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Q. Does Boston University have a pre-med program?A. Yes, it does have a very strong premed program. It is one of the better feeder schools for MD and DO programs. It has one of the top 50 medical schools and a highly ranked combined 7 yr BS-MD program where acceptance to medical school is guaranteed (low GPA and MCAT requirements). My daughter was accepted into the program as well as USC and Case Western but ultimately chose to attend Stanford.Pre-Medical Pathways | Admissions (bu.edu)Your Pathway to MedicineWhile pre-medicine is not a major at BU, you can design your own unique course of study while fulfilling curriculum requirements for pre-medical, pre-dental or pre-veterinary studies. You can create your own undergraduate path to any of these careers and choose whatever major interests you most.The most popular pathways:College of Arts & Sciences:You will find the largest variety of majors in CAS, including common pre-medical choices such as chemistry, biology, physics, or biochemistry. There are scores of non-science majors too, such as psychology or anthropology.College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College:There are a host of majors to choose from, such as behavior and health, human physiology, physical therapy, and more.College of Engineering:A major in biomedical engineering will fulfill all of the standard pre-medical requirements and prepare you for a variety of careers in engineering and medicine.Pre-Professional Advising OfficeYour path is up to you. To help you find it, BU provides specialized pre-professional advisors for health-related careers. Your advisors will give you expert guidance on courses, research projects and other co-curricular opportunities that will help you apply to the best medical, dental or veterinary schools.Fast Track Your Medical CareerStudents admitted into one of BU’s Early Assurance Programs receive provisional admission to the Boston University School of Medicine. Admission to these programs is highly competitive.Seven-Year Accelerated Medical ProgramIf admitted into the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program, you will complete a bachelor’s degree in medical science in the College of Arts & Sciences and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Boston University School of Medicine in just seven years.Applicants to the Accelerated Medical program must submit the Accelerated Programs Teacher Evaluation and complete other program requirements. Applicants will only be considered for the program to which they have applied.Application Deadline: November 15Modular Medical/Dental Integrated Curriculum (MMEDIC)In the spring of your second year at BU, you can apply to the Modular Medical/Dental Integrated Curriculum (MMEDIC) designed for qualified, highly motivated students. Students admitted to MMEDIC receive provisional early admission to the Boston University School of Medicine or the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and take medical/dental school-related courses that fulfill undergraduate requirements and enhance students’ transition to the professional school curriculum. The medical track leads to a Doctor of Medicine degree and the dental track leads to a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, most commonly in combination with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts & Sciences; the College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College; or the College of Engineering.Pre-Medical AdvisingLearn more about all the advising resources available to students interested in health professions.PRE-HEALTH ADVISINGPre-Medical Internship in the Heart of BostonAnubhav Nangia used his summer to intern at the noninvasive cardiovascular imaging center at the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.READ ARTICLESeven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program Requirements (bu.edu)This highly selective program offers outstanding students an accelerated pathway to a career in medicine through combined undergraduate programs and early admission to the Boston University Medical School.The application deadline for the program is November 15. It is only available to students applying as first-year students for September. Applicants to the Accelerated Program will be considered only for admission to this program.Application RequirementsIn addition to the application requirements for all first-year students, students applying to the Accelerated Medical Program must submit the following:Three Accelerated Program Teacher Evaluation forms—one each from a teacher of English, laboratory science, and either history or a foreign language. Your teacher should submit these forms via email to [email protected] in lieu of the Teacher Evaluation on the Common or Coalition Application.Accelerated Programs essay—available on BU’s member page on the Common and Coalition Application.Interview in BostonFinalists for these programs will be contacted by BU Admissions via telephone to schedule a mandatory interview. All finalists must interview on campus.Minimum Required Secondary School Course RequirementsEligible applicants must complete four full years of secondary school education and be a current senior when they apply. Students who have graduated from secondary school but have not enrolled in any college-level degree program may also apply.English: 4 yearsMathematics: 4 years(Must include Calculus)Social Science/History: 3 yearsForeign Language: 2 yearsBiology: 1 yearChemistry: 1 yearPhysics: 1 Year requirement14 of the Best Pre-Med Schools for Future Doctors (thoughtco.com)Steve Debenport / Getty ImagesAllen GroveUpdated July 08, 2019The best pre-med schools in the United States tend to be large comprehensive universities with their own medical schools and close proximity to teaching and research hospitals. Quality pre-med schools all have academic strengths in fields such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology, as well as excellent advising programs for students seeking medical careers.Keep in mind that future doctors do not need to pursue a pre-med major or focus as an undergraduate. Your grades and your score on the MCAT will be the most important part of your medical school application, and English majors often outperform biology majors on the MCAT because of their strong reading and analytical skills. Prospective pre-med students will want to take some carefully selected biology and chemistry classes to prepare for the MCAT and meet med school entrance requirements, but any undergraduate major can lead to a successful medical school application.Also, remember that small liberal arts colleges can open the door to top medical schools just as well as larger universities. In fact, the small classes and personalized mentoring of a liberal arts college may better prepare you for medical school than some of the much more famous pre-med schools listed below. Nevertheless, all of these schools are well known for their successes both in and out of the classroom preparing students for medical school.01 of 14Boston UniversityCorbis via Getty Images / Getty ImagesBoston University's Early Assurance Program is an excellent choice for high achieving pre-med students. By enrolling in Early Assurance, students can earn their undergraduate and medical degree in seven years instead of the usual eight. The program is highly selective and requires SAT Subject Tests in Chemistry and Math 2, three letters of recommendation, a special essay, and an interview. Admitted students can expect to be promoted to BU's medical school upon completion of their undergraduate degree.BU pre-med students who don't apply for the Early Assurance Program will still have a stellar experience at Boston University. All pre-med students at BU work with an experienced pre-professional advisor who can assist with course selection and research projects, which helps to ensure that Boston University graduates are well positioned to apply to medical school whatever their major might be.02 of 14Columbia UniversitySpencer Platt / Getty ImagesColumbia University, one of four Ivy League schools on this list, is an excellent choice for students looking for a top-notch pre-med program in an urban environment. The university has a dedicated Office of Preprofessional Advising to assist students interested in health professions. Columbia does not have a pre-med major, but through its excellent advising programs, students are guided to take essential courses for both the MCAT and medical school requirements.Columbia University also provides students with opportunities to conduct research and gain clinical experiences. Both are important elements of a winning medical school application. Many Columbia pre-med students volunteer at nearby Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital.Finally, for students who decide on a medical career late in college or after graduation, Columbia is home to the nation's oldest and largest postbaccalaureate premedical program. The program has a medical school placement rate near 90 percent.03 of 14Cornell UniversityUpsilon Andromedae / Flickr / CC BY 2.0While the majority of schools on this list are located in urban centers, Cornell University offers a winning pre-med track in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York.Cornell has a Health Careers Program that provides students with a wide range of services to help them on their path to medical school: advising, health-related programs, information resources, and use of the Health Careers Evaluation Committee (HCEC). The HCEC will create a comprehensive written review of a student's candidacy for a health career that can be submitted along with letters of recommendation.Cornell is also home to PATCH, the Pre-professional Association Toward Careers in Health, a student organization that supports and advises students pursuing health careers. The group organizes an annual tour of SUNY Upstate Medical School to give undergraduates the opportunity to speak with current medical students and admissions officers.04 of 14Duke