187th Infantry Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 187th Infantry Regiment


caption=187th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
dates= 1943–present
country= United States
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
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garrison=Fort Campbell
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nickname="Rakkasans"
patron=
motto="Ne Desit Virtus"
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battles=World War II Korean War Vietnam War War in Southwest Asia Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign
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identification_symbol_label=Distinctive Unit Insignia
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identification_symbol_2_label=US Regiments
previous=186th Infantry Regiment
next=188th Infantry RegimentThe 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) is a regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the United States Army.

The regimental motto is the Latin "Ne Desit Virtus" ("Let Valor Not Fail"). The nickname "Rakkasan" is from the Japanese word for nihongo|parachute|落下傘|rakkasan. The name was given to the 187th during its tour in occupied Japan following World War II.

World War II

Originally formed in World War II as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment [http://www.korean-war.com/187airborne.html 187th Airborne ] ] 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 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.

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 on 30 June 1949 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

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, Wonju, 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 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:
*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 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. [ [http://www.thedropzone.org/units/511thHISTORY.html History of the 511th Airborne Regiment] , The Drop Zone]

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.

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.

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History
* www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/branches/inf/0187in001bn.htm
* www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/branches/inf/0187in002bn.htm
* www.army.mil/cmh-pg/lineage/branches/inf/0187in003bn.htm

Vietnam War

As part of the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry deployed to Vietnam in 1967. The battalion fought in engagements in the A Shau Valley, the Iron Triangle, and elsewhere until the division returned to the United States in 1972.

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 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 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. During a realignment of the United States Army'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.

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.

First Iraq War

In September 1990 the Rakkasans were deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield. In February 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 convert|155|mi|km behind enemy lines into the Euphrates river valley, the assault led to the timely defeat of Iraqi forces and ensured a total allied victory.

Between the Gulf Wars

In 1995 The Iron Rakkasans were redesignated 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 Iron Rakkasans 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 eatherquake hit the Sinai Peninsula. Again the Iron Rakkasans performed road recon and rescue operations throughout the penisnula. For the Iron Rakkasans actions during their depoyment, they earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. The Iron Rakkasans 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 Anaconda in the eastern Shah-i-Khot region. The 2nd Battalion (Raider Rakkasans) as well as C company 1st Battalion 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 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, the Rakkasans conducted extensive stability and support operations in Baghdad's southwest 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 and Biaj, and the 3rd Battalion was headquartered in Rabia. 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", 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. [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/20060405_4714.html DefenseLINK press release] ] .

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.

Notable Rakkasans

*GEN William C. Westmoreland (Commanded the Rakkasnas in the Korean War)
*GEN David H. Petraeus
*GEN Melvin Zais
*CSM Donald E. Purdy
*COL Michael D. Steele
*CPT Bucha, Paul W., Medal of Honor (Vietnam)
*CPL Hammond, Lester Jr., Medal of Honor (Korea)
*CPL Hernandez, Rodolfo P., Medal of Honor (Korea)
*PFC Wilson, Richard G., Medal of Honor (Korea)
*SMA George W. Dunaway (Second SMA was CSM of Rakkasans from 1954 -1960)
*CSM Basil L. Plumley (Served with and made a combat jump in Korean War) CSM in "We were Soldiers Once and Young"

In Film

The Rakkasans are portrayed in the 1987 movie "Hamburger Hill".

ee also

*3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment (United States)
*3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

External links

* [http://www.thedropzone.org/units/187history.html History of the 187th Infantry Regiment]
* [http://www.screamingeaglesthroughtime.com/id14.html Screaming Eagles through Time]
* "Not War But Like War": The American Intervention in Lebanon (includes deployment of the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry) [http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Spiller2/spiller2.asp]

References