4th Battalion, 123rd Theater Aviation
"Proud to serve in Alaska"
The soldiers of HHC support the 4-123d Aviation Regiment on a daily basis in a arctic environment in a wide range of temperatures. The HHC mission is "to deploy worldwide to provide administrative, logistical, and staff support for the Battalion." We are a diverse company that prides itself on delivering "the right assets, at the right place, and always at the right time." As a result of the demanding, multi-faceted mission, it is comprised of many different and unique sections: the Command Group; the Company Headquarters; a Motor Pool; the Battalion Communications Section; the Battalion Medics; the Dining Facility; the Safety/HAZMAT Section; the Chaplain; and other staff elements, including the S1, S2, S3, S4, and Aviation Maintenance Sections.
HHC soldiers are professionally skilled and technically proficient. They do in fact represent the best that the Army has to offer. HHC operates and excels in the demanding Alaska environment, where temperatures range from 90 degrees F in the summer to -60 Degrees F in the winter. It continually trains to survive in tough conditions that many would find unbearable. HHC is ready to deploy worldwide to perform its wartime mission in any environment. As such, the Wolverines are a proud part of the 4-123 Aviation and United States Army Alaska Team.
A Company, 4-123rd Aviation Regiment, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a 15 aircraft, air assault unit assigned a unique mission of flying missions from -60 degrees F to over 100 degrees F. The entire state of Alaska is the local flying area and encompasses some of the most beautiful terrain possible. The Renegades mission encompasses a vast scope of activity. We complete arctic air assaults, mountain insertions, humanitarian assist, and drug enforcement missions in the widest scope of weather scenarios possible.
B Company, originally known as the "Medium Helicopter Company North," the 236th Aviation Company (ASH) of the 19th Aviation Battalion started the "Sugar Bear" tradition in April of 1971. With General Foods consent to use their Post Sugar Crisp "Sugar Bear," the 236th Aviation Company (ASH) began the legacy of the "Sugar Bears." In November of 1971, as the Vietnam era drew to a close and veteran combat units were returning to other areas, we were designated as the 242nd Aviation Company (ASH) of the 222nd Aviation Battalion (CBT). Rather than adopt the "Muleskinner" title so famously earned by the 242nd in the Republic of Vietnam, the unit retained the "Sugar Bear" mascot because of the exceptional reputation associated with it.
On 16 October 1987, the unit was organized and designated C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment assigned to the 222nd Aviation Battalion. On 24 June 1994, the unit was re-designated as B Company, 4th Battalion, 123 Aviation Regiment.
Originally equipped with C model CH-47s, the unit began the self-deployments to Philadelphia in September of 1990 to obtain the current fleet of CH-47D models which they fly today. During Operation Desert Storm, one flight platoon of Sugar Bears was sent to Saudi Arabia; the only part of the 6th Infantry Division, (L), to deploy. The Sugar Bears have taken part in many field exercises including Arctic Reach, Brim Frost, Yukon Quest, Manchu Fire, Arctic Strike, Northern Edge and numerous Joint Readiness Training Center rotations.
In training for their wartime mission to "Be prepared to deploy World Wide to provide heavy-Lift helicopter support", the Sugar Bears have hauled hundreds of thousands of troops and tons of cargo in support of tactical training operations and community support missions. B Company has fought millions of acres of burning timber with 1000-gallon water buckets, performed emergency airlifts of native Alaskan villagers from rising flood waters and delivered tons of Christmas gifts to remote orphanages.
In addition to their Wartime Mission, B Company soldiers also perform one of the most unique peace-time missions in the history of Army helicopter lift operations: high altitude rescue operations on Denali (Mount McKinley). At 20,320 feet, it is the highest mountain in North America. In 1971, a Sugar Bear CH-47 rescued three dangerously ill Japanese climbers from the 17,800 foot level of Denali. This marked the beginning of what is known today as the High Altitude Rescue Team (HART). The Sugar Bear HART holds the world altitude record for rescue hoist operations, at 18,200 feet. The HART has also conducted landings at 19,600 feet in support of rescue operations and has many other rescues to its credit.
The Sugar Bears now reside in Hangar 1 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The company boasts an authorized strength of 239 personnel, 16 CH-47D helicopters, 37 vehicles and millions of dollars worth of tools and support equipment.
The United States Army's northernmost Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Company is situated just 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Company C 123d Aviation Regiment "Old Dukes" is the only intermediate maintenance facility in all of Alaska.
