173rd Brigade Support Battalion

173rd Brigade Support Battalion The 173D BSB: To Our Utmost! He received the award for his actions during the Battle of Dak To. On 16 September 2006 they moved to Bamberg, Germany.
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Our official Brigade social media web sites and offical web page:

www.eur.army.mil/173abct/

www.youtube.com/173AirborneBrig

Time Zone: GMT+1 The 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) was constituted on 26 March 1963 in the Regular Army and was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Officially activated on 25 June 1963 in Okinawa, Japan the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) participated in and lo

gistically supported hundreds of brigade operations throughout dozens of countries in the Pacific region. In May 1965 the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) was sent to Vietnam with the Brigade until 14 January 1972, when the Support Battalion was relieved from assignment to the 173 Airborne Brigade and inactivated. During the Vietnam war, the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) was recognized for participating in 15 campaigns including Operation Junction City, the only combat airborne operation during Vietnam, and the Battle of Dak To. The Battalion also received a Presidential Unit Citation for Dak To, two Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm streamer, and a Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal. On 04 November 1969, CH (MAJ) Charles Watters, the Battalion Chaplain, was awarded the Medal of Honor, one of thirteen awarded to 173rd Airborne Brigade Paratroopers during their time in Vietnam. CH (MAJ) Watters, unarmed and completely exposed, attended to the wounded, administered last rites, and distributed food and water at and in front of the line of contact despite the great risk to himself and attempts to restrain him. His unyielding perseverance and selfless devotion to his comrades saved many lives at the cost of his own. In July 2004, several logistics companies located in Manheim, Germany were reassigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. From these units the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) was reactivated on 16 March 2005. Eight days later, the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) began an11 month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan to provide combat service support to Combined Task Force Bayonet throughout Southern Afghanistan. When the 173rd Airborne Brigade converted into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 173rd Support Battalion (Airborne) transitioned into a Brigade Support Battalion.

02/09/2025
🇺🇲 Honoring Our Airborne Legacy 🪂Today, August 16, 2025, on National Airborne Day, we honor all who earned their wings —...
16/08/2025

🇺🇲 Honoring Our Airborne Legacy 🪂

Today, August 16, 2025, on National Airborne Day, we honor all who earned their wings — especially the 🪂 of BSB who have supported missions from above. Our place in the airborne brotherhood is defined not just by jumps, but by commitment, courage, and excellence in every mission.

Airborne is more than a status — it’s a mindset forged through trust, discipline, and readiness to answer the call wherever it comes.

Though our boots now stay on the ground, our hearts remain in the fight.

To our Soldiers, families, and veterans — thank you for being part of this legacy.

To Our Utmost. Sky Soldiers.

U.S. Army 📷 1st Lt. Misael Ramos

Indirizzo

Caserma Del Din, BLDG. 173
Vicenza
09630

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Our Story

The 173rd Airborne Brigade History The 173rd 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 173rd 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 173rd Infantry Brigade was activated on Okinawa in 1963 as the 173rd 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. 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. 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. This site is managed by the 173rd, Brigade Support Battalion Public Affairs Office.