UniversityUschools University Images / Getty ImagesLocated in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is one of the top private universities in the United States. Biology and biomedical engineering are two of the most popular undergraduate majors at Duke. The university offers undergraduates ample opportunities for research and hands-on experiences both in science labs and at the medical school.Duke has no pre-med major, but your choice of major really isn't that important for attending medical school. The university's excellent pre-med advising keeps students on track for a successful medical school application regardless of undergraduate major.05 of 14Emory Universityaimintang / Getty ImagesEmory University, one of the best colleges in the southeastern United States, has an enviable location next to both Emory Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. The school's location makes it easy for students to pick up research internships to broaden their experiences and strengthen their medical school applications.Emory's PreHealth Advising Service provides students with advising, mentoring, events, and guidance as they take classes and prepare for admission to a medical school. The PreHealth Advising office also provides peer mentors for pre-med students. These mentors are current pre-health juniors and seniors who serve to support peers who are interested in health careers.06 of 14Georgetown UniversityKārlis Dambrāns / Flickr / CC by 2.0Georgetown University is one of the best Catholic universities in the nation. Its Washington, D.C. location gives students easy access to numerous medical facilities for research and clinical opportunities.Like Boston University, Georgetown has an Early Assurance Program (EAP) that allows students to apply to Georgetown's School of Medicine after completing four semesters at the university and earning a 3.6 or higher GPA. One of the benefits of EAP is that students who are accepted are not required to take the MCAT.Finally, Georgetown has a Pre-Medical Society that helps with everything from mock interviews to pre-med advising, and the club hosts lectures by accomplished members of the medical profession.07 of 14Harvard UniversityJoe Raedle / Getty ImagesHarvard University, which often ranks first among the nation's most selective colleges, is not surprisingly also one of the best schools for studying pre-med.Harvard gets high marks for its pre-med advising. All students will find pre-medical advisors in their residential house, and the Office of Career Services also provides pre-med advising. Harvard pre-med students tend to speak highly of the institutional support they receive, and the evidence of that support is in the school's extremely high med school acceptance rate.Also, Harvard's Extension School offers a premedical program for students who have completed their baccalaureate degrees but have not done the coursework necessary for medical school (typically biology, chemistry, physics, and English classes). The program is an excellent way to get the advising, experience, and sponsorship necessary for a successful medical school application.08 of 14Johns Hopkins UniversitySmith Collection/Gado / Getty ImagesJohns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, has a large population of students interested in health-related fields including nursing, public health, biomedical engineering, and the biological sciences. The university also offers an interdisciplinary major called Medicine, Science, and Humanities.JHU offers opportunities to conduct research and shadow doctors at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, and typical of top-tier research universities, motivated undergraduates will have little difficulty finding meaningful internship and laboratory experiences.Along with their non-major undergraduate pre-med program, the university offers a post-baccalaureate pre-med program for recent graduates who aren't fully prepared for medical school.09 of 14Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyJoe Raedle / Getty ImagesThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology consistently ranks as one of the best engineering schools in the country, so it may seem like a strange entry for a list of top pre-med schools. MIT, after all, does not have a hospital or medical school. That said, about 10% of MIT's graduating seniors go on to medical school or some other graduate program in the health professions.MIT pre-med students come from a wide range of majors, and the institute is hard to top for the quality of instruction students receive in biology, chemistry, and physics. MIT's Office of Global Education and Career Development offers professional advising for students interested in health professions and medical school. Finally, keep in mind that MIT students can cross-register at Harvard and take advantage of some of Harvard's pre-med resources.10 of 14Northwestern Universitystevegeer / Getty ImagesNorthwestern University, located just north of downtown Chicago, is one of the top research universities in the United States. Like many of the schools on this list, Northwestern's pre-med strengths come from a combination of excellent science programs and strong pre-med advising (through the university's Health Professions Advising office).Northwestern students can gain physician shadowing opportunities through the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program, the Northwestern Externship Program, and several other programs. Students can find research opportunities through UR@NU, Northwestern's centralized resource for undergraduate research. Finally, Northwestern's Engage Chicago program is an eight-week summer program whose participants attend seminars and gain field experiences in health fields.The university also has many student-run groups related to the health professions. One of these, the Pre-Med Peer Mentor Program (PPMP) links up first-year students with an upper-class student mentor.11 of 14Tufts UniversityDaderot / Wikimedia Commons / Public DomainTufts University is one of several Boston area colleges to make this list. Tufts has an Early Assurance Program in which strong students can apply for medical school after their sophomore year. This is not an accelerated path to a medical degree, but an opportunity for students to be admitted to Tufts Medical School well before the majority of applicants.Tufts' Office of Undergraduate Education has two health professions advisors who work one-on-one with students, hold workshops, arrange speakers, and generally support pre-med students at the university. During any given year, the university's acceptance rate to U.S. medical schools is between 75 and 90 percent.12 of 14University of North Carolina Chapel HillLance King / Getty ImagesThe University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the flagship campus of the UNC system. As a public university, it represents an excellent value, especially for in-state students.UNC-Chapel Hill is part of the Research Triangle with North Carolina State University and Duke University, and the school is home to a highly rated medical school. Students will find plenty of opportunities for shadowing doctors, landing internships, and conducting research. The university also has an extremely high medical school placement record.UNC's Medical Education Development (MED) Program is an intensive nine-week summer program designed to help students from underrepresented backgrounds learn about the realities of medical school and develop the skills necessary to compete successfully for admission to medical school.13 of 14University of PennsylvaniaMargie Politzer / Getty ImagesThe University of Pennsylvania is another of the prestigious Ivy League schools on this list. The school's campus in Philadelphia adjoins the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. Those facilities, combined with the university's many research labs in the sciences, mean that students have no shortage of opportunities for applied learning experiences related to the health professions.Like other schools on this list, Penn has excellent advising services for pre-med students to help with everything from course selection to the logistics of med school applications. The university has an impressive placement rate for getting its students into quality medical schools. Penn also has a summer program to help underrepresented students succeed in a pre-med academic path.14 of 14University of WashingtonJoe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0The University of Washington in Seattle is a huge comprehensive public university with nearly 30,000 undergraduates. Roughly 17% of those students will graduate in biological fields such as biochemistry, biology, physiology, and molecular biology. Public health and nursing are also popular majors. The university has robust resources for pre-health advising, and students will also find many extracurricular options related to health fields.The University of Washington is home to one of the nation's very best medical schools, and undergraduates get plenty of opportunities to shadow medical professionals. Along with UNC-Chapel Hill, this public university is one of the more affordable pre-med options for in-state students (although you should keep in mind that financial aid can make any school on this list affordable for qualifying students).How is BU for pre meds? (collegeconfidential.com)

