187th Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
101st Airborne Division (United States)
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
The regimental motto is the Latin "Ne Desit Virtus" ("Let Valor Not Fail"). The nickname "The Rakkasans" is derived from the Japanese word for parachute. The name was given to the 187th during its tour in occupied Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When a translator dealing with local Japanese dignitaries was trying to explain what their unit was trained to do (and not knowing the Japanese word for "airborne soldiers") he used the phrase "falling down umbrella men", or rakkasan. Amused by the clumsy word, the locals began to call the troopers by that nickname; it soon stuck and became a point of pride for the unit.
Currently, the 1st Battalion - 187th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion - 187th Infantry are active in the 101st Airborne's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
Note:
The above information is wrong and the site is not allowing the wrong information to be edited. The definition or translation of "Rakkasan" does not mean "parachute." Translated from Japanese (who had no word for parachute in 1945) it means; "Falling down umbrella." See:Blazon
- Shield: Azure on a pale nebuly Argent a double handed sword erect Gules.
- Crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure between a Japanese city symbol Gules and a mullet of seven points per fess wavy of the last and of the second, a sea lion Or charged on the shoulder with a heart Purpure and holding in his dexter paw a sword bendwise of the first with hilt and pommel of the fourth the blade notched three times to base of the third.
- Motto: NE DESIT VIRTUS (Let Valor Not Fail).
Symbolism
Slang term : Angels From Hell, For retired insignia.- Shield:
- Blue is for the Infantry.
- The partition line of the pale heraldically representing clouds and the doubled-handed sword, an ancient infantry weapon, symbolizes the character of the organization as an Airborne Infantry unit.
- Crest: The golden seal lion, adapted from the seal of the President of the Philippines, represents the award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Streamer for the campaign on Manarawat, scene of the first combat jump of the 187th.
- The heart on the lion's shoulder points out the action on Purple Heart Hill.
- The winged sword with three notches in the blade signifies the unit's score of three combat jumps, one in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and two in KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. - The red diamond shape is the insignia of the city of YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where the 187th landed as the first American combat troops and began four years of occupation duty. - The seven-pointed star, divided in the manner of the Korean TaegukTaegukTaegeuk refers to the ultimate reality from which all things and values originate according to oriental philosophy. It is also the symbol that makes up the center of the Korean Flag.-History:...
stands for the unit's seven campaigns in that country.
Background
- The coat of arms was originally approved on 1952-12-15 for the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment.
- It was redesignated for the 187th Infantry Regiment on 1958-02-07.
- On 1965-04-15 the coat of arms was amended to add a crest.
- On 1984-12-19 the symbolism was amended to more accurately reflect the three notches in the blade of the winged sword.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
- Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of the coat of arms of the organization blazoned: Azure on a pale nebuly Argent a double handed sword erect Gules attached below a silver scroll inscribed "NE DESIT VIRTUS" in black letters.
- Symbolism:
- Blue is for the Infantry.
- The partition line of the pale heraldically representing clouds and the doubled-handed sword, an ancient infantry weapon, symbolizes the character of the organization as an Airborne Infantry unit.
- Background:
- The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved on 1952-12-15 for the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment.
- On 1957-04-03 it was amended to add the motto.
- The insignia was redesignated on 1958-02-07 for the 187th Infantry Regiment.
Lineage
- Regiment Constituted 1942-11-12 in the Army of the United StatesArmy of the United StatesThe Army of the United States is the official name for the conscription force of the United States Army that may be raised at the discretion of the United States Congress in the event of the United States entering into a major armed conflict...
as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment. - Assigned 1943-02-25 to the 11th Airborne Division and activated at Camp MackallCamp MackallCamp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located in eastern Richmond County and northern Scotland County, North Carolina, south of the town of Southern Pines. The facility is in close proximity to and is a sub-installation of Fort Bragg Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. - Allotted 1948-11-15 to the Regular ArmyRegular ArmyThe Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
. - Reorganized and redesignated 1949-06-30 as the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment
- Reorganised as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team on 1 Aug 1950 and posted to Japan where it served in the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
- Relieved 1951-02-01 from assignment to the 11th Airborne Division.
- Regiment Assigned 1956-07-01 to the 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne Division (United States)The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. - 1st Battalion Reorganized and redesignated 1957-03-01 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry, relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated).
