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1st Cav Band Receives Combat Action badge
By SPC(p) Allison Wallace
1CD Band, Ft. Hood, TX

Members of the 1st Cavalry Division Band received the Combat Action Badge for coming under direct and indirect fire on two specific occasions during their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

On 08 April 2004, at approximately 0730 hours Baghdad time, 25 bandsmen were attacked en route to support the very first Iraqi National Guard Officer Graduation ceremony and 1st BCT Transfer of Authority Ceremony. The band was transported in three unarmed LMTV trucks escorted by the 20th Engineers, 1BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, when a rocket propelled grenade exploded to the left of the convoy followed by direct fire from small arms. The soldiers were vulnerable as the trucks had no reinforcement or armor, only a tarp covering for concealment. Due to quick reaction on the part of the convoy drivers, no one was injured.

The second incident occurred on 31 October 2004 immediately following a Halloween performance by Amber Tight, 1st Cavalry Division’s premier rock band. Soldiers came under mortar fire within 50 meters of the MWR building, where the group performed as they were loading equipment into the flatbed LMTV. The soldiers felt the impact and flying debris, but no one was seriously injured. In all, 27 current and former 1CD bandsmen and bandswomen will earn the CAB.

The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier performing assigned duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, and must be personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. During deployments, the band’s primary mission is to keep morale high amongst Soldiers. However, just like everyone else, they are still susceptible to attacks, especially when traveling. Not only must they be able to complete their musical missions, they must also execute and react quickly when placed in dangerous situations which occur frequently in combat environments.