Q. Were paratroopers used in Vietnam?A. There were indeed paratroopers in Vietnam, but not all units made a jump.How the use of helicopters changed warfare can (partly) be illustrated by the following figures:- The French conducted 245 parachute droppings in Vietnam (between '45 and '54).- While the Vietnam War saw only a few of such attacks.Units of the 173rd Airborne Brigade jumped in Operation Junction City in February 1967 about 75 miles northwest of Saigon. Junction City remained the largest American paratroop operation of the Vietnam War, but others followed.On 02 April 1967, 356 troops (including Montagnards) of 5th Special Forces Group (ABN), 1st Special Forces: Detachment A-503 Mike Force: Co's. 2 & 3 jumped into Bunard, Phouc Long "Happy Dragon" Province Vietnam as part of Operation Harvest Moon.At 0600 hrs on 13 May 1967, 486 troops of Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne): Detachment A-503, Co's. 3, 4 & 5; 4.2 Mortar platoon & Hdqts. group conducted a water jump at 700 ft. as part of Operation Blackjack in Seven Mountains (Near Chi Lang, 1km S of Nuai Yai), in the SW corner of Vietnam.And on 5 October 1967 a total of 250 troops (w/ARVN paras & Australians) of the 5th Special Forces Group (SFG), Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force), Co's 24 & 25, ll Corps Mike Force (Detachment B-20, B Co. 5th SFG) conducted Operation Blue Max in Bu Prang, Vietnam. A number of other much smaller operations were conducted by special forces detachments.Combat jumps in Vietnam War?III MSF ie III Corp "Mike Force" conducted 3 combat parachute jumps.Bunard SF Camp 2 Apr 67Nau Gai Mountains 13 May 677 Mountains Area 17 Nov 68II Mike ForceBu Prang SF Camp 5 Oct 67CCS did at least 1 S/L insert in Cambodia.ARVN Airborne did a few. US Advisor Team 70 was assigned to the ARVN Airborne DivisionBook "Called Inside Force Recon" talked about the 3 FR S/L inserts. LTC Michael Lee Lanning & Major "Doc" Norton USMC ret wrote it.Airborne Operations in the Cold Warhttp://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=130411Vietnam Air MobilityAt 0900 hours on 22 February 1967, Brigadier General John R. Deane, Jr., stood in the door of a C-130 aircraft. When the green light flashed, General Deane jumped, leading the first U. S. parachute assault in the Republic of Vietnam, and the first such assault since the Korean conflict fifteen years earlier. This parachute jump of the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, (173d Airborne Brigade) signaled the beginning of Operation JUNCTION CITY ALTERNATE.The decision to make a paratroop assault was based on the urgency to place a large force on the ground as quickly as possible and still have enough helicopter assets to make a sizable heliborne assault as an immediate follow-up.The 173d had computed that they would free 60 Hueys and six Chinooks for support of other forces by using the parachute assault technique. The paratroopers were assigned landing zones farthest to the north-areas that would have cost many extra minutes of flying time for lift helicopters. The practical aspects of making more helicopters available were perhaps colored by the emotional and psychological motives of this proud unit which was anxious to prove the value of the parachute badge; nevertheless, the jumpers contributed strongly to the overall attack.Thirteen C-130's were used for the personnel drop and eight C-130's for heavy drop of equipment. Jump altitude was 1,000 feet.The battalion dropped on schedule and by 0920 hours on D-day all companies were in their locations around the drop zone. Out of the 780 combat troops who made the assault, only eleven sustained minor injuries.The 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry began landing by helicopter assault at 1035 hours and the entire battalion was in place shortly thereafter. Another infantry battalion, the 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, conducted a heliborne assault into two other close landing zones at 1420 hours and phase one Of JUNCTION CITY ALTERNATE was essentially complete.Paratroopers arrive to reinforce the beleaguered U.S. forces, engaged for more than a week in bitter fighting around the 3,000-foot peak. Hamburger HillThe employment of the airborne parachute force is historically visualized as a theater-controlled operation aimed at achieving strategic surprise. Although parachute delivery of troops and equipment is a relatively inefficient means of introduction into combat, the very existence of this capability complicates the enemy's planning and offers the friendly commander one more option of surprise. In this instance, which involved multiple units in a major operation, there was a greater demand for helicopter lift than there were helicopter assets. As a result, the 173d pushed strongly for a parachute assault.The fact that airborne techniques were not used more often in Vietnam can be attributed to many factors. The most obvious restraint to an airborne operation in Vietnam was the time lag inherent in airborne operations in responding to intelligence on the elusive enemy. A much more important restraint was the nature of the war itself and the limitations imposed on U. S. forces. From a strategic point of view the U. S. posture in Vietnam was defensive. U. S. tactical offensive operations were limited to the confines of South Vietnam. Had the rules been changed, the parachute potential could have profitably been employed by planning an airborne assault into enemy territory at a distance within the ferry range of the Huey.The Vietnam Combat Jump101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam - Jul 29, 1965 - HISTORY.comThe first 4,000 paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division arrived in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay. They made a demonstration jump immediately after arriving, observed by Gen. William Westmoreland and outgoing Ambassador (formerly General) Maxwell Taylor. Taylor and Westmoreland were both former commanders of the division, which was known as the “Screaming Eagles.” The 101st Airborne Division has a long and storied history, including combat jumps during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the subsequent Market-Garden airborne operation in the Netherlands. Later, the division distinguished itself by its defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.The 1st Brigade fought as a separate brigade until 1967, when the remainder of the division arrived in Vietnam. The combat elements of the division consisted of 10 battalions of airmobile infantry, six battalions of artillery, an aerial rocket artillery unit armed with rocket-firing helicopters, and an air reconnaissance unit. Another unique feature of the division was its aviation group, which consisted of three aviation battalions of assault helicopters and gunships.The majority of the 101st Airborne Division’s tactical operations were in the Central Highlands and in the A Shau Valley farther north. Among its major operations was the brutal fight for Ap Bia Mountain, known as the “Hamburger Hill” battle.The last Army division to leave Vietnam, the remaining elements of the 101st Airborne Division returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where today it is the Army’s only airmobile division. During the war, troopers from the 101st won 17 Medals of Honor for bravery in combat. The division suffered almost 20,000 soldiers killed or wounded in action in Vietnam, over twice as many as the 9,328 casualties it suffered in World War II.101st Airborne Division - WikipediaActive: 1918; 1921–42; 1942–45; 1948–49; 1950–56; 1956–presentLight infantry (Air Assault)Role: Command and control organization containing two to four maneuver brigades, Division XVIII Airborne CorpsHeadquarters: Fort Campbell, Kentucky, U.S.Nickname(s): "Screaming Eagles" (special designation)Rendezvous With DestinyMascot(s): Bald eagle (Old Abe)World War IINormandyOperation Market GardenBattle of the BulgeWestern Allied invasion of GermanyKorean WarVietnam WarPersian Gulf WarGlobal War on TerrorismWar in AfghanistanIraq WarOperation Inherent ResolveOperation Freedom's SentinelOfficial WebsiteCombat service identification badgeDistinctive unit insigniaThe 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles")[1] is an elite modular specialized light infantry division of the United States Army trained for air assault operations. It is the most potent and the most tactically mobile of the U.S. Army's divisions.[2] It has been referred to as "the tip of the spear."[3]The 101st Airborne at a moment's notice is able to plan, coordinate, and execute brigade-size air assault operations capable of seizing key terrain in support of operational objectives.[4] The 101st Airborne Division is capable of working in austere environments with limited or degraded infrastructure.[4] Its unique battlefield mobility and high level of training have kept the 101st Airborne Division in the vanguard of America's land combat forces in recent conflicts.[5] More recently, the 101st Airborne has been performing foreign internal defense and counter-terrorism operations within Iraq and Afghanistan.[6][7][8]The 101st Airborne Division has a nearly century-long history. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord (the D-Day landings and airborne landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France), Operation Market Garden, the liberation of the Netherlands and, perhaps most famously, its action during the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne, Belgium. During the Vietnam War, the 101st Airborne Division fought in several major campaigns and battles including the Battle of Hamburger Hill in May 1969.In mid-1968 it was reorganized and redesignated as an airmobile division, then in 1974 as an air assault division. These titles reflect the division's shift from airplanes as the primary method of delivering troops into combat, to the use of helicopters. Many current members of the 101st are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School. Division headquarters is at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In recent years, the division has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The division is one of the most highly decorated units in the United States Army and has been featured prominently in military fiction.The 101st is currently the world's only air assault division, capable, in a single lift, of a 4,000-man combined-arms air assault 150 kilometers into enemy territory.[9]It is supported by more than 280 helicopters.[5] This includes three battalions of Apache attack helicopters.[5] At times, additional air assets are assigned to the 101st Airborne during deployment[5] The 101st Airborne also comprises intelligence support, maintenance and operations elements, support personnel, and artillery specialists.