San Diego Chapter 28 173d Airborne Brigade Association
  • Home
  • Chapter 28
    • Student Thanks to VETS
    • Honor Guard
    • Veterans Memorial Center Bench
    • Memorial Installation Ceremony
    • JROTC Award
    • News and Events
    • Chapter 28 Documents
    • Wounded Warrior Homes
    • Chapter 28 Store
    • Donate to Chapter 28
    • Chapter 28 Officers
  • 2015 Reunion
  • Trooper Life
    • Dave Wilbur, C/4th/503rd
    • Henry Steigler, D/4th/503rd
    • Gilbert Reynoso, C/3rd/503rd
    • Pascual Dinong, A/1st/503rd
    • Ron Modesett, A/1st/503d
    • Jon Hutchens, Okinawa >
      • Okinawa & Vung Tau Experience
    • Mike Erickson, Afghanistan
    • Lou Mossa A /1st/503d
    • Michael Sheldon, USA, USAF
    • Don Earlywine, HHC, Ist 503d
  • 173d History
    • John "Ace" Short: A First Paratrooper
    • The Patch
  • Membership
  • TAPS
  • Useful Links
  • Airborne Creed
Picture

The 173d Airborne Brigade was constituted in 1917 as an infantry brigade and deployed to France in 1918 as part of the 87th Division. Returning to the United States the brigade was demobilized in 1919. Redesignated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, it fought in three European campaigns. Although not part of the Brigade in World War II, the history of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment is significant to the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, comprising half of its current fighting strength. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed in 1941 at Ft Bragg. They jumped into New Guinea, in September 1943 as part of the first successful airborne combat jump in the Pacific Theater. On 16 February 1945 they jumped onto the island of Corregidor where they earned the Presidential Unit Citation.

The 173d Infantry Brigade was activated on Okinawa in 1963 as the 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep). The unit earned the nickname “Tien Bien” or “Sky Soldiers,” from the Nationalist Chinese paratroopers. In 1965, the Brigade became the first major unit of the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. They conducted the only combat parachute jump of the war in February 1967. During more than six years of continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam earned 13 Medals of Honor. The brigade was deactivated in 1972.


Picture
87th Division WWI
Picture
173d Jungle Vietnam
Picture
Airborne Glider Enlisted Cap
Picture
Casper Helicopter Platoon 173d
Picture
503rd Parachute Infantry WWII
Picture
D/16th Armor 173d
Picture
17th Airborne Division
Picture
E17th Cavalry 173d
Picture
Original 503rd Corregidor
Picture
173d Brigade Support
Picture
187th Airborne
Picture
Jungle Expert 173d
Picture
173rd Distinctive Unit Insignia
Picture
173d Scout Dog Platoon
Picture
173d Airborne
Picture
Long Range Reconaissance Patrol 173d

Reactivated in June 2000, the brigade conducted numerous deployments across Europe. On 26 March 2003, the 173d added to its distinguished history when nearly 1,000 Sky Soldiers parachuted into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. During the operation one Sky Soldier was awarded the Silver Star. In 2005, the 173d deployed to Afghanistan along the contentious Pakistan border in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) VI. Five Sky Soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in battle. Upon returning to Italy in 2006, the brigade transformed into the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team. In the spring of 2007, the 173d ABCT executed an extended deployment to eastern Afghanistan in support of OEF VIII where Soldiers exhibited incredible bravery earning one Medal of Honor, one Distinguished Service Cross, and 32 Silver Stars. In 2009, the brigade returned to Afghanistan for a third time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X continuing its proud tradition of selfless service, while executing a difficult build mission south of Kabul. In 2012, the brigade returned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII returning to Logar and Wardak Provinces where they executed the difficult task of reducing the footprint of the Brigade while continuing to train their Afghan counterparts.

Upon returning to Italy in 2013, the Brigade was redesignated as the 173d Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne). Today, Sky Soldiers continue the distinction of honored service dating back to World War I and proudly represent the Airborne fighting spirit wherever they serve.
This site is dedicated to veterans and current soldiers of the 173d Airborne Brigade. It will do whatever it can to reflect the honor of those who have served. It will avoid any content that would detract from past or current soldiers of the 173d Airborne Brigade.
All items on this site are the property of Chapter 28, 173d Airborne Brigade and its membership and cannot be used without the express written consent of the officers of Chapter 28. Please contact the webmaster if you have any questions or suggestions.
Proudly powered by Weebly