Published: July 17, 2007
Hawaii's 2-6 Cavalry is best Army Aviation Unit
by Spc. Mike Alberts
The distinguished Daedalian trophy and award is presented annually to the United States Army unit determined by the Department of the Army to have demonstrated outstanding professionalism and to have made invaluable contributions to the advancement of flight safety in Army Aviation. The Order of Daedalians honors all World War I aviators who were commissioned as officers and rated as military pilots no later than the Armistice on Nov., 11, 1918. It perpetuates their names as the "first to fly our country's airplanes in time of war."
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The Department of the Army recognized the 2nd Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, as the best Army aviation unit during an award ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 10.
Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, 25th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general for support, presented leadership of 2-6 Cavalry with the Order of the Daedalian's 2006 Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award. The distinguished trophy and award is presented annually to the United States Army unit determined by the Department of the Army to have demonstrated outstanding professionalism and to have made invaluable contributions to the advancement of flight safety in Army aviation.
Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski (left), 25th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general for support, congratulates Command Sgt. Maj. Keith Hunter (right), command sergeant major, 2-6 Cav, on his unit's accomplishments while holding the Order of the Daedalian's 2006 Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 10.
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The Order of Daedalians ("the Order") dates to World War I and honors aviators who were commissioned as officers and rated as military pilots no later than the Armistice on Nov., 11, 1918. The Order perpetuates their names as the "first to fly our country's airplanes in time of war." Appropriately, it was 2-6 Cavalry's preparation for war and its accomplishments while at war that punctuated its choice as the Army's most outstanding aviation unit.
According to Lt. Col. James Barker, squadron commander, 2-6 Cavalry, prior to deployment his unit transformed from the 1st Battalion (Attack), 25th CAB to the "Fighting Sixth," completing numerous training exercises perfecting the employment of multiple Army aviation assets for the air/ground team. Training included deployments to the Pohakaloa Training Area in Jan. 2006 and the National Training Center (NTC) in April 2006 where the unit practiced aerial gunnery, close combat attacks and other convoy training with the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski (far right), 25th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general for support, and Col. A. Thomas Ball, commander, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (far left) join Task Force Lightning leadership as they stand with the Order of the Daedalian's 2006 Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 10.
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Since deploying to Iraq, 2-6 Cavalry has fought in Northern Iraq, supporting Multi-National Division-North conducting reconnaissance, security, air assault, and attack operations in direct support of the 3IBCT. Among those operations, the battle at Dugmat, Iraq, will be forever memorialized in unit lore.
In the early afternoon on Nov. 7, 2006, a "troops in contact" call came to the attention brigade leadership. A 3IBCT battalion military transition team and Iraqi Army elements were receiving heavy machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire from more than 40 insurgents.
Over the next dozen hours, 2-6 Cavalry and other elements of the Lightning Horse squadron would employ multiple teams of attack, troop transport and surveillance helicopters, as well as other Army and Air Force fixed wing assets operating in full unison without a single accident in support of Soldiers on the ground, a testament to the squadron's exceptional safety record since being deployed to Iraq. The battle at Dugmat resulted in the destruction of one anti-Iraqi force (AIF) truck destroyed, ten AIF killed-in-action, three AIF wounded-in-action, three AIF detained and one AIF safe house destroyed.
Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, 25th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general for support, speaks with Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, during the Order of the Daedalian's 2006 Brig. Gen. Carl I. Hutton Memorial Award ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 10.
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During the unit's award ceremony, Brig. Gen. Wiercinski and Col. A. Thomas Ball, commander, 25th CAB, both commented on the exceptional nature of the air/ground integration that 2-6 Cavalry provides for ground commanders in Multi National Division-North. The squadron's commander ensured that his Soldiers understood who exactly was responsible for his squadron's success.
"It is because of your efforts that we have been recognized with this prestigious aviation award," emphasized Barker speaking to his Soldiers. "Be very proud of this award and never forget that every single one of you contributed something to our success and recognition."
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