Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Col. Mike Kershaw, right, Huffman, Texas, native, and commander of the 2nd Brigade...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Leaders from the 2nd "Commando" Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, visited the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (ACB), 1st Cavalry Division, here Aug. 13 to show their thanks for the aviation brigade's coverage of their area of operations.
Huffman, Texas, native Col. Mike Kershaw, Commando commander, presented a captured anti-aircraft weapon system to Traverse City, Mich., native Col. Dan Shanahan, commander of the 1st ACB "Warriors."
Kershaw also presented commemorative plaques to Lt. Col. Michael Shenk, commander of 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, who hails from Carlisle, Pa., and Lt. Col. Timothy DeVito, commander of the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, from Orlando, Fla.
Shenk commands a battalion of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that supported the Commandos on numerous air assaults and other air missions. The 3-227th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB) assisted with the search for three missing Soldiers from Task Force Marne by conducting multiple air assaults and moving Soldiers across the battlefield in an effort to find their missing Commandos.
The 3-227th AHB also conducted its first air assault on this deployment with the Commandos on the anniversary of the first ever air assault conducted in the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam in 1965 said Kershaw.
Kershaw expressed his thanks to the "Spearhead" Battalion for its help in such a difficult, yet critical time for his brigade.
"When we got hit on (May 12), we got hit hard, and it was a rough day for our brigade. We went after the bad guys, but the fact is, 3,300 little infantrymen ... can only get around so far in 330 square miles ... and we couldn't go after those people without (your) component," he said to those from 1st ACB in attendance for the presentation ceremony.
Shenk was proud of his battalion and was honored to support the Commando Brigade, he said.
"We surely appreciate being able to do not only the first (air assault) with you on the anniversary of LZ X-Ray, but every one after that which was superb," said Shenk.
DeVito's battalion of attack helicopters was instrumental in keeping Commando safe and informed from the air, said Kershaw.
"Without a doubt the 'Big Guns' call sign, the attack aviation assets of this squadron, have played a great part in what we've done," the Commando commander said.
DeVito said he felt humbled to be recognized from a ground unit which showed nothing less than true professionalism while Big Guns where flying overhead.
"It's humbling because those guys have the more difficult mission, obviously. They're out there every day and night, on the ground, shoulder to shoulder with the Iraqis, doing the hard work out there to positively affect this mission," said DeVito.
The Commandos didn't want to miss out on recognizing the importance of the Warrior Brigade's mission to the troopers on the ground, said Kershaw.
After the plaques were handed out, it was time for Kershaw to head back to his area of operation, but not without saying the Soldier's Creed with Shanahan and the rest of the room, recognizing the bond that whether they're in the air or on land, they are all Soldiers – brothers in arms fighting for a common cause.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2007 08:56 |
| Story ID: | 11802 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 65 |
This work, 10th Mountain brigade recognizes 1st Air Cavalry's support, by SGM Nathan Hoskins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