- On 1957-04-25, the following actions took place:
- Regimental Headquarters Relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division; concurrently reorganized and redesignated as the 187th Infantry Regiment, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.
- 2nd Battalion Reorganized and redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry, and remained assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
- 3rd Battalion Inactivated at Fort CampbellFort CampbellFort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division; concurrently redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry- 1st Battle Group Relieved 1958-07-01 from assignment to the 11th Airborne Division and assigned to the 24th Infantry Division.
- 1st Battle Group Relieved 1959-02-08 from assignment to the 24th Infantry Division, and assigned to the 82d Airborne Division.
- 3rd Airborne Battle Group Redesignated 1963-02-01 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, and assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division (organic elements concurrently constituted)
- 3rd Battalion activated 1963-02-07 at Fort BenningFort BenningFort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. - The following actions took place on 1964-02-01:
- 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment constituted and activated at Fort BenningFort BenningFort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, as an element of the 11th Air Assault Division. - 2nd Battle Group relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division
- 3rd Battalion Relieved from assignment to the 11th Air Assault Division and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division
- 2nd Battle Group Inactivated 1964-02-03 at Fort CampbellFort CampbellFort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. - 1st Battle Group Inactivated 1964-05-25 at Fort BraggFort Bragg (North Carolina)Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
; concurrently consolidated with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, and consolidated unit designated as the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, an element of the 11th Air Assault Division (later redesignated as the 11th Airborne Division) - On 1983-10-01, the following actions took place:
- 2nd Battle Group Inactivated 1964-02-03 at Fort Campbell
- 187th Infantry Regiment Regiment Withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
- 1st Battalion Relieved from assignment to the 11th Airborne Division, assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
, and activated in PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. - 2nd Battle Group Redesignated as the 2d Battalion, 187th Infantry, assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
, and activated in PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
- 1st Battalion Inactivated 1987-05-01 in PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and relieved from assignment to the 193d Infantry Brigade193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
. - 2nd Battalion Inactivated 1987-07-10 in PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and relieved from assignment to the 193d Infantry Brigade193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
. - On 1987-09-16, the following actions took place:
- 1st Battalion Inactivated 1987-05-01 in Panama
- 1st Battalion activated at Fort CampbellFort CampbellFort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and assigned to 101st Airborne Division. - 2nd Battalion activated at Fort CampbellFort CampbellFort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and assigned to 101st Airborne Division.
Campaign Participation Credit
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
:
- New Guinea;
- Leyte;
- Luzon (with arrowhead)
- Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
:
- UN Offensive (with arrowhead);
- CCF Intervention;
- First UN Counteroffensive (with arrowhead);
- CCF Spring Offensive;
- Korea, Summer-Fall 1952;
- Korea, Summer 1953
- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
:
- Counteroffensive, Phase III;
- Tet Counteroffensive;
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
- Counteroffensive, Phase V;
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive;
- Summer-Fall 1969;
- Winter-Spring 1970;
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
- Consolidation I;
- Consolidation II
- Southwest Asia WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
:
- Defense of Saudi Arabia;
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
Decorations
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for:
- TAGAYTAY RIDGE
- SUKCHON
- TRANG BANG
- DONG AP BIA MOUNTAIN
- Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) for:
- INCHON
- Valorous Unit AwardValorous Unit AwardThe Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star...
for:
- BINH DUONG PROVINCE
- THUA THIEN PROVINCE
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)Meritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
for:
- VIETNAM 1968
- SOUTHWEST ASIA
- Army Superior Unit Award for 1995–1996
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 1944-10-17 TO 1945-07-04.
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for:
- KOREA 1950-1952
- KOREA 1952-1953
World War II
Originally Constituted in World War II as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment on November 12, 1942, and activated on February 25, 1943 at Camp MackallCamp Mackall
Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located in eastern Richmond County and northern Scotland County, North Carolina, south of the town of Southern Pines. The facility is in close proximity to and is a sub-installation of Fort Bragg Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, A two battalion glider regiment assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, the men of the 187th trained both as glider and parachute troops. They moved to Camp Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
on 1944-01-09 for Glider training. The regiment Staged at Camp Stoneman
Camp Stoneman
Camp Stoneman was a United States Army military facility located in Pittsburg, California. It served as a major staging area for the Army in World War II and the Korean War....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on 1944-04-29, and Departed from the San Francisco Port of Embarkation on 1944-05-06.