[5] Assisting the 101st Airborne Division is an extensive array of support elements, equipment, and training resources.[5]The 101st Airborne provides the United States with a unique capability not available anywhere else in the world.[4] The 101st is considered a very versatile, very flexible, and a fast-moving unit.[10] The 101st has the capability to move long distances. The 101st can can put soldiers down on top of mountains, ridge lines, and behind the enemy forces and can sling-load in artillery pieces for indirect fire.[10] It is considered a unit of choice and it has the ability to secure bridge sites, airfields, and to assist in the combined arms capability for other units.[10]Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division - WikipediaRepublic of Vietnam Airborne DivisionBinh chủng Nhảy Dù1 January 1948 – 30 April 1975Garrison/HQ Tan Son Nhut, near SaigonNickname(s) Bawouans (in French), Nhảy Dù (in Vietnamese)EngagementsFirst Indochina WarVietnam WarCambodian Civil WarLaotian Civil WarRepublic of Vietnam Airborne DivisionParatrooper Hoàng Ngọc Giao (the 5th Airborne Battalion), 1967.The Vietnamese Airborne Division was one of the earliest components of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces (Vietnamese: Quân lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa – QLVNCH). The Vietnamese Airborne Division began as companies organised in 1948, prior to any agreement over armed forces in Vietnam. After the partition of Vietnam, it became a part of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.March 01, 1963840 Vietnamese paratroopers dropping from US Air Force C-123s transport planes over Tay Ninh province in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The operation is known as Phi Hoa II.HistoryRecruitment poster of the Republic of Vietnam Airborne ForcesVietnamese Airborne Division was one of the most elite fighting forces in the ARVN. It was placed as a reserve unit along with the South Vietnamese Marine Division. Headquarters of the Airborne Division was outside of Saigon. The Airborne Division would mobilize anywhere within the four corps at a moments notice. The main use of the Airborne was to engage and destroy People's Army of Vietnam ('NVA') and Viet Cong forces, not hold a specific region like the infantry units.Airborne Advisory DetachmentLike all major ARVN units the Airborne were assigned a U.S. military advisory element, originally the Airborne Brigade Advisory Detachment and later redesignated the 162nd Airborne Advisory Detachment or U.S. Airborne Advisory Team 162. About 1,000 American airborne-qualified advisors served with the Brigade and Division, receiving on average two awards for valour per tour; over the years, they were able to build and maintain a good working relationship with their Vietnamese counterparts and airborne units, a situation unfortunately not always found in other ARVN formations. U.S. officers were paired with their Vietnamese counterparts, from the Brigade/Division commander down to company commanders, as well with principal staff officers at all levels. U.S. NCOs assisted the staff and company advisors.173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team - WikipediaActive1917–19; 1921–45; 1947–51; 1963–72; 2000 – presentUnited States Army Airborne light infantryRole U.S. Army Europe quick response force Brigade U.S. Army EuropeGarrison/HQ Caserma Ederle (Vicenza, Italy)Nickname(s) Sky Soldiers (special designation), [1]EngagementsWorld War IWorld War IIVietnam War:Operation HumpOperation Junction CityOperation CrimpBattle of Dak ToWar on TerrorOperation Atlantic ResolveDecorationsPresidential Unit Citation, 1967Meritorious Unit Commendation Army, 1965–67 and 2003–04Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, 1965–70Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal First Class, 1969–71Official WebsiteThe 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ("Sky Soldiers"[1]) is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. It is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Europe.Activated in 1915, as the 173d Infantry Brigade, the unit saw service in World War I, but is best known for its actions during the Vietnam War. The brigade was the first major United States Army ground formation deployed in Vietnam, serving there from 1965 to 1971 and losing almost 1,800 soldiers. Noted for its roles in Operation Hump and Operation Junction City, the 173d is best known for the Battle of Dak To, where it suffered heavy casualties in close combat with North Vietnamese forces. Brigade members received over 7,700 decorations, including more than 6,000 Purple Hearts. The brigade returned to the United States in 1972, where the 1st and 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, were absorbed into the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), and the 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery was reassigned to Division Artillery in the 101st[3].The remaining units of the 173d were inactivated.Since its reactivation in 2000, the brigade served five tours in the Middle East in support of the War on Terror. The 173d participated in the initial invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and had four tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, and 2012–13. The brigade returned recently from a deployment stretching from late 2013 to late 2014.The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team has received 21 campaign streamers and several unit awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Battle of Dak To during the Vietnam War.173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team - WikipediaParatroopers patrolling along the Song Be during Operation Silver City, March 1966.The brigade arrived in Vietnam on May 7, 1965, the first major ground combat unit of the United States Army to serve in the country.[24][25][26][27][28] Brigadier General Williamson boldly predicted on arrival that his men would defeat the Viet Cong quickly and that they "would be back in Okinawa by Christmas".[22]The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division; and the 1st Cavalry Division quickly followed the 173rd into Vietnam, the first of what would eventually be 25 U.S. Army brigades to serve in the country.[23][28] As larger US Army commands were established in Vietnam, the brigade was assigned to the III Corps and II Corps tactical zone, which they would serve in for the next six years.[29]The brigade was put under the command of II Field Force, Vietnam.[30] The 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry were the first Army combat units from the 173rd sent into South Vietnam, accompanied by the 3rd Battalion, 319th Artillery.[4] They were supported by the 173rd Support Battalion, 173rd Engineer Company, Troop E/17th Cavalry and Company D/16th Armor.[31] The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment[32] and the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery[33] were attached to the brigade for one year in 1965.[34]Late in August 1966, the 173rd received another infantry battalion, the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 3rd Battalion, 503rd joined the brigade at Tuy Hòa Province in September 1967 following the former's activation and training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 173rd was also assigned Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry. At its peak of its deployment in Vietnam, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) comprised over 7,000 soldiers.[35]The brigade was the first unit sent into War Zone D to destroy enemy base camps, introducing the use of small Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols. On 8 November 1965, the 173rd took part in Operation Hump, just north of Biên Hòa on the outskirts of Saigon,[32] the capital of South Vietnam. They were ambushed by approximately 1,200 Viet Cong fighters, suffering 48 deaths. The unit fought in the Iron Triangle, a Viet Cong stronghold north of Saigon,[32][36] seeing many engagements with enemy forces during that time. They participated in Operation Crimp in 1966, a failed attempt to root out enemy forces from the Cu Chi tunnels.[37]The attached helicopter unit became the Casper Aviation platoon, befitting a separate infantry brigade as the only separate aviation platoon deployed in Vietnam. Casper platoon was part of the HHC 173rd Airborne Brigade and its members wore the brigade patch. The attached Assault Helicopter Company, the 335th AHC, the "Cowboys", deployed with the brigade all over Vietnam into mid-1968 and comprised the Airmobile capability along with the Caspers.[38]Soldiers of the brigade became involved in Operation Attleboro in fall of 1966, an operation that started out as a small search and destroy mission north of Saigon but eventually involved 22,000 troops from 21 battalions.[39] Soldiers of the brigade also took part in smaller humanitarian missions in between major combat operations.[40]On 22 February 1967, the 173rd conducted Operation Junction City, the only combat parachute jump of the Vietnam War.[41][42] The operation saw three brigades controlling eight battalions dropped by helicopters and US Air Force aircraft into War Zone C, in Tây Ninh Province.[43] During the battle, the brigade operated out of the northeastern part of the war zone along with the 196th Infantry Brigade (Separate), as four other brigades from the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions attempted to surround and destroy the 9th Viet Cong Division in the War Zone. The operation was a success, and the battered VC division fled.[44]In August of that year, the brigade received its distinctive unit insignia. The soldiers chose to have it contain a parachute and dagger to symbolize their participation in Operation Junction City and the other heavy fighting they had been through. The DUI was also inscribed "Sky Soldiers" as homage to the nickname that the Taiwanese soldiers had given them.