4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS

File: 090496_jul96_decls33_0014.txt
Page: 0014
Total Pages: 17
Subject: 4 1 AVIATION BATTALION HISTORICAL RECORD OPS                    

Box  ID: BX001066

Document Number:          9

Folder Title: MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION-4TH BN-1ST AVN REGIMENT                                           

Folder Seq #:         11

Unit: 1ST ID      

Parent Organzation: VII  CORPS  







                       The ruins of Ur are the result of about 10, 000 years of civilizations building upon the ruins
               of previous civilizations. Ur is the supposed biblical birthplace of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham
               is considered the father of the world's three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As
               a result it is considered sacred to all three religions. The Iraqi tour guide showed the soldiers a
               place in the city ruins that was supposedly Abraham's birthplace. Doorways and walls still stand
               where the city once was. Ur is believed to once have had a population of over 500,000
                       The major feature of the tour was the Ziggurat, a religious tower built approximately 6,000
               years ago, once used for sacrifice and star-worship. Tallil Airfield can be seen from the top of the
               ZigguraL Also at Ur was a smaller temple called the Temple of Justice that has the oldest known
               standing arch.
                       There were two royal tombs excavated by the British in the 1930's. Writings showed the
               kings buiied there to be King Dungi and King Shulge. The ruins of the royal palace still stand at
               Ur, although now the walls are only three feet tall. The walls of the palace still have Syrian writing
               on them depicting the dynasty during which the stones were made. The tour of the site took
               approximately one and one-half hours.

               8 April
                       'ne battalion started preparing for movement to RAA Huebner. The advance party was
               assigned tasks to accomplish at Ft. Riley to smooth the main body's return .
                       HHC conducted a change of command ceremony at 1700 hours with LTC Wilkerson
               passing the guidon from CPT Sume-rix to CPT Salter. COL Mowery attended the ceremony.


               9 April
T Salter, left for RAA Huebner.

               IO April
                       The crew of the DISCOM shuttle received a mission change to transport two prisoners to
               King Kahlid Military City. The prisoners were to be met at the passenger terminal by an escort.
               When the aircraft arrived the escort was not present so the pilots shutdown and waited. The escort
               never arrived, so WOI Watson returned the two prisoners to Division Main.
                       4-1 conducted a shakedown to make sure no one had any ammunition.

               12 April
                       Today was the day most of the soldiers had been waiting for. The Peace Treaty was signed
               at 0200 hours.
                       Guards reported an unidentified white pickup truck passing through 4-l's area towards I-
               I's area. Brigade was notified of the situation.

               13 April
                       ISG Murphy departed, taking an early flight in order to attend the Sergeants Major
               Academy. ISG Johnson was designated as interim BN CSM. SFC Tony Spivey was designated
               the interim Service Company First Sergeant.

               14 April
                       Brigade detailed 4-1 to provide a two man detail for the PX until it closed. SPC Villa and
               SPC Woods left for the PX at 0830 hrs.