The regiment arrived in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
on 1944-05-29 and joined the New Guinea Campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
. The regiment departed New Guinea on 1944-11-11, and arrived on Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
on 1944-11-18 to join the Leyte Campaign
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
.
The Regiment left Leyte, and joined the Luzon Campaign
Battle of Luzon
The Battle of Luzon was a land battle fought as part of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony The Philippines, and Mexico against forces of the Empire of Japan. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory...
by assaulting Nasugbu Point Luzon
Nasugbu, Batangas
Nasugbu is a 1st class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 113,926 people in 19,615 households....
on 1945-01-31, blocking Japanese forces as part of the advance on Manila from the south. From then until April the 187th fought their way from Nichols Field
Nichols Field
Nichols Field was a U.S. military airfield located south of Manila in Pasay City and Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Luzon, the Philippines. During the World War II era, it was the location of the Far East Air Force's U.S. 20th Air Base Group. Also, based here was Troop F of the U.S. 26th Cavalry...
, Fort McKinley
Fort McKinley
Several places have been named Fort McKinley* Fort William McKinley * Fort McKinley, Maine* Fort McKinley, Ohio--------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
, and Manila to Mount Macolod
Mount Macolod
Mount Macolod, sometimes called Mount Makulot is a mountain located in north-west of Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines.This mountain is a tourist attraction to the municipality. The mountain is about tall and it is also located next to Taal Lake.Mount Makulot, a 600-meter high volcanic rock wall, is...
and Malepunyo.
In May the 187th moved into Lipa
Lipa City
The Lipa City /Li-pâ/ is a first class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It is one of the three component cities of Batangas province...
to refit, rebuild, and prepare for the invasion of Japan
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
. At this time the 3rd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
was formed and the regiment was redesignated a para-glider regiment.
The regiment was attached to the Provost Marshal General, US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) from 1945-06-01 through 1945-07-27 at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. The campaigns in the Philippines were declared completed on 1945-07-04,
The regiment moved to Okinawa on 1945-08-12 for Occupation Duty. This is where the unit gained its name; Rakkasan, when it was the only unit to parachute onto Japanese soil at the time. Then with the war coming to an end on 1945-08-14, the regiment subsequently moved to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on 1945-08-30, and was alleged to be the first foreign ground combat unit to enter that nation.
After World War II
In April 1949 the regiment returned to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was stationed at what was then Camp Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
. It was redesignated the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment on 1949-06-30 and was part of the 11th Airborne Division. In early 1950 the 187th participated in "Operation Swarmer," the largest peacetime airborne maneuver in history.
Korean War
Regimental combat team
A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the World War II and the Korean War, and of the U.S. Marine Corps to the present day...
responding to the crisis in Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. On 1 August 1950 the regiment became the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (ARCT) when supporting units were added and deployed to Japan, arriving on 20 September 1950. The advance party of the Third Battalion of the Rakkasans was the first to arrive in Korea, arriving at Kimpo Airfield on 23 September. On 24 September, it was placed under the operational control of the First Marine Division, relieving the 2d Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment, arriving almost a week after Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's surprise landing at Inchon on 17 September 1950.
One month later, on 20 October 1950, the regiment made successful combat parachute assaults near the towns of Sukchon
Sukchon
Sukchon is a county of the province of South Pyongan in North Korea.-Administrative districts:The district is split into one ŭp , one rodongjagu and 20 ri .-External links:...
and Sunchon, North Korea as part of the Battle of Yongju
Battle of Yongju
The Battle of Yongju , also known as the Battle of the Apple Orchard, took place as part of the United Nations offensive towards the Yalu River, against the North Korean forces which had invaded South Korea during the Korean War...
. The published purpose of that drop was to capture members of the North Korean Government fleeing Pyongyang and also to free American POW's being moved from Pyongyang toward the Manchurian border. Neither objective was realized. Followed by battles at Suan, Wonju
Wonju
Wonju is the most populous city in Gangwon province, South Korea.Wonju is a city approximately east of Seoul and the capital can be reached within 1hr 30minutes by bus or train. Wonju is home to three major universities which attract many students from Seoul and elsewhere. They provide facilities...
, Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
, Munsan-ni
Munsan
Munsan is an eup in Paju City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It lies along the edge of the Demilitarized Zone, near Panmunjom and the Joint Security Area. Munsan lies along the south bank of the Imjin River. At the time of the Korean War it was known as Munsan-ni.Munsan has a heavy military presence...
, and Inje.
The 187th led the second and last parachute assault in Korea on 23 March 1951. Under BG Thomas J. H. Trapnell
Thomas J. H. Trapnell
Thomas John Hall "Trap" Trapnell was a United States Armygeneral. Trapnell survived the Bataan Death March and the sinking of two transportation ships during...
, it redeployed to Japan on 26 June 1951 where it became a strategic reserve but returned to Korea on 24 May 1952 to assist in the suppression of the prisoner rebellion at the Koje-do POW camp (completed on 10 June). It once more returned to Japan on 18 October 1952 but made its final return to Korea on 22 June 1953. The unit returned the United States in July 1955 and, the following year, became part of the newly reactivated 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY.
The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team consisted of the following units:
The following units were assigned by General Order 34 (Confidential) Headquarters 11th Airborne Division.
- 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment
- 674th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
- Battery "A", 88th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
- Company "A", 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion
The following units were added on 23 August 1950 by General Order 41, 11th Airborne Division dated 22 August 1950.
- Detachment, 11th Airborne Military Police Company
- Detachment, 11th Airborne Quartermaster Company
- Parachute Maintenance Company
- Pathfinders from 11th Airborne Division
The following units were attached on 26 August 1950 per General Order 42, Headquarters 11th Airborne Division dated 25 August 1950.
- Platoon, Ambulance Company, 11th Airborne Medical Battalion
- Platoon, Clearing Company, 11th Airborne Medical Battalion
On 28 August 1950, Operations Order Number 1, IX Corps, the 2348th Quartermaster Air Packaging and Resupply Company was attached to the Command of Colonel Bowen, Sr.
- Attached units
- 2nd and 4th Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) (3 March 1951 - 4 April 1951)
- 5-man FECOM Tactical Liaison Office Team, 8177th Army Unit. (Tactical Intelligence)
Note: Many personnel from the 511PIR in the 11th Airborne Division were transferred to the 187th ARCT to bring it up to full strength for overseas deployment.
During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, three members of the Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, Lester Hammond, Jr.
Lester Hammond, Jr.
Lester Hammond, Jr. was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 14, 1952.-Medal of Honor citation:Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S...
, Rodolfo P. Hernandez and Richard G. Wilson.
Post Korean War and Air Mobility
When the Pentomic concept that replaced regiments and battalions with battle groups was introduced in 1957, Companies A, B, and C of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment were redesignated as HHCs of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Airborne Battle Groups, 187th Infantry, respectively. The 1st ABG, 187th Inf was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division in Germany from 1 March 1957 to 1 July 1958, when the 11th was inactivated and reflagged as the 24th Infantry Division. During its assignment to the 24th it was involved in the Lebanon intervention. On 8 February 1959 it was relieved from the 24th, rotated back to the United States and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Its colors were inactivated on 25 May 1964 and concurrently consolidated with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry (constituted and activated 1 February 1964 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an element of the 11th Air Assault Division, and the consolidated unit designated as the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, an element of the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Fort Benning, GA. It was inactivated on 30 June 1965 when the 11th Air Assault Division and 2nd Infantry Division were combined to form the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), during which time the elements of both the 11th and 2nd were reflagged with new designations.The 2nd ABG, 187th Inf remained assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was inactivated on 1 February 1964 when the Army abandoned the Pentomic structure in favor of brigades and battalions.
The 3rd ABG, 187th Infantry was not active during the Pentomic era. The colors were redesignated on 1 February 1963 as HHC, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) at Fort Benning, GA, and activated on 7 February 1963. It was relieved from the 11th on 1 February 1964 and the colors were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. There was no transfer of troops or equipment; instead, the existing 3-187th at Fort Benning was reflagged as 1-187th.
