'Lobos' case colors for redeployment

Photo By Rick Emert | Lt. Col. Christopher Joslin, commander of 2nd "Lobo" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, (left), addresses some of his Soldiers during a colors casing ceremony, Dec. 10, at Taji, Iraq. Joslin told his Soldiers they should be proud of their accomplishments in Iraq.  

TAJI, IRAQ

12.12.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert 

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

By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A 1st Air Cavalry "Warrior" Brigade unit cased its colors, Dec. 10, signaling the end of its mission in Iraq.

The 2nd "Lobo" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, provided general aviation support for Multi-National Division-Baghdad from October 2006 to December, according to San Antonio native Maj. Michael Price, battalion operations officer.

The battalion conducted a fuel and rearming point mission, distinguished visitor transportation within Baghdad, heavy lift capabilities for cargo and personnel and the air medical evacuation mission for what was one of the most volatile areas in Iraq, Price said.

The battalion's Company C, 2-227th General Support Aviation Battalion, evacuated more than 5,500 patients from four multinational divisions in Iraq over a period that included the surge of troops.

In all, the battalion conducted more than 11,500 missions. It transported more than 120,000 passengers and nearly 10,000 pallets of cargo. The battalion's fuelers pumped more than 3 million gallons of fuel over the course of the deployment.

The battalion's UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were used to support distinguished visitor and commanding general transportation and MEDEVAC operations. The unit's CH-47 Chinook helicopters were the workhorses of MND-B, moving personnel and cargo.

The wide scope of the missions and their importance to successful operations within MND-B kept the Soldiers on the ball, Price said.

"I'm proud of all the missions we performed here," he said. "Because we had such a busy mission, it kept everyone focused on the mission."

The brief color casing ceremony meant it was time for the hardworking Lobos to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"The ceremony showed the end to the mission," Price said. "With this, we can stop focusing on the missions for (1st Cav. Div.) and start focusing on redeploying."

In remarks during the ceremony, Lt. Col. Christopher Joslin told his Soldiers they should be proud of what they accomplished in Iraq.

"When you guys leave here; when you are home safe ... you stand tall, and you stand proud and tell people about the team you were with here," said Joslin, a native of Reno, Nev.

Most of the battalion's Soldiers will be home by Christmas with the entire battalion redeployed to Fort Hood by mid January, Price said.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2007
• Date Posted: 12.12.2007 14:33
• Story ID: 14645
• Location: TAJI, IQ