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Battle Flag Flies in Iraq Again

By: Spc. Aaron L. Rosencrans

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 25th Infantry Division

The tattered, yet proud American battle flag once again made its way from Hawaii and patrolled the streets of Iraq Jan. 22, to honor the fallen Soldiers who served with it.

Rather than appearing in combat, the battle flag was shared with the Iraqi Army on a humanitarian mission and a mounted patrol in the vicinity of Taji, Iraq.

Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, brought the flag with them to a new medical clinic outside Taji, where the Iraqi Army delivers medical supplies and furniture.

From left to right: San Bernardino, Calif. native, Lt. Col Thomas H. Mackey, commander, of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Leavenworth, Kansas native Capt. Nathaniel Crow, commander, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Green Bay, Wis. native, Capt. Joseph Dumas and Rochester, N.Y. native, 1st Lt. Michael Kaness, display the Hoe Battle Flag during a patrol Jan. 22. They hold the flag in reverse to symbolize the way Soldiers wear the flag on their right shoulder. Crow said the flag represents a "lineage of warriors." (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron L. Rosencrans, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs)

The birth of the tradition behind the flag started in 1967, when Vietnam War veteran, Allen Hoe bought the flag from a local shop, outside a U.S. military base in Chu Lai, Vietnam. The then 21-year-old carried the flag with him as he and his unit fought through the jungles of Vietnam.

In 1968, on Mother's Day, Hoe's unit lost their team leader, Lt. Frederick Ransbottom, among several other Soldiers during a battle. The surviving members of Hoe's unit asked him to hold onto the flag until Ransbottom's body was recovered.

More than three years ago, 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, son of Allen Hoe, shared his father's story of the battle flag with his non-commissioned officers, who then asked if they could carry the flag in Mosul, to honor his father's lieutenant, who was still missing in action at the time, Allen Hoe said.

He agreed and sent the flag to his son in Iraq, who carried it until he was shot by a sniper.

Iraqi Army soldiers unload medical supplies at a new medical clinic here Jan. 22. This mission was part of a patrol to honor the memory of 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, son of Allen Hoe, and the other fallen Soldiers who served with the American battle flag Allen Hoe purchased at a local shop, outside a U.S. military base, in Chu Lie, Vietnam. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron L. Rosencrans, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs)

"Nainoa and his men carried the flag with them for a couple months," Allan Hoe said. "(Nainoa) was carrying the flag with him when he was killed in January 2005."

Three years after the death of Nainoa Hoe, to honor his son, Allen Hoe entrusted the flag to San Bernardino, Calif. native, Lt. Col Thomas H. Mackey, commander, of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cav. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., for his unit's 15-month deployment to Iraq this year.

"I asked Allan, as a family friend, if we could take the flag with us on this deployment, and carry it for a couple months in memory of his son, and also to pass the legacy of this flag onto my Soldiers," said Mackey.

The flag with his unit represents more than just honoring the memory of only one person, said Mackey.

"It's really about legacy and honoring the memories of Soldiers like Nainoa and those who have gone before," Mackey said.

Mackey was a commanding officer of Nainoa Hoe when he was deployed to Mosul.

The battle flag seems to have become somewhat of a blood line for the 25th Infantry Division.

"It's a lineage of warriors," said Capt. Nathaniel Crow, commander, of Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cav. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div.

Crow explained the flag has become more than a tradition in the Hoe family, but a symbol of pride for all warriors in the brotherhood of arms.

The battle flag will be patrolling the streets around the Taji area with Crow and his unit for the next couple weeks.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com