4th Battalion, 229th Attack Helicopter Regiment
Lineage

The 4th Battalion, 229th Attack Helicopter Regiment traces its origin to 1 July 1965 when it was constituted in the Regular Army as Company D, 229th Aviation Battalion, an element of the 1sat Cavalry Division. The unit was officially activated on 1 July 1965 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and deployed to Vietnam. From 1965 to 1972 the unit participated in sixteen major campaigns and was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations, the Valorous Unit Award, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, four awards of the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal. The unit returned from Vietnam and was inactivated on 22 August 1972 at Fort Hood, Texas. The 229th, less Company D, was reactivated on 21 January 1978 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as an element of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). On 16 September 1981 Company D was activated and organized at Fort Rucker, Alabama under the operational control of the 1st Aviation Brigade. The unit was inactivated on 16 October 1987 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Today the unit has been reorganized, redesignated, and activated as the 4th Battalion, 229th Attack Helicopter Regiment. Also on this occasion, the rich military heritage of an elite aviation unit from the pages of World War II history, namely, the original American Volunteer Group (AVG) Flying Tigers granted the unit permission to use the name "Flying Tigers" as the Regimental logo. The AVG Flying Tigers became the first Americans involved in support of the Chinese in the war with Japan. Between their initial battle in December 1941 and their disbandment in July 1942, their heroics became the stuff of legend. Often out-numbered as much as eight to one and fighting under primitive conditions with shortages of both food and supplies, their aircraft held together by determination and resourcefulness, this handful of warriors checked the Japanese invasion of China. Like those who served in the Flying Tigers, Vietnam, and on the countless other occasions, the soldiers of the 4th Battalion stand ready to serve should the call come. And we did – Desert Storm! Like our brothers before us – we served when our country called.