[21]Dak ToIn the Summer of 1967, the 4th Infantry Division's 1st and 2nd Brigades were making heavy contact with enemy forces in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, in western Kon Tum Province. These heavy enemy contacts prompted division commander Lieutenant General William R. Peers to request reinforcement and, as a result, on 17 June, two battalions of Brigadier General John R. Deane's 173rd Airborne Brigade were moved into the Dak To area to begin sweeping the jungle-covered mountains in Operation Greeley. The 173rd had been operating near Bien Hoa Air Base outside Saigon and had been in combat only against NLF guerrillas. Prior to its deployment to the highlands, Peers' operations officer, Colonel William J. Livsey, attempted to warn the Airborne officers of the hazards of campaigning in the highlands. He also advised them that PAVN regulars were a much better equipped and motivated force than the NLF. These warnings, however, made little impression on the paratroopers, who were about to become victims of their own overconfidence.[45] 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers battle for Hill 882, southwest of Dak To.On 20 June, Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry (C/2-503) discovered the bodies of a Special Forces CIDG unit that had been missing for four days on Hill 1338, the dominant hill mass south of Dak To. Supported by A/2-503, the Americans moved up the hill and set up for the night. At 06:58 the following morning, Alpha Company began moving alone up a ridge finger and triggered an ambush by the 6th Battalion of the 24th PAVN Regiment.[46]Charlie Company was ordered to support, but heavy vegetation and difficult terrain made movement extremely difficult. Artillery support was rendered ineffective by the limited range of visibility. Close air support was impossible for the same reasons. Alpha Company managed to survive repeated attacks throughout the day and night, but the cost was heavy. Of the 137 men that comprised the unit, 76 had been killed and another 23 wounded. A search of the battlefield revealed only 15 dead North Vietnamese.[47]In response to the destruction of Alpha Company, MACV ordered additional forces into the area. On 23 June, the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry (1st Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division) arrived to bolster the 173rd. The following day, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam's (ARVN) elite 1st Airborne Task Force (the 5th and 8th Battalions) and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry; 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry; and an additional infantry battalion) arrived to conduct search and destroy operations north and northeast of Kon Tum. General Deane sent his forces 20 kilometres (12 mi) west and southwest of Dak To to search for the 24th PAVN Regiment. By October, the 173rd, the 4th Infantry Division, and six ARVN battalions were moved to Dak To. The North Vietnamese Army, in turn, had moved almost 6,000 troops in four infantry regiments and one artillery regiment.[48][49]The battle around Dak To became more costly as 4-503 of the 173rd was ordered to occupy Hill 823, south of Ben Het Camp, for the construction of Fire Support Base. Only the battalion's Company B was available for the attack, which was borne by helicopter. The company was able to take the hill but suffered 9 dead and 28 wounded.[50]The following morning Bravo Company was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel David J. Schumacher's 1-503, which (against the admonitions of Colonel Livsey) was divided into two small task forces. Task Force Black consisted of Charlie Company supported by two platoons of Dog Company and Task Force Blue which was composed of Alpha Company and the remaining platoon of Dog. Task Force Black left Hill 823 to find the North Vietnamese who had attacked B/4-503. At 08:28 on 11 November, after leaving their overnight laager and following a PAVN communications wire, the force was ambushed by the 8th and 9th Battalions of the 66th PAVN Regiment and had to fight for its life.[51]Task Force Blue drew the job of going to the relief of the beleaguered task force; however, Task Force Blue ran into resistance and was pinned down by enemy fire on all sides. C/4-503 was then assigned the mission of relieving Task Force Black and they too encountered significant enemy fire, but they made it, reaching the trapped men at 15:37. U.S. losses were 20 killed, 154 wounded, and two missing.[52]Following an attack on the Đắk Tô Base,[53] and actions on hill 882 by the 1-503rd that saw 7 men dead and 34 wounded,[54] 330 men of 2-503 moved in to assault Hill 875.[55] At 10:30, as the Americans moved to within 300 metres (984 ft) of the crest, PAVN machine gunners opened fire on the advancing paratroopers. Then B-40 rockets and 57 mm recoilless rifle fire were unleashed upon them. The paratroopers attempted to continue the advance, but the North Vietnamese, well concealed in interconnected bunkers and trenches, opened fire with small arms and grenades. At 14:30 PAVN troops hidden at the bottom of the hill launched a massed assault from the rear. Unknown to the Americans, they had walked into a carefully prepared ambush by the 2nd Battalion of the 174th PAVN Regiment. Soon, U.S. air strikes and artillery fire were being called in, but they had little effect on the battle because of the dense foliage on the hillside. Resupply became a necessity because of high ammunition expenditures and lack of water, but it was also an impossibility. Six UH-1 helicopters were shot down or badly damaged that afternoon trying to get to 2-503.[56]The next morning the three companies of 4-503 were chosen to set out and relieve the men on Hill 875. Because of intense PAVN sniper and mortar fire (and the terrain) it took until nightfall for the relief force to reach the beleaguered battalion. On the afternoon of 21 November both battalions moved out to take the crest. During fierce, close-quarters fighting, some of the paratroopers made it into the PAVN trench line but were ordered to pull back as darkness fell.The following day was spent in launching airstrikes and a heavy artillery bombardment against the hilltop, totally denuding it of cover. On 23 November, 2-503 and 4-503 were ordered to renew their assault while the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry assaulted 875 from the south.[57] This time the Americans gained the crest, but the North Vietnamese had already abandoned their positions, leaving only a few dozen charred bodies and weapons.[58] The battle of Hill 875 had cost 2-503 87 killed, 130 wounded, and three missing. 4-503 suffered 28 killed 123 wounded, and four missing.[59]Combined with noncombatant losses, this represented one-fifth of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's total strength.[60] For its combined actions during operations around Dak To, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.[15] 340 of the 570 173rd Airborne troops who attacked the hill became casualties.[61]Pullout from VietnamThe intense fighting during the Battle of Dak To took a heavy human toll on the 173rd. While several of its units, including the 2-503rd and A/3-319th were ordered to Tuy Hòa to repair and refit,[61][62] the 173rd was transferred to Camp Radcliff in An Khê and Bong Son areas during 1968, seeing very little action while the combat ineffective elements of the brigade were rebuilt. Company D, 16th Armor was engaged in a battle that took place on 4 March 1968 at North Tuy Hòa. During the day, the company lost 8 men killed and 21 wounded. The enemy took a much greater loss. An estimated 2 enemy battalions, 85th Main Force (VC) and the 95th NVA Regiment, were rendered ineffective as they had 297 KIA's, with D/16 Armor receiving credit for killing 218.[63]The company commander, Captain Robert Helmick, was awarded the DSC. One of few combat operations that brigade conducted during this time was an amphibious assault against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces as part of an operation to clear the rice-growing lowlands along the Bong Song littoral.[4]The unit then served in An Khê until mid-1969, seeing little in the way of heavy fighting. From April 1969 until its withdrawal from Vietnam in 1971, the brigade served in Bình Định Province.[31] From April until August 1971, the unit underwent the process of redeployment to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the United States, the first time that the 173rd Airborne Brigade in name had returned to the country since 1942 [4].During more than six years of continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations, the Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam received 13 Medals of Honor, 32 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,736 Silver Stars and more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.[4] The 173rd incurred 1,533 deaths and around 6,000 wounded.[64]After Vietnam, the Army retained the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a quick deploying contingency brigade.[65] However, with the ending of conscription following America's disengagement from Vietnam, many of the Army's formations had to be rebuilt for the volunteer force. One of these was the 101st Airborne Division, which had also been redeployed to Fort Campbell.[65] It was decided that the 173rd would be used to help rebuild the division, which had been converted into an airmobile formation during the Vietnam War.[65] The brigade was inactivated on 14 January 1972 at the fort,[4] and its assets were used to form the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, a parachute component within the airmobile 101st. The 3rd Brigade went off jump status on 1 April 1974, the same date on which the Airmobile Badge (Air Assault Badge as of 4 October 1974) was introduced.[15]

