A Ft. Wainwright based aviation unit that’s returned to Fairbanks was one of the last to leave Iraq, as the United States completes it pull out from the country. Squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Michael McCurry says the 440 soldiers who returned to post last week hold a place in history as the Iraq war comes to an end.
McCurry says no casualties were suffered as the aviation squadron employed 30 Kiowa helicopters to provide aerial reconnaissance and security in five operating locations across northern Iraq during the 10 month deployment. McCurry says during the last portion of the time in country, the squadron’s mission shifted to transitioning facilities to Iraqis.
McCurry has served five deployments to Iraq, beginning with operation Desert Storm, and has seen the complete arc of U.S. involvement in the country. McCurry will be relinquishing command of the Ft. Wainwright cavalry unit in February, but says his work is not finished yet, as he leads soldiers through a re-integration process on post.
McCurry says the aviation cavalry squadron’s return home to Ft. Wainwright will be officially marked with uncasing of the unit’s flag at a ceremony in February.
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Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
