COMPANY D/16th ARMOR, 173rd AIRBORNE BRIGADE HISTORY
The 16th Cavalry was organized in July 1916 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The Regiment was charged with providing personnel for units serving overseas in France during World War I. After a post-war draw down the Regiment was inactivated in 1921. Twenty-one years later, in June 1942, the 16th Cavalry was reactivated at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, as a mechanized unit. To increase flexibility in the assignment of mechanized units, the Regiment was broken up into Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Cavalry Group, and the 16th and 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons. All three units were assigned to defend the coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In November 1944, these units sailed overseas aboard the queen Elizabeth. After training in the United Kingdom, they landed in France in February 1945, marched across the French countryside, and crossed the border into Germany at the village of Pearl. As part of the 316th Provisional Cavalry Brigade, the 16th and 19th Cavalry joined the Third Army's drive to end enemy resistance in the Palatinate. Entering combat near Waldrach in March, the units engaged in reconnaissance missions for the XII and XX Corps across the Rhine near Wiesbaden and up the autobahn to Kassel. After the fighting ceased, the Group and the two Squadrons performed occupation duty in the Cologne area. Several months later, the Squadrons returned to the United States where they were inactivated. In may 1946, new troops were added to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Cavalry Group, which became the 16th Constabulary Squadron. The Squadron was then inactivated in West Germany in 1950. In 1951, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Constabulary Squadron, became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Armored Cavalry Group, and was inactivated at Camp Cooke, California. It was redesignated as the 16th Armored Group. The 16th Cavalry was designated as a parent regiment under the combat arms regimental system, and its former troops were withdrawn from the 16th Armored Group to become elements of the regiment.
In 1963, the 16th Cavalry was redesignated as the 16th Armor. D Company, 16th Armor was the only active duty unit of the 16th Armored Group. The company served as one of the subordinate units of the 173d Separate Airborne Brigade during hostilities in Vietnam from 1963-69. D/16th Armor provided the anti-tank protection for the 173rd BDE. This was the only airborne tank unit at the time as well as the only separate tank company in the history of the army. The company was equipped with '“Scorpions" which were air dropable tracked carriers that were equipped with high velocity 90mm guns, M113 Armored Personnel Carriers and M106 Armored 4.2" Mortar Carriers. From 1965 through 1969 D/16th armor served in every campaign in which the 173d Airborne Brigade fought. During its service in Vietnam D/16th Armor is credited with 16 campaign streamers as well as earning the Meritorious Commendation Medal for its valorous service. In 1969, 16th Armor reverted to the designation of 16th Cavalry and was inactivated.
On 7 July 2010, the first, second, and third Squadrons were reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia under the 316th Cavalry Brigade. The 16th Cavalry Regiment currently includes at least three squadrons, all assigned to the supporting the United States Army Armor School.
The 16th Cavalry was organized in July 1916 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The Regiment was charged with providing personnel for units serving overseas in France during World War I. After a post-war draw down the Regiment was inactivated in 1921. Twenty-one years later, in June 1942, the 16th Cavalry was reactivated at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, as a mechanized unit. To increase flexibility in the assignment of mechanized units, the Regiment was broken up into Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Cavalry Group, and the 16th and 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons. All three units were assigned to defend the coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In November 1944, these units sailed overseas aboard the queen Elizabeth. After training in the United Kingdom, they landed in France in February 1945, marched across the French countryside, and crossed the border into Germany at the village of Pearl. As part of the 316th Provisional Cavalry Brigade, the 16th and 19th Cavalry joined the Third Army's drive to end enemy resistance in the Palatinate. Entering combat near Waldrach in March, the units engaged in reconnaissance missions for the XII and XX Corps across the Rhine near Wiesbaden and up the autobahn to Kassel. After the fighting ceased, the Group and the two Squadrons performed occupation duty in the Cologne area. Several months later, the Squadrons returned to the United States where they were inactivated. In may 1946, new troops were added to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Cavalry Group, which became the 16th Constabulary Squadron. The Squadron was then inactivated in West Germany in 1950. In 1951, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 16th Constabulary Squadron, became Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Armored Cavalry Group, and was inactivated at Camp Cooke, California. It was redesignated as the 16th Armored Group. The 16th Cavalry was designated as a parent regiment under the combat arms regimental system, and its former troops were withdrawn from the 16th Armored Group to become elements of the regiment.
