1st Battalion - 4th Aviation Regiment (Attack)
"Dragon"
As of December 2005, the 1st Battalion 4th Aviation Regiment, part of the Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, was operating out of Camp Taji, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On order, 1-4 ATKHB deploys and conducts attack helicopter, aerial reconnaissance, and security operations in support of the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), or designated Headquarters, to fight and win divisional contingency operations.
The 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, was constituted on 21 August in the Regular Army as Company A, 4th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 4th Infantry Division. The unit was activated 1 October 1963 at Fort Lewis, Washington and then inactivated 25 April 1966 in Vietnam.
On 1 September 1966, the unit was reactivated at Fort Lewis Washington. After being sent to the Republic of Vietnam, the unit saw extensive action in the Vietnam conflict. The unit has campaign participation credit for the Defense; Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive Phase Two and Three; Counteroffensive Phases Four, Five and Six; Tet 69 / Counteroffensive; Summer - Fall 1969; Winter - Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; and Counteroffensive Phase Seven.
In addition to these campaigns the unit earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a streamer embroidered "Vietnam 1967-1968". The unit was also awarded two Republic of Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Palm, and streamers embroidered "Vietnam 1966-1969" and "Vietnam 1969-1970". Finally, the unit received the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (First Class).
Following participation in the Vietnam conflict, the unit was inactivated on 4 December 1970 at Fort Lewis, Washington. After a twelve year absence, the unit was activated again on 17 March 1982 at Fort Carson, Colorado.
On 16 August 1987, the unit was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation, an element of the 4th Infantry Division. Organic elements were concurrently constituted and activated. The unit was then inactivated 15 December 1995 at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The unit was reactivated 16 January 1996 at Fort Hood, Texas as 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment also known as the Dragon Battalion. The Dragon Battalion is made up of Headquarters Headquarters Company (Stallions), A Company (Vipers), B Company (Reapers), C Company (Sidewinders), and D Company (Dawgs).
During 1999, the battalion was a key player in the Former Republic Yugoslavia (FRY) peace keeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The battalion (-) deployed with 16 "Apache" Attack Helicopters to Comanche Base, Bosnia. In Bosnia, the unit participated in day and night NATO operations in order to promote peace and to deter any threat between the warring factions. Later in the year the battalion conducted an Aerial Gunnery and participated in a Division level JANUS exercise, which validated concepts essential to the growth of the Army into the Twenty-First century.
On 2 April 2002, the battalion began the Longbow Unit Fielding and Training Program and completed the the training on 5 November 2002. With the AH-64D's impressive array of fire power, mobility and night fighting capability, 1-4th Aviation Regiment remains the most lethal and deadly organization within the 4th Infantry Division.
In March 2003 the Battalion once again answered its nation’s call and deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where it conducted sustained combat operations for one year. The Battalion redeployed in March 2004.
On 15 September 2004 the unit received its first AH-64D Longbow Apache LOT 8 aircraft, making it the most technologically advanced attack battalion in the world.
