preparation for U.S. forces invasion of Iraq, 2–70 Armor, having just completed a training deployment to the National Training Center, was alerted for deployment to Kuwait in January 2003. About three weeks later, the battalion deployed from Fort Riley and drew prepositioned equipment from a site located in Kuwait. The battalion was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and was able to train with them for about a month before combat operations began. On 20 20 March 2003, 2–70 Armor marched into Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, supporting the 3rd Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). During the invasion, 2–70 Armor was in the van of assaulting forces and cleared the route of march for follow on forces and on 21 March 2003, was the first American unit to seize a bridgehead across the Euphrates River. The battalion combined with 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment (1-41 Infantry) to attack Al Hillah, Iraq, effectively destroying an infantry battalion of the Nebuchadnezzar Republican Guards Division. After the first week, 2–70 Armor was cut to the 101st Air Assault Division west of Al Kifl, Iraq. With the 101st for the remainder of the maneuver phase of the war, 2–70th Armor continued to clear routes, secure areas and destroy enemy forces in the vicinity of Baghdad, and Karbala. During this phase of combat, the battalion once again learned the lessons of cooperating with dismounted infantry that had been learned in World War II and the Korean War. On 30 March 2003 2-70 Armor along with 1-41 Infantry were attached to 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division to clear the city of Samawah . At the conclusion of the maneuver phase, 2–70 Armor reverted to 1st Armored Division control and conducting stabilization operations until returning to Fort Riley in February 2004. 2–70 Armor deployed again to Iraq just a year later, in February 2005, with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division. The brigade was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and assigned to the sector in and around Taji, north of Baghdad. Afghanistan When the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division was redesignated the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4–70 Armor was reassigned to the new unit. Although recently returned from a rotation in Iraq, the 170th was selected for rotation to Afghanistan. In February 2011, 4–70 Armor deployed to Afghanistan, leaving their tanks behind. They were detailed