In 1963, the 16th Cavalry was redesignated as the 16th Armor. D Company, 16th Armor was the only active duty unit of the 16th Armored Group. The company served as one of the subordinate units of the 173d Separate Airborne Brigade during hostilities in Vietnam from 1963-69. D/16th Armor provided the anti-tank protection for the 173rd BDE. This was the only airborne tank unit at the time as well as the only separate tank company in the history of the army. The company was equipped with '“Scorpions" which were air dropable tracked carriers that were equipped with high velocity 90mm guns, M113 Armored Personnel Carriers and M106 Armored 4.2" Mortar Carriers. From 1965 through 1969 D/16th armor served in every campaign in which the 173d Airborne Brigade fought. During its service in Vietnam D/16th Armor is credited with 16 campaign streamers as well as earning the Meritorious Commendation Medal for its valorous service. In 1969, 16th Armor reverted to the designation of 16th Cavalry and was inactivated.
On 7 July 2010, the first, second, and third Squadrons were reactivated at Fort Benning, Georgia under the 316th Cavalry Brigade. The 16th Cavalry Regiment currently includes at least three squadrons, all assigned to the supporting the United States Army Armor School.
D/16 Concise History, Sgt. David Curtin
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History of D/16, Lt. Frank Mantua
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173d AIRBORNE BRIGADE HISTORY
The 173d Airborne Brigade was constituted in 1917 as an infantry brigade and deployed to France in 1918 as part of the 87th Division. Returning to the United States the brigade was demobilized in 1919. Redesignated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, it fought in three European campaigns. Although not part of the Brigade in World War II, the history of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment is significant to the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, comprising half of its current fighting strength. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed in 1941 at Ft Bragg. They jumped into New Guinea, in September 1943 as part of the first successful airborne combat jump in the Pacific Theater. On 16 February 1945 they jumped onto the island of Corregidor where they earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
The 173d Airborne Brigade was constituted in 1917 as an infantry brigade and deployed to France in 1918 as part of the 87th Division. Returning to the United States the brigade was demobilized in 1919. Redesignated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, it fought in three European campaigns. Although not part of the Brigade in World War II, the history of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment is significant to the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, comprising half of its current fighting strength. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed in 1941 at Ft Bragg. They jumped into New Guinea, in September 1943 as part of the first successful airborne combat jump in the Pacific Theater. On 16 February 1945 they jumped onto the island of Corregidor where they earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
The 173d Infantry Brigade was activated on Okinawa in 1963 as the 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep). The unit earned the nickname “Tien Bien” or “Sky Soldiers,” from the Nationalist Chinese paratroopers. In 1965, the Brigade became the first major unit of the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. They conducted the only combat parachute jump of the war in February 1967. D16 operated in the area of the Drop Zone and subsequently secured the drop zone prior to the Jump During more than six years of continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam earned 13 Medals of Honor. The brigade was deactivated in 1972.
D16 Tracks and Spats in action in the Iron Triangle
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87th Division WWI
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173d Airborne
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Casper Helicopter Platoon 173d
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319th Artillery 173d
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173d Jungle Vietnam
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E/17th Cavalry 173d
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173d Scout Dog Platoon
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Company D 16th Armor 173d
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173d LRRP
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173d Jungle Expert
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173d Brigade Support
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"THE PATCHES WE WORE"
WORN BY THE 173D INFANTRY OR
THE 503RD INFANTRY AND IT'S SUPPORTING UNITS
THE 503RD INFANTRY AND IT'S SUPPORTING UNITS
Click on a patch to enlarge it.
Reactivated in June 2000, the brigade conducted numerous deployments across Europe. On 26 March 2003, the 173rd added to its distinguished history when nearly 1,000 Sky Soldiers parachuted into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. During the operation one Sky Soldier was awarded the Silver Star. In 2005, the 173rd deployed to Afghanistan along the contentious Pakistan border in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) VI. Five Sky Soldiers were awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in battle. Upon returning to Italy in 2006, the brigade transformed into the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. In the spring of 2007, the 173rd ABCT executed an extended deployment to eastern Afghanistan in support of OEF VIII where Soldiers exhibited incredible bravery earning one Medal of Honor, one Distinguished Service Cross, and 32 Silver Stars. In 2009, the brigade returned to Afghanistan for a third time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X continuing its proud tradition of selfless service, while executing a difficult build mission south of Kabul. In 2012, the brigade returned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII returning to Logar and Wardak Provinces where they executed the difficult task of reducing the footprint of the Brigade while continuing to train their Afghan counterparts.
Upon returning to Italy in 2013, the Brigade was redesignated as the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne). Today, Sky Soldiers continue the distinction of honored service dating back to World War I and proudly represent the Airborne fighting spirit wherever they serve.
Upon returning to Italy in 2013, the Brigade was redesignated as the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne). Today, Sky Soldiers continue the distinction of honored service dating back to World War I and proudly represent the Airborne fighting spirit wherever they serve.
