User:Rvnpilot/Ghost Riders, A Co 158th AHB

File:Ghost_Rider_Distinctive_Unit_Patch.jpg GHOST RIDERS, A Co 158th AHB Ghost Riders was the collective company call sign of members of A Company, 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion assigned to the 101st Airborne Division conducting airmobile operations in Vietnam, and subsequent legacy units involved in world-wide operations that share essential elements of the same distinctive unit patch, camaraderie, and attitude toward mission accomplishment - and life.

HISTORY

ORGANIZATION: The 158th Aviation Battalion (Aslt Hel)(Ambl) was activated 25 July 1968 at Fort Carson, Colorado, under the command of Major Maurice Dougherty. Organized from the existing 246th and 247th Aviation Companies at Fort Carson and at Fort Riley, the unit was assigned command and control elements and the needed additional personnel and equipment for its eventual deployment to Vietnam. HHC, A, B and D Companies were stationed at Fort Carson, while C Company remained at Fort Riley. Their training began on September 9, 1968, and A Company members were deployed to Vietnam on January 31 and February 1,1969. The "Ghost Riders" stood down during December 1971/January 1972; Ending an illustrious chapter in the history of Army Aviation.

During the formation of the units, unique unit patches were designed, as were distinctive aircraft markings.The Bell UH-1 "Huey" aircraft from the 158th AHB had colored circles on their tail booms for unique identification. Red was used to designate A Company. B Company was white, C Company was blue, and those bearing a yellow color scheme belonged to D Companies falling under the 101st Airborne Division. All had a "Screaming Eagle" symbol of the vertical stabilizer. However, there was one anomaly to this heraldic scheme. The Ghost Riders of A Company were different in that they had an additional distinctive marking, a broad white stripe on the top of their UH-1 (Huey) aircraft - just behind the greenhouses and in front of the transmission cowling - running the entire width of the top of the aircraft and down the sides just above the hand holds. Their distinctive unit patch is shown above.



NOTABLE AWARDS

Company A 158th AHB Distinctive Unit Citations

Presidential Unit Citation—10–21 May 69, DAGO 16, 72 awarded for Dong Ap Bia.

Presidential Unit Citation—8 Feb–28 Mar 71, DAGO 13, 74 awarded for Lamson 719.

Valorous Unit Award—17 Apr–7 May 69, DAGO 2, 71 awarded for LZ Airborne/Bear.

Valorous Unit Award—22–23 Jul 70, DAGO 50, 71 awarded for FSB Ripcord

RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm—2 Feb–14 May 69, DAGO 43, 70

RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm—1 Mar–9 Oct 71 DAGO 6, 74; 18 Apr–31 Aug 71

and 6–19 Sep 71 DAGO 6, 74

RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, FC—2 Feb 69–2 May 70 DAGO 48, 71

RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, FC—30 Oct–7 Dec 70 DAGO 11, 73