The 25th Aviation Battalion was formed as a company in 1957, and redesignated as a battalion under the ROAD plan in 1963. Deployed to Vietnam in 1966, this youngest unit in the 25th Infantry Division filled a vital role in providing air mobility.
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HISTORY OF THE 25th AVIATION BATTALION
The unit was originally stationed at Ft Benning, Georgia, as the 125th Aviation Battalion.
On the 14th of March, 1966 the battalion left Ft. Benning by air for Oakland, California. At
Oakland, they boarded the troop ship, USNS Upshur, a reconditioned
cruise ship. One member of the battalion that had served in WWII remembered
crossed the Atlantic on this same ship. The ship left Oakland on the
Ides of March, 1966 along with various other units bound for Viet Nam.
Enroute, the 125th Aviation Battalion was changed to A Company, 25th Aviation
Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. The ship dropped off accompanying
units all along the coast of South Vietnam from Cam Rahn Bay to Vung Tau.
The 25th Aviation Battalion disembarked at Vung Tau, a resort area south of Saigon. There, they boarded C130 cargo planes for the ride to Ton Son Nhut airfield at Saigon. The battalion's own helicopters, which had been shipped
over earlier, transported the battalion from Ton Son Nhut to their new home at Cu Chi, about 25 miles to the northwest.
Company A began calling themselves the Little Bears after a pet a Honey
Bear that was kept in a cage in the company area. The bear became something of an attraction, and Charleton Heston stopped by to see it while on tour that year.
Members of the "Little Bears" stenciled the image of a bear standing upright clutching a
lightning bolt (from the 25th Infantry Division shoulder patch) onto the
nose and side posts with white paint on all 25 of their UH1D Huey's. They also had
patches made up that were then sewn on their fatigue shirt pockets.
Company B was known as "Diamond Head", and likewise had patches made up for their pockets.
MORE MATERIAL TO BE ADDED.
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OPERATIONS CONDUCTED IN VIETNAM
MORE MATERIAL TO BE ADDED.
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Other 25th Aviation Battalion Resources
25th Aviation Battalion - Vietnam This new site has sections for alumni lists of both the "Little Bears" and "Diamond Head" vets. You'll also find a brief history of these units and some photos.
COAT OF ARMS
MORE MATERIAL TO BE ADDED.
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1ST BATTALION, 25TH AVIATION LINEAGE
Constituted 21 June 1963 in the Regular Army as Company A, 25th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 25th Infantry Division
Activated 12 August 1963 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Inactivated 15 October 1985 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Activated 16 January 1986 at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii
Reorganized and redesignated 16 May 1988 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation, and remained assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
2ND BATTALION, 25TH AVIATION LINEAGE
Constituted 21 June 1963 in the Regular Army as Company B, 25th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 25th Infantry Division
Activated 12 August 1963 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Inactivated 15 October 1985 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Activated 16 January 1986 at Wheeler Air Force Base, Hawaii
Reorganized and redesignated 16 May 1988 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation, and remained assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
Relieved 15 March 1996 from assignment to the 10th Mountain Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division
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CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION
Vietnam
Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
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DECORATIONS (A CO.)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered HO BO WOODS
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH - HAU NGHIA
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1970
DECORATIONS (B CO.)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered HO BO WOODS
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered TAY NINH - HAU NGHIA
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOMALIA
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1970
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-- Information on this page provided by H. Ray Howard, A Co., 25th Aviation Battalion, '66-'67.
Diamond Head patch provided by Danny Driscoll, B Co., 25th Aviation Battalion, '69-'70.
