1st ACB headquarters troops receive "combat patch"

Photo By Rob Strain | Capt. Jeorge King, a native of Georgetown, Texas, and the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, places the shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service on Augusta, Ga., native Sgt. 1st Class Bryant Riley, the brigade's movement noncommissioned officer, during a ceremony Dec. 16 at Camp Taji, Iraq. More than 100 Soldiers from the company received their "combat patch" for time served in Iraq.  

TAJI, IRAQ

12.16.2006

Courtesy Story

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

By Sgt. Robert J. Strain
1st Air Cavalry Brigade Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The Soldiers of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade received their shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service, or combat patch, during a ceremony here Dec. 16.

More than 100 Soldiers are currently deployed to Iraq with the company, with two-thirds of them having been deployed at least once before, said Capt. Jeorge King, the HHC commander.

According to Army history, the original patch of the 1st Cavalry Division dates back to 1921, and the version currently worn was approved in 1934.

"The combat patch has a unique meaning to each individual. For me it is a mark of sacrifice and experience – a symbol that we will always be free – because of Soldiers like you, who are willing to meet the enemy on any foreign battlefield," King, who is a native of Georgetown, Texas, said to Soldiers during the ceremony.

Spc. Damien Steinrich, a paralegal specialist with the brigade who hails from Palm Bay, Fla., has never been deployed before and was nervous about deployment.

"At first I was little scared going into a combat environment," Steinrich said.

Now that he has been here for a while and has had a chance to see how things work, Steinrich added that he would go to any combat environment with this unit.

Although the Soldiers have put on their combat patches, it doesn't mean things will get any easier for the rest of the deployment.

"There's no difference in yesterday and today by wearing something on your right shoulder. That's the bottom line," said Col. Daniel Shanahan, the "Warrior" brigade's commander and a Traverse City, Mich., native, in remarks to Soldiers after the ceremony. "You're just as vulnerable to get hit by incoming [enemy fire]; you're just as likely, out at a tower, to engage the enemy in close combat, so don't let down. In fact, I want you to step up. I want you to come to a higher plane."

King said it will be a challenge to lead his company in adding another chapter to the history of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and 1st Cavalry Division.

"When you're working with a division that is basically a living legend and has such great history and monumental epic stories about it, it's very difficult to live up to the past," King said.

"It's a very challenging experience," said King. "We have a good team here ... and I look forward to bringing everyone back home."

The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade has been deployed since October and took over aviation operations for the Multi-National Division-Baghdad in November. The unit's mission is to provide command and control to the brigade's aviation assets in support of Multinational Division-Baghdad.

• Date Taken: 12.16.2006
• Date Posted: 12.18.2006 15:28
• Story ID: 8615
• Location: TAJI, IQ