Q. Did the US paratroopers Airborne division unit make operations in the Vietnam War?A. TN's answer to Were paratroopers used in Vietnam?There were indeed paratroopers in Vietnam, but not all units made a jump.How the use of helicopters changed warfare can (partly) be illustrated by the following figures:- The French conducted 245 parachute droppings in Vietnam (between '45 and '54).- While the Vietnam War saw only a few of such attacks.Units of the 173rd Airborne Brigade jumped in Operation Junction City in February 1967 about 75 miles northwest of Saigon. Junction City remained the largest American paratroop operation of the Vietnam War, but others followed.On 02 April 1967, 356 troops (including Montagnards) of 5th Special Forces Group (ABN), 1st Special Forces: Detachment A-503 Mike Force: Co's. 2 & 3 jumped into Bunard, Phouc Long "Happy Dragon" Province Vietnam as part of Operation Harvest Moon.At 0600 hrs on 13 May 1967, 486 troops of Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne): Detachment A-503, Co's. 3, 4 & 5; 4.2 Mortar platoon & Hdqts. group conducted a water jump at 700 ft. as part of Operation Blackjack in Seven Mountains (Near Chi Lang, 1km S of Nuai Yai), in the SW corner of Vietnam.And on 5 October 1967 a total of 250 troops (w/ARVN paras & Australians) of the 5th Special Forces Group (SFG), Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force), Co's 24 & 25, ll Corps Mike Force (Detachment B-20, B Co. 5th SFG) conducted Operation Blue Max in Bu Prang, Vietnam. A number of other much smaller operations were conducted by special forces detachments.Combat jumps in Vietnam War?III MSF ie III Corp "Mike Force" conducted 3 combat parachute jumps.Bunard SF Camp 2 Apr 67Nau Gai Mountains 13 May 677 Mountains Area 17 Nov 68II Mike ForceBu Prang SF Camp 5 Oct 67CCS did at least 1 S/L insert in Cambodia.ARVN Airborne did a few. US Advisor Team 70 was assigned to the ARVN Airborne DivisionBook "Called Inside Force Recon" talked about the 3 FR S/L inserts. LTC Michael Lee Lanning & Major "Doc" Norton USMC ret wrote it.Airborne Operations in the Cold Warhttp://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=130411Vietnam Air MobilityAt 0900 hours on 22 February 1967, Brigadier General John R. Deane, Jr., stood in the door of a C-130 aircraft. When the green light flashed, General Deane jumped, leading the first U. S. parachute assault in the Republic of Vietnam, and the first such assault since the Korean conflict fifteen years earlier. This parachute jump of the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, (173d Airborne Brigade) signaled the beginning of Operation JUNCTION CITY ALTERNATE.The decision to make a paratroop assault was based on the urgency to place a large force on the ground as quickly as possible and still have enough helicopter assets to make a sizable heliborne assault as an immediate follow-up.The 173d had computed that they would free 60 Hueys and six Chinooks for support of other forces by using the parachute assault technique. The paratroopers were assigned landing zones farthest to the north-areas that would have cost many extra minutes of flying time for lift helicopters. The practical aspects of making more helicopters available were perhaps colored by the emotional and psychological motives of this proud unit which was anxious to prove the value of the parachute badge; nevertheless, the jumpers contributed strongly to the overall attack.Thirteen C-130's were used for the personnel drop and eight C-130's for heavy drop of equipment. Jump altitude was 1,000 feet.The battalion dropped on schedule and by 0920 hours on D-day all companies were in their locations around the drop zone. Out of the 780 combat troops who made the assault, only eleven sustained minor injuries.The 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry began landing by helicopter assault at 1035 hours and the entire battalion was in place shortly thereafter. Another infantry battalion, the 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, conducted a heliborne assault into two other close landing zones at 1420 hours and phase one Of JUNCTION CITY ALTERNATE was essentially complete.Paratroopers arrive to reinforce the beleaguered U.S. forces, engaged for more than a week in bitter fighting around the 3,000-foot peak. Hamburger HillThe employment of the airborne parachute force is historically visualized as a theater-controlled operation aimed at achieving strategic surprise. Although parachute delivery of troops and equipment is a relatively inefficient means of introduction into combat, the very existence of this capability complicates the enemy's planning and offers the friendly commander one more option of surprise. In this instance, which involved multiple units in a major operation, there was a greater demand for helicopter lift than there were helicopter assets. As a result, the 173d pushed strongly for a parachute assault.The fact that airborne techniques were not used more often in Vietnam can be attributed to many factors. The most obvious restraint to an airborne operation in Vietnam was the time lag inherent in airborne operations in responding to intelligence on the elusive enemy. A much more important restraint was the nature of the war itself and the limitations imposed on U. S. forces. From a strategic point of view the U. S. posture in Vietnam was defensive. U. S. tactical offensive operations were limited to the confines of South Vietnam. Had the rules been changed, the parachute potential could have profitably been employed by planning an airborne assault into enemy territory at a distance within the ferry range of the Huey.The Vietnam Combat Jump101st Airborne Division arrives in Vietnam - Jul 29, 1965 - HISTORY.comThe first 4,000 paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division arrived in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay. They made a demonstration jump immediately after arriving, observed by Gen. William Westmoreland and outgoing Ambassador (formerly General) Maxwell Taylor. Taylor and Westmoreland were both former commanders of the division, which was known as the “Screaming Eagles.” The 101st Airborne Division has a long and storied history, including combat jumps during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the subsequent Market-Garden airborne operation in the Netherlands. Later, the division distinguished itself by its defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.The 1st Brigade fought as a separate brigade until 1967, when the remainder of the division arrived in Vietnam. The combat elements of the division consisted of 10 battalions of airmobile infantry, six battalions of artillery, an aerial rocket artillery unit armed with rocket-firing helicopters, and an air reconnaissance unit. Another unique feature of the division was its aviation group, which consisted of three aviation battalions of assault helicopters and gunships.The majority of the 101st Airborne Division’s tactical operations were in the Central Highlands and in the A Shau Valley farther north. Among its major operations was the brutal fight for Ap Bia Mountain, known as the “Hamburger Hill” battle.The last Army division to leave Vietnam, the remaining elements of the 101st Airborne Division returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where today it is the Army’s only airmobile division. During the war, troopers from the 101st won 17 Medals of Honor for bravery in combat. The division suffered almost 20,000 soldiers killed or wounded in action in Vietnam, over twice as many as the 9,328 casualties it suffered in World War II.101st Airborne Division - WikipediaActive: 1918; 1921–42; 1942–45; 1948–49; 1950–56; 1956–presentLight infantry (Air Assault)Role: Command and control organization containing two to four maneuver brigades, Division XVIII Airborne CorpsHeadquarters: Fort Campbell, Kentucky, U.S.Nickname(s): "Screaming Eagles" (special designation)Rendezvous With DestinyMascot(s): Bald eagle (Old Abe)World War IINormandyOperation Market GardenBattle of the BulgeWestern Allied invasion of GermanyKorean WarVietnam WarPersian Gulf WarGlobal War on TerrorismWar in AfghanistanIraq WarOperation Inherent ResolveOperation Freedom's SentinelOfficial WebsiteCombat service identification badgeDistinctive unit insigniaThe 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles") is an elite modular specialized light infantry division of the United States Army trained for air assault operations. It is the most potent and the most tactically mobile of the U.S. Army's divisions. It has been referred to as "the tip of the spear."The 101st Airborne at a moment's notice is able to plan, coordinate, and execute brigade-size air assault operations capable of seizing key terrain in support of operational objectives. The 101st Airborne Division is capable of working in austere environments with limited or degraded infrastructure. Its unique battlefield mobility and high level of training have kept the 101st Airborne Division in the vanguard of America's land combat forces in recent conflicts. More recently, the 101st Airborne has been performing foreign internal defense and counter-terrorism operations within Iraq and Afghanistan.The 101st Airborne Division has a nearly century-long history. