187th Combat Brigade

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3rd Brigade
101st Airborne Division
187th Combat Brigade "Rakkasan"

This.. is our history..

The mission of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division is to deploy
within 36 hours worldwide as part of a joint multinational, or unilateral task
force and destroy enemy forces or seize and retain terrain, to control land,
people and resources.

The 187th Infantry Regiment is the only airborne regiment in the history of the
US Army to fight in every war since the inception of airborne tactics. The 3rd
Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) traces its lineage back to the
organization of Headquarters, 160th Infantry Brigade. It was organized on August
1917 as an element of the 80th Division at Camp Lee, Virginia. Through numerous
reorganizations and redesignations, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd
Brigade evolved into its modern configuration on February 1964. The Brigade was
traditionally composed of three infantry battalions. From 1964 until 1971, the
Brigade's battalions were the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, and the
1st and 2d Battalions of the 506th Infantry Regiment. Between 1964 and 1967
these units conducted challenging and diverse operations, ranging from the
Mojave Desert to Norway. Prepared for both conventional and unconventional war
contingencies, the 3rd Brigade deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in December
1967 during Operation Eagle Thrust. It was the world's largest and longest
airlift directly into a combat zone.

For the next four years, the Brigade's motto "ready to move and ready to fight"
became a reality. Separated in 1968 from the remainder of the 101st Airborne
Division, the Brigade became known as the "Fire Brigade" and the "Wandering
Warrior." It fought with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta region,
the 4th Infantry Division in the central highlands, and the 25th Infantry
Division at Cu Chi. The Brigade rejoined the Division on 29 August 1968 as the
3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), a name selected to reflect the
transition from parachute to helicopter. From 1968 until 1971, the Brigade
participated in many airmobile combat operations such as Operation Apache Snow
and Operation Montgomery Rendezvous, which helped destroy North Vietnamese base
camps and cut supply lines in the A Shau Valley. Brigade elements also fought
beside the 3rd Marine Division and the Republic of Vietnam Forces throughout
Quang Tri Province.

On 20 November 1971, the 3rd Brigade redeployed to the United States and
returned to its home at Fort Campbell. It was reorganized, with elements of the
173rd Airborne Brigade, as the only parachute-qualified brigade in the Division.
The 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry Regiment replaced the two battalions
of the 506th Infantry Regiment. On 1 April 1974, the Brigade lost its jump
status and by October the Division's "Airmobile" designation was changed to
"Air Assault." On 1 October 1983, the 4th Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment was
activated as part of the Brigade and the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment
was concurrently relieved from assignment and inactivated. A year later, the
5th Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment was activated and replaced the 1st
Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. The Brigade now consisted of the 3rd, 4th,
and 5th Battalions, 187th Infantry Regiment.

In the summer of 1987, the 1st and 2d Battalions, 187th Infantry Regiment were
relieved from their assignments to the 193rd Infantry Brigade in Panama. This
allowed the Department of the Army to realign its combat force. During a
memorable ceremony at Fort Campbell, the 4th and 5th Battalions, 187th Infantry
Regiment were redesignated as the 2nd and 1st Battalions, 187th Infantry
Regiment, which resulted in the organization present today.

In September 1990, the 3d Brigade began deploying to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield. On 20 and 21 February 1991, two
companies from 1st Battalion air assaulted into Objective Weber and captured
434 Iraqi soldiers. On 25 February 1991, the Brigade conducted the largest and
deepest air assault operation in history, as it struck 155 miles behind enemy
lines into the Euphrates River Valley. This action led to the timely defeat of
Iraqi Forces and helped ensure a total allied victory.

The Regimental Combat Patch (the unit's distinctive combat insignia), was
officially adopted 10 June 1952 by the Department of the Army. The patch was
worn on the right sleeve of the Rakksans that had served in combat with the
187th. This shoulder patch had been designed while the 187th was in combat in
Korea and the unit was eager for its adoption. General Matthew B. Ridgeway, as
Commanding General of the Far East Command gave temporary approval of the patch
until the present one was approved. The only difference between the original
shoulder patch and the one officially adopted was the blue background color.
The original used Infantry Blue and the official patch uses Ultramarine Blue.
The Symbolism of the 187th Combat Patch is clearly defined: The white parachute
represents the paratroopers that descend from the blue sky into the flames of
war, on the (Airborne) wings of war.

The 187th Infantry Regiment was constituted on 12 November 1942 at Camp Mackall,
North Carolina. On 25 February 1943 it was activated and designated as a glider
infantry regiment assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. The first mission of
the Regiment was to help convince the War Department that an airborne division
could fly over water on instruments at night to a target, drop with minimal
casualties, and then wage sustained combat operations while being resupplied
entirely by air. On 6 December 1943, the Division's landings were perfectly
executed and by dawn the next morning, the objective was taken. The success of
the Knollwood Maneuvers proved the effectiveness of the airborne division
concept and compelled the War Department to create other airborne divisions.

In May 1944, the Regiment deployed to the southwest Pacific and on the night of
6 December 1944 was attacked by the Japanese 3rd Parachute Regiment. The
Rakkasans repelled the enemy force and three months later seized Lipa Airfield
on Luzon. The 187th fought continuously until January 1945 on Leyte and
suffered heavy casualties taking Purple Heart Hill. At Nasugbu Bay, the
Regiment performed a para-amphibious assault and fought their way into the
jungle to Tagaytay Ridge. They also captured Fort McKinley in the 11th Airborne
Division's attack on Manila and conquered the heavily defended Mount Macolod.
At 0100 hours on 30 August 1945, the first planes carrying 187th soldiers left
for Atsugi Airfield. This was a momentous occasion; the Rakkasans were the first
foreign troops to enter Japan in 2,000 years.

While serving as part of the American Occupation Force, the Japanese gave the
paratroopers of the 187th Infantry Regiment the nickname "Rakkasan", which
loosely translated means "falling umbrella."

On 27 August 1950, the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment was reorganized and
redesignated as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. The unit was quickly
sent to Korea and within the first month defeated a enemy force of 3,000
soldiers. The Rakkasans then performed a textbook parachute assault and heavy
drop at Sukchon-Sunchon. They also defeated the Chinese at the Battle of Wonju,
performed another record-breaking airborne operation into Munsan-ni Valley,
fought battles at bloody Inje and Wonton-ni, and quelled prison-camp riots at
Koje-do. The Rakkasans successes in Korea changed the face of airborne warfare
and revitalized interest in the use of paratroopers. It also convinced the
Pentagon to reactivate XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

On 13 December 1967, the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment reported for
duty in the Republic of Vietnam. The Rakkasans were called upon to perform many
hazardous operations including the defense of Bien Hoa Military Base and the US
Embassy in Saigon. They were awarded a Valorous Unit Citation for their actions
at Dong Ngai and a Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Dong Ap Bia
Mountain. In battles from the A Shau Valley to the Iron Triangle, the Rakkasans
added nine decorations and twelve battle streamers to the Regiment's proud
lineage.
In September 1990, the Rakkasans once again answered the call and began
deploying to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during Operation Desert Shield. On
20 and 21 February 1991, two companies from 1st Battalion air assaulted into
Objective Weber and captured 434 Iraqi soldiers. On 25 February 1991, the 48th
Anniversary of the Regiment, the Rakkasans conducted the largest and deepest
air assault operation in history, as it struck 155 miles behind enemy lines
into the Euphrates River Valley. This action led to the timely defeat of Iraqi
Forces and helped ensure a total allied victory.

The 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, deployed to Afghanistan in early
2002, to provide security to the Kandahar International Aiport, as part of Task
Force Rakkasans.

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