Trochę na temat historii jednostek, które odtwarzamy.
W okresie od 19 listopada 1967 do 10 marca 1968 roku, 101 Dywizja wchodziła w skład First Field Force, Vietnam
Natomiast od 10 marca 1968 roku, po przeniesieniu całej Dywizji w północny rejon Wietnamu Południowego, przeszła pod dowództwo XXIV Corps.
Jednostki wchodzące w skład 101 Dywizji Powietrzno-Desantowej podczas wojny w Wietnamie:
1st Brigade (Separate) 29 July 65 – 18 Nov 67
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 29 Jul 65 - 19 Jan 72
1/327th Infantry (Airborne) Departed 20 Jan 72
2/327th Infantry (Airborne) Departed 21 April 72 (Briefly assigned to 1st Cav)
2/502nd Infantry (Airborne) Departed 19 Jan 72
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (Provisional) Dec 65 - Aug 67
2/320th Artillery (Airborne) Departed 9 Dec 71
5th Battalion 27th Artillery, OPCON to 1st Brigade (Seperate) Nov 65 - Jun 67
Troop A, 2/17th Cavalry (Airborne)(aka; 4th Provisional Rifle Company while assigned to 1st Bde Sep) Departed 8 Feb 72
101st Support Battalion (Provisional) Departed 19 Dec 67
Support Battalion (Airborne)(Provisional)Jul 65 - Nov 67
A Co 101st Administration Company Jul 65 - 17 Jan 72
B Co 801st Maintenance Battalion
C Co 501st Supply Battalion
E Co Provisional
101st Replacemant Company
A Co 326 Engineer Battalion (Airborne)(aka; 5th Provisional Rifle Company while assigned 1st Bde Sep) Departed 17 Jan 72
D Co 326th Medical Battalion (Airborne) Departed 23 Dec 67
B Co 501st Signal Battalion (Airborne) Departed 12 Jan 72
20th Chemical Detachment
181st Military Intellignece Detachment
Detachment 2, 3rd Radio Research Unit (405th ASA Det) Jun - Nov 65
Detachment 3, 3rd Radio Research Unit (406th ASA Det) Nov 65 - Jul 66
406th Army Security Agency Detachment (406th Radio Research Det) deactivated 20 Nov,1968
7th Radio Research Unit (redisignated 101st Radio Research Company Sep 66)
Division composition as of 19 Nov, 67
(most units arrived mid Dec 67 during Operation Eagle Thrust)
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division 19 Nov 67 - 10 Mar 72
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 18 Nov 67 - 14 Feb 72
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 18 Nov 67 - 21 Dec 71
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, and Band, 101st Airborne Division Support Command 18 Nov 67 - 17 Jan 72
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 101st Airborne Division Artillery 18 Nov 67 - 17 Jan 72
101st Military Police Company Nov 67 - Dec 71
3/187th Infantry (Airborne) Departed 10 Dec 71
1/501st Infantry (Airborne) Departed 4 Feb 72
2/501st Infantry (Airborne) Departed 1 July 72 (Briefly assigned to US Army Support Command)
1/502nd Infantry (Airborne) Departed 8 Feb 72
1/506th Infantry (Airborne) Departed 21 Dec 71
2/506th Infantry (Airborne) Departed 14 Dec 71
3/506th Infantry (Airborne) 23 Oct 67 - 15 May 71 L Company, 75th Rangers 1 Feb 69 - 20 Dec 71 (assets from F Co 58th Inf)
Co F 58th Infantry (LRP) 10 Jan 68 - 1 Feb 69
2nd Squadron 17th Cavalry, Troops, HHT, A-C, D & F Dec 67 - 8 Feb 72 (except A Troop)
42nd Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) Set 66 - 26 Dec 71
47th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) 27 May 68 - 21 Jul 71
58th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) 17 Feb 68 - 1 Oct 71
557th Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker) 15 Feb 68 - 21 Jul 71
101st Aviation Group 25, Jun 69 - 19 Jan 72
101st Aviation Battalion (Airmobile) Departed 5 Feb 72 (Co A-B Dec 67, Co C-D Dec 68)
158th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter) Co A-D, 23 Feb 69 - 24 Dec 71
159th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter) Co A-C, 1 Jul 68 - Feb 72
163rd Aviation Co (General Support) 1 Jul 68 - 18 Jan 72
478th Aviation Co (Heavy Helicopter) 15 Sep 65 - 12 Oct 72 (not all inclusive with the 101st)
2nd Battalion 11th Artillery (155) 10 Jun 68 - 1 Jan 72 (time with 101st in Vietnam since Dec 66)
1st Battalion 39th Artillery (155)* 10 Oct 69 - 21 Dec 71 (under operational control of 101st and XXIV Corps)
*Kentucky National Guard
4th Battalion 77th Artillery (Aerial Rocket) 17 Oct 68 - 4 Jan 72
2nd Battalion 319th Artillery (105) Departed 20 Dec 71
2nd Battalion 320th Artillery (105) Departed 16 Feb 72
1st Battalion 321st Artillery (105) Departed 16 Feb 72
Battery A, 377th Artillery (Aviation) Departed 12 Jan 72
101st Transportation Company (Provisional), March 1968 - ?
