History:

2nd Battalion/ 101st Aviation Air Assault:

“”The Army fielded its first combat-ready Apache Longbow battalion in October 1998. The 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, joined the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment at Fort Hood as fully operational on the type. The Army’s 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, received its certification 28 October 1999 during ceremonies at Fort Hood. The second US Army AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter battalion to be certified combat ready, the battalion completed eight months of intensive training at Fort Hood, Texas. The Apache Longbow battalion is equipped with 24 AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, built by The Boeing Company in Mesa, Arizona. To qualify, the men and women of the second Apache Longbow battalion completed a series of comprehensive classroom, flight and field exercises. The US Army was modernizing its fleet of AH-64A Apaches into next-generation Apache Longbow helicopters, which linked a wide range of avionics, electronics and weapons into one fully integrated weapon system.

In February 2003, the Eagle Warriors deployed to Kuwaiti in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 2-101st Aviation conducted the first deep attack of the war for the 101st on 28 March 2003, as it attacked and destroyed elements of the 14th Brigade of the Medina Division southeast of Karbala. On 31 March 2003, the battalion was called upon again, as it conducted one of V Corps’ five simultaneous attacks, conducting armed reconnaissance west of Karbala, protecting the left flank of the 3rd Infantry Division, allowing it to pass through the Karbala Gap on its way towards Baghdad. On the 1st and 2nd of April, the battalion worked closely with 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry conducting close combat attacks in support of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, “Bastogne,” 101st Airborne Division, as they secured the city of An Najaf. From 10-15 April, the battalion worked closely with 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry again, conducting reconnaissance and close combat attacks supporting the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, “Strike,” 101st Airborne Division, as they cleared the southern approach to Baghdad. In early May, the Eagle Warriors moved to Northern Iraq where it conducted reconnaissance, security, and provided 24-hour quick reaction force support to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne Brigade, near the cities of Tal Afar and Mosul for nine months. After 11 months in combat, the unit successfully returned each member of the battalion to Ft Campbell, KY in February 2004. “” -quoted by Martha Elen every year on social media when we celebrate coming out of this deployment alive and happy to have served together from the 2-101 Website.

In 2006, 2nd Battalion reflagged after a second deployment of support in Operation Iraqi Freedom to Ft. Riley. No more shall there be another Eagle Warrior-

We are the last Eagle Warriors…….