DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U.S. ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND
200 STOVALL STREET ALEXANDRIA VA 22332·0400

PERMANENT ORDERS 182-16 1 July 2010
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
2d Battalion, 503d Infantry (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
1st Battalion, 63d Armor (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
74th Infantry Detachment (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
Battery D, 319th Field Artillery (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
173d Support Company (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
501st Support Company (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003) Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
509th Signal Battalion (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
3d Platoon, 554th Military Police Company (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003)
250th Medical Detachment (26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003) 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry (1 May 2003 to 31 August 2003)

Announcement. is made of the following award: Award: Meritorious Unit Commendation Period of service: As listed above. Authority: AR 600-8-22, paragraph 7-15

Reason: For exceptionally meritorious service. During the period 26 March 2003 to 5 November 2003, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade and its subordinate units displayed exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit conducted a combat parachute assault onto Bashur Airfield and opened a northern front in order to distract Iraqi divisions while main coalition forces closed on Baghdad. Through demonstrations and feints as well as select direct and indirect fire engagements, the brigade successfully prevented the repositioning of Iraqi forces in defense of Baghdad. Additionally, the unit successfully drove Iraqi forces from Kirkuk and took control of three air fields and numerous oil and gas complexes. Once in control of Kirkuk, the brigade transitioned to stability and security operations and quelled a highly charged, multi-ethnic city of nearly one million people. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade's outstanding performance of duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects distinct credit upon the unit and the United States Army.

PERMANENT ORDERS 182-16, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 223'32, 1 July 2010

The award is still subject to final confirmation in Department of the Army General Orders. Official verification of a specific unit's entitlement to display the award in the form of an appropriate streamer on its flag or guidon rests with the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH), which is also responsible for determining official unit Lineage and Honors for MTOE organizations. CMH will use this permanent order to authorize the manufacture of an appropriate decoration streamer for any organization clearly entitled to display the .award. The streamers will then be manufactured and sent to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command for automatic distribution to the units concerned.

. BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
: STEWART . STEPHENSON, JR.
LTC, AG
Chief, Military Awards Branch