Company C, 52d Infantry Regiment (Anti-Tank) - Company C

Company C

C Company, 52d Infantry Regiment (Anti-Tank) is a Stryker anti-tank company task organized under 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team). As a company of 54 infantrymen, the company, nicknamed "Hellcat," has conducted primarily infantry operations during three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the first deployment of a Stryker brigade to Iraq (OIF 01-02), soldiers of C-52d IN earned five Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a Superior Unit Award.

In the most recent deployment (OIF 06-08) which saw C-52d IN operating in many significantly different roles and environments, Avalanche soldiers earned one Silver Star, 16 Bronze Stars, 17 Purple Hearts and received honors from the Washington State Senate as a company of 3–2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team. C-52d IN was again deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF 09-10) in the Diyala province. Soldiers of C-52d IN worked along the eastern border with Iraqi police and regional border control units. Upon returning to the Fort Lewis, the company changed its nickname from "Avalanche" to "Hellcat" as a reference to the World War II anti-tank infantry.