5th Transportation Battalion Jul 68 - 18 Jan 72
326th Medical Battalion, Co A-D Departed 23 Dec 71
326th Engineer Battalion, Co A-D Departed 23 Dec 71
426th Supply and Service Battalion 1 Jul 68 - 30 Jan 72
501st Signal Battalion Departed 12 Jan 72
801st Maintenance Battalion Departed 30 Jan 72
101st Radio Research Co (USASA Security Company) 10 Sep 66 - 1 Apr 72
265th Radio Research Co (Airborne), Nov 67 - Apr 72
10th Chemical Platoon
20th Chemical Detachment
36th Chemical Detachment
22nd Military History Detachment
101st Military Intelligence Co Departed 17 Jan 72
25th Public Information Detachment
34th Public Information Detachment
45th Public Information Detachment
101st MP Co 28 Dec - 16 Jan 72
Units on Temporary Assignment:
3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry (Armored) Sep 69 - Jan 70 and Jul 71 - 8 Nov 71 (except D Troop Feb 72)
D Troop, 1st Squad, 1st Calvary Regiment (attached to 2/17 Cav) Jul 68 - Mar 69
221st Medical Detachment (aka:"Leg Medics"), 44th Medical Brigade, 1st Bde, Aug 66 to Apr 67
39th Transportation Battalion, 1st Logistical Support Command, Camp Eagle 69-72
Dowódcy 101 Dywizji podczas jej pobytu w Wietnamie
MG Ben Sternberg
28 Mar 66 - I Jul 67
MG Olinto M. Barsanti
1 Jul 67 - 19 Jul 68
MG Melvin Zais
19 Jul 68 - May 69
MG John W. Wright
May 69 - 25 May 70
MG John J. Hennessey
25 May 70 - 1 Feb 71
MG Thomas M. Tarpley
1 Feb 71 - 6 Apr 72
MG John W. Cushman
6 Apr 72 - 5 Aug 73
3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment was activated on 25 February 1943 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina as an organic element of the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment. In March of 1944, the Battalion deployed with the regiment to the Pacific Theater of World War II as part of the 11th Airborne division. After six months of training in New Guinea, the 187th was committed to combat in Leyte in the campaign to regain control of the Philippine Islands. In the subsequent fighting, the unit repelled and destroyed a 500-man Japanese parachute assault and earned the battalion's first Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for an amphibious assault on Luzon, the battle of Tagatay Ridge, and the attack on Manila.
Following the Japanese surrender, the troops of the 187th were the first American soldiers to set foot on Japanese soil, flying there as part of Gen. Macarthur's advance guard. It was during the first four years of occupation duty in Japan that the soldiers of the 187th Infantry Regiment, now all parachute qualified were given the name "RAKKASANS" by the Japanese. Loosely translated as "falling down umbrella", the name stuck; the troops liked it and adopted it. Since then, members of the regiment have made the name synonymous with the fighting spirit of America's airborne and air assault soldiers.
In early 1949, the 187th rotated to Camp Campbell, Kentucky, where it became an Airborne Infantry Regiment and was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. With the outbreak of the Korean War, the Rakkasans returned the Orient as a separate unit, the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team. During the conflict, the Rakkasans earned six campaign streamers. They also earned a Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) for an attack up the Kimpo Peninsula as part of the amphibious assault at Inchon, and their second Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for a parachute assault above the enemy capital of Pyongyang at Sukchon-Sunchon in 1950. Months later the regiment made a second combat jump at Musan-ni, cutting off and destroying large number of forces above the 38th parallel.
The Rakkasans returned stateside in 1955, this time to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Their stay there was short-lived, in February 1956 the unit road marched to Ft. Campbell to serve as the first test combat group and the nucleus of the newly reactivated 101st Airborne Division. In 1963, the Rakkasans served under the 11th Airborne Divisions colors when the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry became the Army's first air assault battalion and participated with the 11th Air Assault Division in the validation of the Army's airmobile concept.
