187th Infantry Regiment (United States)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 187th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
 187th Infantry Regiment coat of arms |
|
| Active | 1943-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | U.S. Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Campbell |
| Nickname | Rakkasans |
| Motto | Ne Desit Virtus |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Blue Bat Operation Desert Storm Operation Anaconda Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia |  |
The 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) is a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the United States Army.
The regimental motto is "Ne Desit Virtus" ("Let Valor Not Fail"). The nickname "Rakkasan," from the Japanese word rakkasan (落下傘) which means "parachute," or literally "falling down umbrella," was given to the 187th during its tour in occupied Japan following World War II.
Contents |
[edit] World War II
Originally formed in World War II as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment[1] on November 12, 1942 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina and activated on February 25, 1943. A two battalion regiment assigned to the 11th Airborne Division as a glider regiment, the men of the 187th trained both as glider and parachute troops.
Deploying to the southwest Pacific in 1944 with the 11th Airborne Division, the 187th fought in Leyte in the bloody battle of Purple Heart Hill during the invasion of the Philippines. In January of 1945 the 187th landed south of Manila at Nasubu Bay, 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, Fort McKinley, and Manila to Mount Macolod and Malepunyo.
In May the 187th moved into Lipa to refit, rebuild, and prepare for the invasion of Japan. At this time the 3d Battalion was formed and the regiment was redesignated a para-glider regiment.
[edit] After World War II
At the end of World War II the 187th was assigned to the occupation of Japan and was the first foreign ground combat unit to enter that nation.
In April 1949 the regiment returned to the United States and was stationed at what was then Camp Campbell, Kentucky. It was redesignated the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 30 June 1949 and was part of the 11th Airborne Division.[1] In early 1950 the 187th participated in "Operation Swarmer," the largest peacetime airborne maneuver in history.
[edit] Korean War
The 187th was selected as an airborne regimental combat team responding to the crisis in Korea.
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 Rakkasans participated in Douglas MacArthur's surprise landing at Inchon in September 1950 and assisted in the liberation of Seoul and the Kimpo Peninsula. One month later, on 20 October 1950, the regiment made successful combat parachute assaults on the town of Sukchon (Sukehon-sunchon), North Korea as part of the Battle of Pakchon. Followed by battles at Suan, Wonja, Kaesong, Munsan-ni, and Inje. The 187th was also used to quell the mutiny at the Koje-do POW camp. The 187th led the second and last parachute assault in Korea on 23 March 1952. It redeployed to Japan on 26 June 1951 where it became strategic reserve but returned to Korea on 24 May 1952. It once more returned to Japan, 18 October 1952 but made its final return to Korea, 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.[1]
The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team consisted of the following unit:
- 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment
- 674th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
- Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battery, 187th ARCT
- Airborne Engineer Company, 187th ARCT
- Military Police Traffic Platoon, 187th ARCT
- Quartermaster Parachute Maintenance Company, 187th ARCT
- Medical Ambulance Platoon, 187th ARCT
- Medical Clearing Platoon, 187th ARCT
- Pathfinder Team, 187th ARCT
- Attached units
- 2nd and 5th Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) (3 March 1951 - 4 April 1951)
- 5-man FECOM Tactical Liaison Office Team, 8177th Army Unit. (Tactical Intelligence)
During the Korean War, three members of the Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor, Lester Hammond, Jr., Rodolfo P. Hernandez and Richard G. Wilson.
[edit] Post Korean War and Air Mobility
When the concept of the battle group was introduced in 1957 the companies of the 187th Infantry Regiment were redesignated the 1st, 2d, and 3d Airborne Battle Groups, 187th Infantry. These battle groups served in various units including the 101st Airborne Division, the 11th Airborne Division, and the 82d Airborne Division. The 187th's battle groups served in Germany, with the peacekeeping force in Lebanon in 1958 as part of Operation Blue Bat, and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Another reorganization of the Army took place in February 1963 and the unit was redesignated the 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, and assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division which tested new air assault tactics at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following successful testing and evaluation the Rakkasans were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division the following year.
[edit] Vietnam War
As part of the 3d Brigade of the 101st Airborne the regiment deployed to Vietnam in 1967. The regiment fought in engagements in the A Shau Valley, the Iron Triangle, and elsewhere until the division returned to the United States in 1972.
[edit] Post Vietnam
In October 1983 the 1st, 2d, and 4th Battalions were activated, and on November 21, 1984 a 5th Battalion was activated.
During a realignment of the U.S. Army's combat forces in 1987 the 1st and 2d Battalions were deactivated and the 5th and 4th Battalions were redesignated as the 1st and 2d Battalions, respectively.
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 peacekeeping mission.
[edit] First Iraq War
In September 1990 the Rakkasans were deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. In February of 1991 two companies from the 1st Battalion captured 434 Iraqi 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 behind enemy lines into the Euphrates river valley, the assault led to the timely defeat of Iraqi forces and ensured a total allied victory.
[edit] Global War on Terror
In early 2002 the Rakkasans deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they most notably participated in Operation Anaconda in the eastern Shah-i-Khot region. The 2nd Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for combat valor during this period.
In 2003, the Rakkasans were deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Battalion was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division and accompanied them during the push into Baghdad, where the "Iron Rakkasans" assaulted and cleared the International Airport, and "The Secretariat" the last stand of the Iraqi Special Republican Guard. Before moving north to Mosul, the Rakkasans conducted extensive S.A.S.O. operations in Baghdad's southwest sector. They returned in 2004 and were re-deployed to Iraq again in the Fall of 2005. During their second tour in Iraq, they were stationed in the Salah ad Din province. It was during this deployment that the 3rd Battalion conducted "Operation Swarmer", one of the largest combat operations in Iraq since the initial invasion. Iron Rakkasans worked with Iraqi Army soldiers in the area south east of Tikrit rooting out suspected insergent cells and uncovering numerous cahes of weapons and explosives.[2].
The Rakkasans are the only airborne warfare regiment in the history of the Army to fight in every war since the development of airborne tactics. From glider to parachute to air landing to air assault by helicopter, the regiment has entered combat using every mode of airborne assault and has pioneered the tactics that govern these modes of assault.
[edit] In Film
The Rakkasans are portrayed in the 1987 movie Hamburger Hill.
