HOW Battery 1:2 ACR

• Origins: HOW Battery, 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (HOW BTRY 1/2 ACR) traces its lineage to the storied 2nd Dragoons, organized in 1836, making it one of the oldest continuously serving cavalry units in the U.S. Army. • Name Meaning: "HOW" is a phonetic designation for the letter "H," used by the Army to identify batteries within artillery units. HOW Battery was the howitzer (artillery) battery of 1/2 ACR. • Cold War Guardians: During the Cold War, HOW Battery 1/2 ACR was stationed in Germany, playing a critical role in patrolling the Iron Curtain and defending the Fulda Gap, a potential invasion route for Warsaw Pact forces. • Border Duty: The unit routinely conducted border surveillance missions along the East-West German border, often engaging in tense standoffs and intelligence gathering against Soviet and East German forces. • Operation Desert Storm: HOW Battery deployed with 2nd ACR to Saudi Arabia in 1990, participating in the famous cavalry charge at the Battle of 73 Easting, providing crucial fire support to the regiment’s armored squadrons. • Modernization: The battery transitioned from towed M102 howitzers to self-propelled M109 Paladin howitzers, enhancing its mobility and firepower in the 1980s and 1990s. • Distinctive Insignia: Members of HOW Battery wore the green and yellow colors of the Armored Cavalry, along with the iconic crossed sabers and regimental crest, symbolizing their heritage. • Bosnia Deployments: In the late 1990s, the battery supported peacekeeping operations in Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor, helping maintain stability after the Yugoslav Wars. • Traditions: HOW Battery maintained unique traditions, including the passing of the Stetson (cavalry hat) and "spur rides," where troopers earned their silver spurs through rigorous testing. • Transformation: In the 2000s, as the Army restructured, HOW Battery and 2nd ACR transitioned into the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, adapting to new missions in Iraq and Afghanistan while carrying forward their proud legacy.