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord (the D-Day landingsand airborne landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France), Operation Market Garden, the liberation of the Netherlands and, perhaps most famously, its action during the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne, Belgium. During the Vietnam War, the 101st Airborne Division fought in several major campaigns and battles including the Battle of Hamburger Hill in May 1969.In mid-1968 it was reorganized and redesignated as an airmobile division, then in 1974 as an air assault division. These titles reflect the division's shift from airplanes as the primary method of delivering troops into combat, to the use of helicopters. Many current members of the 101st are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School. Division headquarters is at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In recent years, the division has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The division is one of the most highly decorated units in the United States Army and has been featured prominently in military fiction.The 101st is currently the world's only air assault division, capable, in a single lift, of a 4,000-man combined-arms air assault 150 kilometers into enemy territory.It is supported by more than 280 helicopters. This includes three battalions of Apache attack helicopters. At times, additional air assets are assigned to the 101st Airborne during deployment The 101st Airborne also comprises intelligence support, maintenance and operations elements, support personnel, and artillery specialists. Assisting the 101st Airborne Division is an extensive array of support elements, equipment, and training resources.The 101st Airborne provides the United States with a unique capability not available anywhere else in the world. The 101st is considered a very versatile, very flexible, and a fast-moving unit. The 101st has the capability to move long distances. The 101st can can put soldiers down on top of mountains, ridge lines, and behind the enemy forces and can sling-load in artillery pieces for indirect fire. It is considered a unit of choice and it has the ability to secure bridge sites, airfields, and to assist in the combined arms capability for other units.Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division - WikipediaRepublic of Vietnam Airborne DivisionBinh chủng Nhảy Dù1 January 1948 – 30 April 1975Garrison/HQ Tan Son Nhut, near SaigonNickname(s) Bawouans (in French), Nhảy Dù (in Vietnamese)EngagementsFirst Indochina WarVietnam WarCambodian Civil WarLaotian Civil WarRepublic of Vietnam Airborne DivisionParatrooper Hoàng Ngọc Giao (the 5th Airborne Battalion), 1967.The Vietnamese Airborne Division was one of the earliest components of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces (Vietnamese: Quân lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa– QLVNCH). The Vietnamese Airborne Division began as companies organised in 1948, prior to any agreement over armed forces in Vietnam. After the partition of Vietnam, it became a part of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.March 01, 1963840 Vietnamese paratroopers dropping from US Air Force C-123s transport planes over Tay Ninh province in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The operation is known as Phi Hoa II.HistoryRecruitment poster of the Republic of Vietnam Airborne ForcesVietnamese Airborne Division was one of the most elite fighting forces in the ARVN. It was placed as a reserve unit along with the South Vietnamese Marine Division. Headquarters of the Airborne Division was outside of Saigon. The Airborne Division would mobilize anywhere within the four corps at a moments notice. The main use of the Airborne was to engage and destroy People's Army of Vietnam ('NVA') and Viet Cong forces, not hold a specific region like the infantry units.Airborne Advisory DetachmentLike all major ARVN units the Airborne were assigned a U.S. military advisory element, originally the Airborne Brigade Advisory Detachment and later redesignated the 162nd Airborne Advisory Detachment or U.S. Airborne Advisory Team 162. About 1,000 American airborne-qualified advisors served with the Brigade and Division, receiving on average two awards for valour per tour; over the years, they were able to build and maintain a good working relationship with their Vietnamese counterparts and airborne units, a situation unfortunately not always found in other ARVN formations. U.S. officers were paired with their Vietnamese counterparts, from the Brigade/Division commander down to company commanders, as well with principal staff officers at all levels. U.S. NCOs assisted the staff and company advisors.173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team - WikipediaActive1917–19; 1921–45; 1947–51; 1963–72; 2000 – presentUnited States Army Airborne light infantryRole U.S. Army Europe quick response force Brigade U.S. Army EuropeGarrison/HQ Caserma Ederle (Vicenza, Italy)Nickname(s) Sky Soldiers (special designation),EngagementsWorld War IWorld War IIVietnam War:Operation HumpOperation Junction CityOperation CrimpBattle of Dak ToWar on TerrorOperation Atlantic ResolveDecorationsPresidential Unit Citation, 1967Meritorious Unit Commendation Army, 1965–67 and 2003–04Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, 1965–70Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal First Class, 1969–71Official WebsiteThe 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ("Sky Soldiers") is an airborneinfantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. It is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Europe.Activated in 1915, as the 173d Infantry Brigade, the unit saw service in World War I, but is best known for its actions during the Vietnam War. The brigade was the first major United States Army ground formation deployed in Vietnam, serving there from 1965 to 1971 and losing almost 1,800 soldiers. Noted for its roles in Operation Hump and Operation Junction City, the 173d is best known for the Battle of Dak To, where it suffered heavy casualties in close combat with North Vietnamese forces. Brigade members received over 7,700 decorations, including more than 6,000 Purple Hearts. The brigade returned to the United States in 1972, where the 1st and 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, were absorbed into the 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), and the 3d Battalion, 319th Field Artillery was reassigned to Division Artillery in the 101st.The remaining units of the 173d were inactivated.Since its reactivation in 2000, the brigade served five tours in the Middle East in support of the War on Terror. The 173d participated in the initial invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and had four tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, and 2012–13. The brigade returned recently from a deployment stretching from late 2013 to late 2014.The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team has received 21 campaign streamersand several unit awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Battle of Dak To during the Vietnam War.173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team - WikipediaParatroopers patrolling along the Song Be during Operation Silver City, March 1966.The brigade arrived in Vietnam on May 7, 1965, the first major ground combat unit of the United States Army to serve in the country. Brigadier General Williamson boldly predicted on arrival that his men would defeat the Viet Cong quickly and that they "would be back in Okinawa by Christmas".The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division; and the 1st Cavalry Division quickly followed the 173rd into Vietnam, the first of what would eventually be 25 U.S. Army brigades to serve in the country. As larger US Army commands were established in Vietnam, the brigade was assigned to the III Corps and II Corps tactical zone, which they would serve in for the next six years.The brigade was put under the command of II Field Force, Vietnam. The 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry were the first Army combat units from the 173rd sent into South Vietnam, accompanied by the 3rd Battalion, 319th Artillery. They were supported by the 173rd Support Battalion, 173rd Engineer Company, Troop E/17th Cavalry and Company D/16th Armor. The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and the 161st Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery were attached to the brigade for one year in 1965.Late in August 1966, the 173rd received another infantry battalion, the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 3rd Battalion, 503rd joined the brigade at Tuy Hòa Province in September 1967 following the former's activation and training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 173rd was also assigned Company N (Ranger), 75th Infantry. At its peak of its deployment in Vietnam, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) comprised over 7,000 soldiers.The brigade was the first unit sent into War Zone D to destroy enemy base camps, introducing the use of small Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols. On 8 November 1965, the 173rd took part in Operation Hump, just north of Biên Hòa on the outskirts of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. They were ambushed by approximately 1,200 Viet Cong fighters, suffering 48 deaths. The unit fought in the Iron Triangle, a Viet Cong stronghold north of Saigon, seeing many engagements with enemy forces during that time. They participated in Operation Crimp in 1966, a failed attempt to root out enemy forces from the Cu Chi tunnels.The attached helicopter unit became the Casper Aviation platoon, befitting a separate infantry brigade as the only separate aviation platoon deployed in Vietnam. Casper platoon was part of the HHC 173rd Airborne Brigade and its members wore the brigade patch. The attached Assault Helicopter Company, the 335th AHC, the "Cowboys", deployed with the brigade all over Vietnam into mid-1968 and comprised the Airmobile capability along with the Caspers.Soldiers of the brigade became involved in Operation Attleboro in fall of 1966, an operation that started out as a small search and destroy mission north of Saigon but eventually involved 22,000 troops from 21 battalions. Soldiers of the brigade also took part in smaller humanitarian missions in between major combat operations.On 22 February 1967, the 173rd conducted Operation Junction City, the only combat parachute jump of the Vietnam War. The operation saw three brigades controlling eight battalions dropped by helicopters and US Air Forceaircraft into War Zone C, in Tây Ninh Province. During the battle, the brigade operated out of the northeastern part of the war zone along with the 196th Infantry Brigade (Separate), as four other brigades from the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions attempted to surround and destroy the 9th Viet Cong Division in the War Zone. The operation was a success, and the battered VC division fled.In August of that year, the brigade received its distinctive unit insignia. The soldiers chose to have it contain a parachute and dagger to symbolize their participation in Operation Junction City and the other heavy fighting they had been through. The DUI was also inscribed "Sky Soldiers" as homage to the nickname that the Taiwanese soldiers had given them.Dak ToIn the Summer of 1967, the 4th Infantry Division's 1st and 2nd Brigades were making heavy contact with enemy forces in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, in western Kon Tum Province. These heavy enemy contacts prompted division commander Lieutenant General William R. Peers to request reinforcement and, as a result, on 17 June, two battalions of Brigadier General John R. Deane's 173rd Airborne Brigade were moved into the Dak To area to begin sweeping the jungle-covered mountains in Operation Greeley. The 173rd had been operating near Bien Hoa Air Base outside Saigon and had been in combat only against NLF guerrillas. Prior to its deployment to the highlands, Peers' operations officer, Colonel William J. Livsey, attempted to warn the Airborne officers of the hazards of campaigning in the highlands. He also advised them that PAVN regulars were a much better equipped and motivated force than the NLF. These warnings, however, made little impression on the paratroopers, who were about to become victims of their own overconfidence. 