Mission Complete: Attack aviation battalion cases colors

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Bayamon, Puerto Rico, native Command Sgt. Maj. Ismael Medina Jr., right, the senior non-commissioned officer for 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and Las Vegas native Lt. Col. Christopher Walach, left, commander of 1-227th, pull the cover over their colors during their color casing ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, Dec. 4. The casing of the colors symbolizes end of mission for the unit. Attack has conducted 24-hour operations for 15 months in support of the ground troops in Iraq, said Walach.  

TAJI, IRAQ

12.06.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins 

1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The casing of their colors was a welcome sight for the Soldiers of one of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division's attack aviation battalions.

The 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., cased its colors during a ceremony Dec. 4, symbolizing the end of their operations in Iraq.

To the Soldiers, it means the mission is complete, and it's time to go home. For many others, it signifies a much deeper meaning, said Harker Heights, Texas, native Maj. Glen Heape, the operations officer for First Attack.

"I think, for us, the color casing represents a success. We wanted to finish strong and I think we have," he said.

Las Vegas native Lt. Col. Christopher Walach, commander of 1-227th, feels the Soldiers of 1st Attack have done their jobs well.

"Today, all the (First Attack Soldiers) walk off the field of battle with our casing of the battalion colors – proud to have served our nation at war here in Iraq," he said.

First Attack, an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter battalion, has had a long and successful deployment. Heape is proud of all the Soldiers who pushed through it, he said.

"I'm just proud to serve with these guys. Through 24 hours a day for 15 months and nobody ever quit; they just got better every day," he said.

And after 15 months of attack and reconnaissance missions, 1-227th is helping their replacements, the 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, take over the reins, said Heape.

"At this point in time (4-3rd) is conducting the mission that we've been doing for 15 months," said Heape. "We're just watching and making ourselves available for any questions they may have. They're doing really great."

But even though it has been a long deployment, Heape says it is difficult to hand over such an important mission.

"It's kind of hard to give it up. All the Soldiers are tired, but it's hard to stand back and let someone else do it," he said.

Still, difficult or not, they're handing over the mission and leaving their legacy in 4-3rd's capable hands, said Walach.

"The (Attack Soldiers) have adapted to the changing Iraqi environment and we now leave our legacy to be carried on by our replacement unit," Walach said. "This is the way it goes here, units come and go, but it is the contributions of each unit that are making a significant difference here in Iraq."

• Date Taken: 12.06.2007
• Date Posted: 12.06.2007 07:11
• Story ID: 14468
• Location: TAJI, IQ