Vietnam War
| Administrative Headquarters |
Forward Headquarters |
Arrival | Major Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/187th Infantry Regiment arrived in Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –... on 1967-12-16 |
|||
| Phuoc Vinh | Phuoc Vinh | December, 1967 | 3/101 Airborne Division 101st Airborne Division (United States) The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the... |
| Dak To Dak To Đắk Tô is a village in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and in the so-called "tri-border" area where the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia all come together. Located just north of the Vietnamese town of Tan Canh , Dak To is populated by a Montagnard tribal people known as the Degar... |
June, 1968 | ||
| Cu Chi | July, 1968 | ||
| Long Binh Long Binh Long Binh is a ward, in District 9 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.-Long Binh Post:During the Vietnam War, Long Binh Post was located near Bien Hoa, Dong Nai province. Vietnam, 33km from Saigon . The base functioned as a U.S. Army base, logistics center, and major command headquarters for United... |
October, 1968 | 3/101 Airborne Division (Airmobile) | |
| Bien Hoa Bien Hoa Biên Hòa is a city in Dong Nai province, Vietnam, about east of Ho Chi Minh City , to which Bien Hoa is linked by Vietnam Highway 1.- Demographics :In 1989 the estimated population was over 300,000. In 2005, the population wss 541,495... |
Phong Dien | November, 1968 | |
| Ta Bat | July, 1969 | ||
| A Shau Valley A Shau Valley The A Shau Valley is a valley in Vietnam's, Thừa Thiên province, west of the city of Huế along the border with Laos. The valley was one of the key entry points into South Vietnam for men and matériel brought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail by the communist forces and was the scene of heavy fighting... |
Berchtesgaden Fire Support Base | August, 1969 | |
| Bien Hoa | Ta Bat | September, 1969 | |
| Phong Dien | October, 1969 | ||
| Mai Loc | November, 1969 | ||
| Phong Dien | Phong Dien | December, 1969 | |
| Huế Hue Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"... |
Phu Bai | September, 1970 | |
| Camp Carroll Camp Carroll Camp Carroll was a United States Marine Corps artillery base during the Vietnam War. It was located at , 8 km southwest of the town of Cam Lo. Camp Carroll was also at the centroid of a large arc of the strategic Highway 9 corridor south of the DMZ, which made it a key facility.-History:The... |
Camp Carroll | March, 1971 | |
| April, 1971 | 1/5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) | ||
| Huế Hue Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"... |
Phu Bai | May, 1971 | 3/101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) |
| August, 1971 | US Army Forces, Military Region 2 | ||
| November, 1971 | 3/101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) | ||
| 3/187th Infantry Regiment departed Vietnam on 1971-12-10 | |||
The 3/187th Inf. exploits from May 10 - May 20, 1969 on hill 937 in the A Shau Valley were later put on the silver screen in 1987 using the hills nickname Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill is a 1987 American war film about the actual assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 'Screaming Eagles', on a well-fortified position, including trenchworks and bunkers, of the North Vietnamese Army on Ap Bia...
as the title. For this action the Unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for the valor shown over 11 assaults on the hill.
Post Vietnam
When the 101st returned from Viet Nam, most of its personnel in the rank of staff sergeant and below were discharged upon arrival at Oakland, California, or Seattle, Washington. What remained largely consisted of a command group of staff officers and senior NCOs. The division settled into buildings recently vacated by the "U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Campbell, Kentucky."When the 101st was rebuilt, the separate 173rd Airborne Brigade was inactivated and its assets used to form the 3rd Brigade as an Airborne unit consisting of 1-503rd INF, 2-503rd INF, and 3-187th INF. The partial Airborne capability also extended to supporting units of the division (i.e., one company of three in a supporting unit was Airborne). This lasted only until April 1974, when jump status for the 3rd Brigade was terminated, and the Airmobile Badge (renamed Air Assault Badge
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
later that year) was introduced.
In October 1983 the 1st, 2d, and 4th Battalions, 187th Infantry, were activated, and on November 21, 1984 a 5th Battalion was activated. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade
193rd Infantry Brigade (United States)
The 193rd Infantry Brigade is a United States Army infantry brigade, which was originally constituted in the Army's organized reserves on 24 June 1922 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade and assigned to the 97th Division. The brigade was reorganized and reconstituted in...
in Panama and the 3rd, 4th and 5th were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell. The 4th and 5th were created by reflagging the existing 1-503rd and 2-503rd, the colors of which were soon reactivated in Korea within the 2nd Infantry Division. The Panama-based 2-187th included one Airborne company (Moatengators) within the battalion, and later jump status was expanded to the entire battalion. 2/187th was the last Airborne Battalion of the 187th. During a realignment of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's combat forces in 1987 the 1st and 2d Battalions were inactivated and the 5th and 4th Battalions were reflagged as the 1st and 2d Battalions, respectively. Upon moving to the 101st, the 187th became Air Assault.
