CW2 Randy Lee Billings Memorial Highway

The memorial highway is principally a 4-lane divided roadway running north-south and passing west around the town of Poteau, in southeastern Oklahoma. The highway traverses hills and rolling terrain in the north and transitions to pasture lands with forested areas along a valley floor to the south. The memorial highway was designated on November 1, 2016 in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2) Randy Lee Billings. CW2 Billings, a native of Poteau, Oklahoma, was killed in action (KIA) on December 17, 2013, while serving overseas in Afghanistan as a pilot with Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion “Nightmares,” 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry “Big Red One” Division. He died, at age 34, when his UH-60 “Blackhawk” utility helicopter, “Aerosmith 35,” crashed in Shajoe District, Zabul Province in southern Afghanistan, in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces during Operation Enduring Freedom. Five other soldiers also died in the crash. Randy Billings enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1997, at age 17, shortly after graduating from high school. He served over 16 years, including 2 deployments to Iraq and 2 to Afghanistan, in support of the Global War on Terrorism – Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His last duty station in the United States, was Fort Riley, at Manhattan, Kansas, prior to his deployment overseas in August, 2013. He was awarded the Combat Action Badge, Army Aviator Badge, and Parachutist Badge. His personal decorations and service medals include: the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and Army Overseas Service Ribbon. (Note: The insignia depicted for the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, features: a gold Army Aviation Branch Insignia, on a red number “1,” on a vertically split silver number “3.” Incised on the silver are: the words “AIR ASSAULT” on the left side; “3rd Battalion 1st Avn” on the upper right side, and “CAB” above the 1st Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia (patch) on the lower right side. “TASK FORCE NIGHTMARE” is along the right beveled edge.) (Note: The 1st Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia features a red Arabic numeral “1” on an olive-drab shield. The Division was the first regular combat division organized in 1917 during World War I, and is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army.) (Note: The 1st Infantry Division “Fallen Soldier” Memorial pays homage to CW2 Billings [far left], and other members of the Brigade and Division, who perished in the crash.)