August 30th, 2021
Major David Van Horn is originally from Columbus, GA and is a 1991 graduate of Auburn University, commissioned through Auburn University Army ROTC. He retired in May, 2019, after serving twenty six years in the Alabama Army National Guard, primarily as an Armor and Cavalry officer in 1st Battalion, 131st Armor/Cavalry. His duty positions include M60A3 tank crewman, M1 tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander, HHC Commander, and Armor Battalion S4, Cavalry Troop Commander, and Cavalry Squadron Executive Officer, all with 1st of the 131st Armor/ Cavalry. Van Horn served as a TAC Officer at Alabama Military Academy multi-state OCS at Fort, McClellan, AL. Additionally, he served as 22nd Recruiting Command Task Force Commander, and 22nd Recruiting Command Deputy Commander, as well as Assistant Operations Officer with 122nd Troop Command, and Battalion XO of Auburn University Army ROTC.
Van Horn commanded a Cavalry Troop in MND-North, as part of the Surge in Iraq, from 2007 to 2008. He mobilized for Noble Eagle Two and Noble Eagle Three, from 2002 to 2004, He took part in relief efforts for Hurricanes Ivan, and Katrina, in 2004 and 2005, the Enterprise tornado in 2007, Operation Deepwater Horizon in 2010, and the Tuscaloosa tornado, in 2011.
His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Unit Commendation medal, the Meritorious Service Medal w/1 Bronze Oak Leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal w/ 4 Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal w/ 3 Bronze Oak Leaf cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/ 3 Bronze Oak Leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Ribbon w / 1 Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal w / 1 Bronze Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ “M” device and Bronze Hourglass.
Van Horn is a graduate of the United States Army Cavalry Leaders Course, the United States Army Armor Captains Career Course, the United States Army Armor Basic Course, and numerous other Army courses.