In December 1967, the 3rd Battalion deployed to Vietnam as part of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Over the next four years the Iron Rakkasans fought with extreme valor in twelve major campaigns, conducting numerous air assaults and search and destroy missions. The battalion colors returned to Ft. Campbell in 1971, bringing home two Valorous Unit Awards, and the Battalions third and fourth Presidential Unit Awards for the battles of Trang Bang and Dong Ap Bia Mountain (commonly known as "Hamburger Hill"). The Iron Rakkasans emerged from the Vietnam War as the country's most highly decorated airborne battalion.
Odznaczenia za Wietnam przyznane 3 Batalionowi, 187 Pułkowi Piechoty,
101 Dywizji Powietrzno-Desantowej
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DONG AP BIA MOUNTAIN
Valorous Unit Award for THUA THIEN PROVINCE
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968-1969
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1971
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1968-1970
326th Medical Battalion, 44th Medical Brigade
Constituted: 23 July 1918 - 326TH Sanitary Train, 101ST DIVISION(DIV) of the National Army. Demobilized: 11 December 1918. Reconstituted: 24 June 1921 - 326TH Medical(MED) Regiment, 101ST DIV organized Reserves at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Redesignated: 30 January 1942 - 326TH MED BN of the 101ST DIV. Activated & Reorganized & Redesignated: 15 August 1942 - Transferred from the Organized Reserves to the United States Army as the 326TH Airborne(ABN) MED Company(CO) of the 101ST ABN DIV at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Deployed: 1943 - to Europe. Deployed: 18 December 1944 - to Bastogne, Belguim as part of the "Battle of the Bulge". Inactivated: 30 November 1945 - at Auxerre, France. Redesignated: 18 June 1948 - HHC, 501ST ABN MED CO. Redesignated: 1 July 1956 - 326TH ABN MED CO.
Activated & Redesignated: 3 February 1964 - 326TH MED BN as an organic BN of the 101ST ABN DIV.
557th Infantry Platoon Combat Tracker
557th Infantry Platoon – Combat Tracker was formed – as others Combat Tracker units – on February 15, 1968. But this was only official “forming” date. Combat Trackers Units were formed and were in combat earlier. First units called “Combat Tracker teams” started existence in US Army units in Vietnam in first half 1967, when first groups of men and dog – Labrador Retrievers were trained in British Jungle Warfare School in Johore Bahru (Malaya). Among those teams one – called Combat Trackerr Team # 9 was destined for 101 Airborne Division. First dogs in the unit were black labs – “MACKEY” ( tattoo 6B53) and “TARKA” (tattoo 6B52). The first CTTs were not formally parts of the Division, but were detached from Military Assistance Command Vietnam.
When formalized IP-CT consisted of 23 men – commander, platoon sergeant, veterinarian tech and four teams. Each has a dog and five men – commander, dog handler, visual tracker, radio man and cover man. In combat teams were assigned to specific units. Their main task was to find contact with enemy lost after battles. First visual tracker with others men tried to find some tracks – human foot tracks, lost artifacts, bound leafs, blood marks and others. When such tracks were found, the dog started his work. For security reason some times Tracker Teams has added German Shepherd scout dog, who alerted ambushes, mines and others dangers.
557th CTT dogs and men soldiered till 21 July 1971, when the unit was disbanded. For those years served in platoon about 50 men, of which were killed in combat :
- CONNER Jack, William- age 25 – killed in action 04.04.1970
- CONNORS Jack, Lee – age 23 – killed in action 21.08.1969
- HARDING John, H. – age 19 – killed in action 08.10.1967
- KING Alexander – age 21– killed in action 20.01.1969 r.
- LAGODZINSKI Robert, Thomas – age 22 – killed in action 19.05.1970
- ROBERTS Virgil, Jesse – age 21 – killed in action 22.01.1969
- SMITH Lawrence, Leon – age 21 – killed in action 22.03.1969
- SMOOT Robert, Gene – age 19 – killed in action 05.01.1968
- TERESINSKI Joseph, Alvin – age 20 – killed in action 06.02.1971
In 557th served, apart of mentioned above such dogs – “BRUCE (tattoo 6B62), “DRACO” (tattoo S397), “MOE” (tattoo T005), “SMOKEY” (tattoo T006) and “THOR” (tattoo T056)
POWRÓT
