ocean back to Germany in 2006, and they're going to move the 2nd Cavalry Regiment from one side of Australia to another," said Col. D. A. Sims, commander of the U.S. 2d Cavalry Regiment. "If you think about where we are as a nation and where they are as we come out of this war, in some cases it's very similar to 1974. We are all kind of trying to figure out where we are going after this."

Leadership with the two Regiments shared conversation and exchanged gifts including cavalry hats, unit insignia, and a copy of the original friendship agreement written in 1974 by 57th Colonel of the Regiment, Col. John W. Seigle and delivered to 2 CR (Aus) by Brig. Gen. Charles P. Graham. Members of the Australian Regiment were awarded the order of the gold spur and inducted into the Honorary Squadron of the 2nd Dragoons.

• Date Taken: 11.24.2013
• Date Posted: 11.24.2013 07:39
• Story ID: 117306
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF