Philadelphia Cavalry troopers get their patch

Photo By Staff Sgt. Todd Chance | Lt. Col. Shawn Reger (right), of Palmyra, Pa., commander of 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, talks with soldiers as he hands out the long awaited 28th Division's combat patch. This is the first time since World War II that the whole Squadron earned this distinction.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.06.2009

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, reached a deployment milestone, March 25.

The cavalry unit, part of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard, was officially awarded their combat patch during a ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq.

The combat patch is a tradition that dates back to the first World War, when Soldiers would attach their own copies of them to their right shoulder. During World War II, troops were officially authorized to wear this patch on their right sleeve, typically reserved for the United States flag. This was meant to distinguish those Soldiers who had combat experience from those who did not.

"It's an honor to have a "Keystone" on both shoulders because there is a lot of history behind the patch," Staff Sgt. Clint Martin, of Lancaster, Pa., said. "It's nice to deploy with the unit I trained with and not somebody else."

This is the first time that the cavalry squadron received the right to wear the combat patch as a unit since World War II.

"It is an awesome feeling to share this with everyone else," said Spc. Seth Steinmetz of Easton, Pa. "They have been putting us through all these tests and trials and I think this deployment is long overdue."

• Date Taken: 04.06.2009
• Date Posted: 04.06.2009 06:24
• Story ID: 32060
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