From September 1988 through March 1989, 1st Battalion reorganized as Task Force 1-187 and deployed to the Sinai Desert, Egypt as the United States' contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
peacekeeping mission .
First Iraq War
In September 1990 the Rakkasans were deployed to Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
during Operation Desert Shield. In February 1991 two companies from the 1st Battalion captured 434 Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i soldiers during the air assault into Objective Weber and on February 25 the Rakkasans conducted the deepest and largest air assault operation in history. Striking 155 miles (249.4 km) behind enemy lines into the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
river valley, the assault led to the timely defeat of Iraqi forces and ensured a total allied victory. The unit moved farther north than any other unit during Operation Desert Storm.
Between the Gulf Wars
From 1991 to 1993 the 3/187 was commanded by Lt Colonel David H. Petraeus who renamed the battalion the Iron Rakkasans after the physical training test he created.In 1995 The Iron Rakkasans was redesignated as Task Force 3-187 and deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in July 1995. The Iron Rakassans were responsible for the southern portion of Zone C and based at South Camp, Sharm el Shiek, Egypt. During the deployment, they were instrumental in the recovery of casualties from an accident near one of the sector control centers and evacuating them to hospitals utilizing Multinational Forces Helicopters. On November 23, 1995, a 7.1 earthquake hit the Sinai Peninsula. Again the Iron Rakkasans performed road recon and rescue operations throughout the peninsula. For the Iron Rakkasans actions during their deployment, they earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the deployment. The unit returned to the United States in January 1996.
Afghanistan and Iraq
In early 2002 the Rakkasans deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they most notably participated in Operation AnacondaOperation Anaconda
Operation Anaconda took place in early March 2002 in which the United States military and CIA Paramilitary Officers, working with allied Afghan military forces, and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization and non NATO forces attempted to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in the Shahi-Kot...
in the eastern Shah-i-Khot region. The 2nd Battalion (Raider Rakkasans) as well as C and D company 1st Battalion(Leader Rakkasan) were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for combat valor during this period.
In 2003, the Rakkasans, commanded by Colonel Mike Linnington, were deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry was temporarily attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and accompanied them during the push into Baghdad. While attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry became one of the first units to invade Baghdad, for this feat the 3rd Battalion (Iron Rakkasans) were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Before moving north to Ninevah province
Ninawa Governorate
Ninawa is a governorate in northern Iraq, and the Arabic name for the biblical city of Nineveh in Assyria. It has an area of and an estimated population of 2,453,000 people in 2003. Its chief city and provincial capital is Mosul, which lies across the Tigris river from the ruins of ancient...
, the Rakkasans conducted extensive stability and support operations in Baghdad's southeast sector. The Rakkasans conducted the majority of their operations in the northwest of Ninevah province with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry focusing efforts around Tallafar, Zumar, and Avgani. The 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry worked primarily around Sinjar
Sinjar
Sinjar is the name of a town and district in northwestern Iraq's Ninawa Governorate near the Syrian border. Its population at the time of the 2006 census was 39,875....
and Biaj, and the 3rd Battalion was headquartered in Rabia
Rabia, Iraq
Rabia is the name of a small Iraqi border crossing town between Iraq and Syria on the road between Qamishli, Syria and Mosul, Iraq. The border crossing was closed during the Iraq troop surge operation in 2007...
.
They returned to Fort Campbell in 2004 and redeployed to Iraq again in the fall of 2005. During their second tour in Iraq, they focused operations in Salah ad Din province, with the 3rd Battalion, and 1/33 Cavalry regiment temporarily detached for operations in Baghdad and a Ninevah province. The brigade commander was Colonel Michael D. Steele. It was during this deployment that the brigade conducted "Operation Swarmer
Operation Swarmer
Operation Swarmer was a joint U.S-Iraqi air assault offensive targeting insurgents in Salahuddin province, near the central city of Samarra, Iraq....