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers battle for Hill 882, southwest of Dak To.On 20 June, Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry (C/2-503) discovered the bodies of a Special Forces CIDG unit that had been missing for four days on Hill 1338, the dominant hill mass south of Dak To. Supported by A/2-503, the Americans moved up the hill and set up for the night. At 06:58 the following morning, Alpha Company began moving alone up a ridge finger and triggered an ambush by the 6th Battalion of the 24th PAVN Regiment.Charlie Company was ordered to support, but heavy vegetation and difficult terrain made movement extremely difficult. Artillery support was rendered ineffective by the limited range of visibility. Close air support was impossible for the same reasons. Alpha Company managed to survive repeated attacks throughout the day and night, but the cost was heavy. Of the 137 men that comprised the unit, 76 had been killed and another 23 wounded. A search of the battlefield revealed only 15 dead North Vietnamese.In response to the destruction of Alpha Company, MACV ordered additional forces into the area. On 23 June, the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry (1st Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division) arrived to bolster the 173rd. The following day, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam's (ARVN) elite 1st Airborne Task Force (the 5th and 8th Battalions) and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division (5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry; 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry; and an additional infantry battalion) arrived to conduct search and destroy operations north and northeast of Kon Tum. General Deane sent his forces 20 kilometres (12 mi) west and southwest of Dak To to search for the 24th PAVN Regiment. By October, the 173rd, the 4th Infantry Division, and six ARVN battalions were moved to Dak To. The North Vietnamese Army, in turn, had moved almost 6,000 troops in four infantry regiments and one artillery regiment.The battle around Dak To became more costly as 4-503 of the 173rd was ordered to occupy Hill 823, south of Ben Het Camp, for the construction of Fire Support Base. Only the battalion's Company B was available for the attack, which was borne by helicopter. The company was able to take the hill but suffered 9 dead and 28 wounded.The following morning Bravo Company was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel David J. Schumacher's 1-503, which (against the admonitions of Colonel Livsey) was divided into two small task forces. Task Force Black consisted of Charlie Company supported by two platoons of Dog Company and Task Force Blue which was composed of Alpha Company and the remaining platoon of Dog. Task Force Black left Hill 823 to find the North Vietnamese who had attacked B/4-503. At 08:28 on 11 November, after leaving their overnight laager and following a PAVN communications wire, the force was ambushed by the 8th and 9th Battalions of the 66th PAVN Regiment and had to fight for its life.Task Force Blue drew the job of going to the relief of the beleaguered task force; however, Task Force Blue ran into resistance and was pinned down by enemy fire on all sides. C/4-503 was then assigned the mission of relieving Task Force Black and they too encountered significant enemy fire, but they made it, reaching the trapped men at 15:37. U.S. losses were 20 killed, 154 wounded, and two missing.Following an attack on the Đắk Tô Base, and actions on hill 882 by the 1-503rd that saw 7 men dead and 34 wounded, 330 men of 2-503 moved in to assault Hill 875. At 10:30, as the Americans moved to within 300 metres (984 ft) of the crest, PAVN machine gunners opened fire on the advancing paratroopers. Then B-40 rockets and 57 mm recoilless rifle fire were unleashed upon them. The paratroopers attempted to continue the advance, but the North Vietnamese, well concealed in interconnected bunkers and trenches, opened fire with small arms and grenades. At 14:30 PAVN troops hidden at the bottom of the hill launched a massed assault from the rear. Unknown to the Americans, they had walked into a carefully prepared ambush by the 2nd Battalion of the 174th PAVN Regiment. Soon, U.S. air strikes and artillery fire were being called in, but they had little effect on the battle because of the dense foliage on the hillside. Resupply became a necessity because of high ammunition expenditures and lack of water, but it was also an impossibility. Six UH-1 helicopters were shot down or badly damaged that afternoon trying to get to 2-503.The next morning the three companies of 4-503 were chosen to set out and relieve the men on Hill 875. Because of intense PAVN sniper and mortar fire (and the terrain) it took until nightfall for the relief force to reach the beleaguered battalion. On the afternoon of 21 November both battalions moved out to take the crest. During fierce, close-quarters fighting, some of the paratroopers made it into the PAVN trench line but were ordered to pull back as darkness fell.The following day was spent in launching airstrikes and a heavy artillery bombardment against the hilltop, totally denuding it of cover. On 23 November, 2-503 and 4-503 were ordered to renew their assault while the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry assaulted 875 from the south. This time the Americans gained the crest, but the North Vietnamese had already abandoned their positions, leaving only a few dozen charred bodies and weapons. The battle of Hill 875 had cost 2-503 87 killed, 130 wounded, and three missing. 4-503 suffered 28 killed 123 wounded, and four missing.Combined with noncombatant losses, this represented one-fifth of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's total strength. For its combined actions during operations around Dak To, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. 340 of the 570 173rd Airborne troops who attacked the hill became casualties.Pullout from VietnamThe intense fighting during the Battle of Dak To took a heavy human toll on the 173rd. While several of its units, including the 2-503rd and A/3-319th were ordered to Tuy Hòa to repair and refit, the 173rd was transferred to Camp Radcliff in An Khê and Bong Son areas during 1968, seeing very little action while the combat ineffective elements of the brigade were rebuilt. Company D, 16th Armor was engaged in a battle that took place on 4 March 1968 at North Tuy Hòa. During the day, the company lost 8 men killed and 21 wounded. The enemy took a much greater loss. An estimated 2 enemy battalions, 85th Main Force (VC) and the 95th NVA Regiment, were rendered ineffective as they had 297 KIA's, with D/16 Armor receiving credit for killing 218.The company commander, Captain Robert Helmick, was awarded the DSC. One of few combat operations that brigade conducted during this time was an amphibious assault against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces as part of an operation to clear the rice-growing lowlands along the Bong Song littoral.The unit then served in An Khê until mid-1969, seeing little in the way of heavy fighting. From April 1969 until its withdrawal from Vietnam in 1971, the brigade served in Bình Định Province. From April until August 1971, the unit underwent the process of redeployment to Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the United States, the first time that the 173rd Airborne Brigade in name had returned to the country since 1942.During more than six years of continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations, the Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam received 13 Medals of Honor, 32 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1,736 Silver Stars and more than 6,000 Purple Hearts. The 173rd incurred 1,533 deaths and around 6,000 wounded.After Vietnam, the Army retained the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a quick deploying contingency brigade. However, with the ending of conscription following America's disengagement from Vietnam, many of the Army's formations had to be rebuilt for the volunteer force. One of these was the 101st Airborne Division, which had also been redeployed to Fort Campbell. It was decided that the 173rd would be used to help rebuild the division, which had been converted into an airmobile formation during the Vietnam War. The brigade was inactivated on 14 January 1972 at the fort, and its assets were used to form the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, a parachute component within the airmobile 101st. The 3rd Brigade went off jump status on 1 April 1974, the same date on which the Airmobile Badge (Air Assault Badge as of 4 October 1974) was introduced.