", one of the largest combat operations in Iraq since the initial invasion. Rakkasans worked with Iraqi Army soldiers throughout Salah ad Din province defeating insurgents, Al Qaeda cells, and uncovering numerous caches of weapons and explosives.
In October 2007 the Rakkasans again deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 07-09 led by brigade commander Col. Dominic Caraccilo. The brigade was headquartered at Camp Striker near Baghdad with an area of operation that extended from the Euphrates river in the west to the Tigris in the east and ran south from Baghdad to Al-Mahmudiyah. This area included the Triangle of Death which had seen significant violence in the war and was often a staging area for the insurgency. As a unit following the surge
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
, the Rakkasans manned combat outposts throughout the rural areas to provide local security for the populace, partner with Iraqi defense and police forces, and facilitate numerous economic and developmental projects. When the Rakkasans redeployed to Fort, Campbell at the end of their tour in November 2008, they did not transfer authority to an incoming U.S. military unit. Instead, the area became the responsibility of the partnered Iraqi forces marking a significant step in the transference of security and authority from coalition forces to the Iraqis.
Notable Rakkasans
- MG Frank S. Bowen (Commanded for part of the Korean War-3 Combat Jumps (Broken Leg) 2x DSC)
- GEN William WestmorelandWilliam WestmorelandWilliam Childs Westmoreland was a United States Army General, who commanded US military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak , during the Tet Offensive. He adopted a strategy of attrition against the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the North Vietnamese Army. He later served as...
(Commanded the Rakkasans in part of the Korean War) - GEN David PetraeusDavid PetraeusDavid Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
- GEN Melvin ZaisMelvin ZaisGeneral Melvin Zais was a United States Army general.General Zais attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1937 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He attended the U.S...
- GEN Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf KCB , also known as "Stormin' Norman" and "The Bear", is a retired United States Army General who, while he served as Commander of U.S. Central Command, was commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf War of 1991.-Early life:Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New...
- LTG Francis Wiercinski
- COL Michael D. Steele
- CPT Paul W. Bucha, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
(Vietnam) - CPL Lester Hammond, Jr.Lester Hammond, Jr.Lester Hammond, Jr. was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 14, 1952.-Medal of Honor citation:Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S...
, Medal of Honor (Korea) - CPL Rodolfo P. Hernandez, Medal of Honor (Korea)
- PFC Richard G. Wilson, Medal of Honor (Korea)
- SMA George W. DunawayGeorge W. DunawayGeorge W. Dunaway was the second Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on September 1, 1968 and served until his term ended in September 1970...
(Second SMA was CSM of Rakkasans from 1954–1960) - CSM Basil L. PlumleyBasil L. PlumleyBasil L. Plumley was born January 1, 1920 in Shady Spring, West Virginia, the second son and fifth child of coal miner Clay Plumley and his wife Georgia , both of West Virginian stock. He is most famous for his actions as a Sergeant-Major of the US Army's 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at...
(Served with and made a combat jump in Korean War) CSM in "We were Soldiers Once and Young" - PFC Stephen FlemmiStephen FlemmiStephen Joseph "The Rifleman" Flemmi is an Italian-American mobster and close associate of Winter Hill Gang boss James J. Bulger. Beginning in 1965, Flemmi was a top echelon informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation...
, later become Winter Hill GangWinter Hill GangThe Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
member and FBI Top Echelon Program InformantInformantAn informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information... - CSM Donald E. Purdy
- CPL Ray B. Gonzalez, received a Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
and Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
on the same day for valor in Korea - CPL Arthur Gutierrez (Korea)
In Film
The "Rakkasans" are portrayed in the 1987 movie Hamburger HillHamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill is a 1987 American war film about the actual assault of the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 'Screaming Eagles', on a well-fortified position, including trenchworks and bunkers, of the North Vietnamese Army on Ap Bia...
.
The 187th AIR was also portrayed in the 2003 movie "Big Fish"
See also
- 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment (United States)3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Iron Rakkasans, is a battalion of the US Army 187th Infantry Regiment. The battalion was activated on 25 February 1943, and first saw action in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War, during the battle to regain US control of the...
- 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)