509th Infantry Regiment (United States)

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509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
509th Infantry Regiment
coat of arms
Active1942–45
1947-present
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeAirborne forces
RoleAirborne infantry
SizeTwo battalions
Part of Joint Readiness Training Center
and
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division
Garrison/HQFort Johnson, Louisiana
and
Fort Richardson, Alaska
Nickname(s)The Gingerbread Men
Geronimo
"G" Man
Motto(s)All the Way / Geronimo
ColorsBlack and gold
EngagementsWorld War II

War on Terror

Commanders
Current
commander		LTC Kyle Spade, USA
Notable
commanders		Edson Raff
Doyle Yardley
William P. Yarborough
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flashes for 1st and 3rd Battalion
World War II pocket patch and beret flash
U.S. Infantry Regiments
Previous Next
511th Infantry Regiment
C-17 conducts airborne operation with 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment
An aircrew from the 517th Airlift Sq conducts nighttime airdrop of HMMWVs and paratroopers from the 4th IBCT(A)

The 509th Infantry Regiment (previously the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment) is an

Fort Benning, Georgia. Nicknamed "Geronimo", the 509th conducted the U.S. Army's first combat jump during World War II on 8 November 1942, flying 1,500 miles from England to seize Tafarquay airport in Oran, Algeria.[1][2]
The 509th made a total of five combat jumps during the war.

The 1st and 3rd Battalions remain active. 1st Battalion serves as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) at the U.S. Army's Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, while 3rd Battalion is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The 509th operates independently from larger airborne units such as the 82nd Airborne Division.

History

The advent of World War II ushered in a need for highly mobile units capable of quick insertion within the theater of battle by the Allies. Originally constituted on March 14, 1941 as the 504th Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) and activated on October 5, the 509th PIB qualified its first paratroopers at Fort Benning, Georgia. The unit moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and re-designated as 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry in February 1942.[3] The 503rd and 504th Parachute Infantry Battalions were joined together to form the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment on February 24, 1942, two months after the United States entered World War II, at Fort Bragg, NC. The 504th PIB was reorganized and re-designated as the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. Companies A, B, and C were re-designated as 503rd PIR, Companies D, E, and F, respectively. This unit trained with the British 1st Parachute Brigade in England, earned the honorary title "Red Devils", and were authorized to wear the maroon beret. The maroon beret remains an iconic symbol of airborne units. Paratroopers wear it today.

In June 1942, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Edson Duncan Raff, the 2nd Battalion, 503rd PIR was detached from the 503rd PIR and sailed to Scotland, becoming the first American parachute unit to go overseas in World War II. The battalion was attached to the British 1st Airborne Division for training, which included mass tactical jumps from C-47 aircraft at 350 feet, extensive night training, and speed marching for 10 miles to and from the training area daily; and on one occasion, marching 32 miles in 11 hours. In the summer of 1942, Allied forces were completing the task of planning Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd PIR scheduled to take the lead and make the first combat jump.

Operation Torch was the first joint military action undertaken by the Allies in World War II. This was the springboard for the idea, formed by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, of attacking the "soft underbelly of Europe" before attempting a cross-channel attack from England onto mainland Europe. The main objective of Torch was to seize French Northwest Africa and, for political reasons, the Americans would lead operation. The airborne segment of the operation entailed flying 1,500 miles from England to seize two French airfields near Oran.

On 2 November 1942, days before Operation Torch began, the unit was re-designated once again as 2d Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry. On this day, as C-47s flew over the English countryside, the 509th paratrooper was born.

World War II

North Africa Campaign - Operation Torch

The 2-503rd newly named 2-509th PIR carried out the first American combat jump during the invasion of North Africa. The transport planes flew all the way from English airfields to the African coast. This first operation was unsuccessful, with 7 of its 39 C-47s widely scattered. Only 10 aircraft actually dropped their troops, while the others unloaded after 28 troop carriers, nearly out of fuel, landed on the Sebkha d'Oran, a dry lake near their target. The 509th marched overland to occupy its objective, and on 15 November 355 paratroopers successfully dropped on the Youks-les-Bains Airfield.

Italy Campaign

Liberation of Ventotene - Italy

Forty-six Paratroopers from the Scout Company 509th (the first pathfinders) participated in the liberation of Ventotene, a small Italian island, on 9 September 1943. The German commander was tricked into surrendering to the weaker American force before realizing his mistake. An account of this is given in John Steinbeck's "Once There Was a War."

Italy & Southern France

During 1943–1944, the 509th PIR served in the Italian mainland campaign and invasion of southern France. Because of the terrain, in both campaigns the regiment often found itself serving as de facto mountain infantry.

The Italian mainland campaign began with a combat jump at Avellino, on 14 September 1943 was widely dispersed and failed,[4] incurring significant casualties.

On 22 January 1944, the 509th PIR took part in the seaborne landings at Anzio, just south of Rome. Corporal Paul B. Huff, a member of the 509th, became the first US paratrooper to be awarded the Medal of Honor, on 29 February 1944, after an action at Anzio.

A second combat jump, on 15 August 1944, occurred around Le Muy and St Tropez in southern France.

France - Operation Dragoon - Southern France

Southern France.

Belgium - Battle of the Bulge

On 10 December 1943 the battalion was redesignated as the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.[5]

During the

St. Vith, Belgium. Of the original 700 paratroopers who entered the battle, approximately ninety-three percent were injured. Effective 1 March 1945, the 509th PIB was disbanded, and the soldiers who remained were reassigned as replacements in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division.[5]

Post-World War II

Germany

After World War II, the colors of the 509th remained inactive until 1963, when Company A, 509th PIB was reactivated as HHC, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry, and Company B, 509th PIB was reactivated as HHC, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry.

Since 1958 the 8th Infantry Division in Germany had had an Airborne component consisting of the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 504th Infantry, and the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 505th Infantry, as well as other supporting elements on jump status. When the division reorganized from the Pentomic structure to the new structure using brigades and battalions, 1-504th and 1-505th were replaced by 1-509th and 2-509th, respectively. Located at Lee Barracks in Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany, the two battalions formed the infantry component of the 1st Brigade (Airborne), 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Other units of the brigade included the 5th Battalion (Airborne), 81st Artillery; Troop A (Airborne), 3rd Squadron, 8th Cavalry; Company A (Airborne), 12th Engineer Battalion; and Company B (Airborne), 8th Medical Battalion.

Italy

In 1973, as the 1st Brigade's jump status was ending, a new unit with the designation of 3d Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry (bearing the lineage of the World War II-era Company C, 509th PIB) was activated to form an Airborne Battalion Combat Team (ABCT) from elements of the existing airborne forces within the brigade. After a brief training period at Rhine Kaserne Barracks in West Germany, the unit moved to

Fort Bragg
under an Army-wide combat arms battalion rotation program.

Geronimo returns to the United States

Former Aviation Center and School's Company C, 509th Infantry Beret Flash
SETAF
's 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Beret Flash

On 1 July 1975 the lineage of Co C, 509th PIB was again reactivated, this time at

CONUS
. Additionally, the organization and manning of an Airborne Rifle Company is different from that of an Airborne Pathfinder Company.

The size of C-509th varied depending upon funding and mission requirements. For example, documents on file at the United States Army Center of Military History in Washington, DC, indicate that when the company was activated in 1975 by replacing the 5th Infantry Detachment (Pathfinder), it was authorized 4 officers and 108 enlisted soldiers. Documents dated 22 September 1987 show the unit as still having 4 officers authorized but only 77 enlisted soldiers.

The orange and black flash, seen on the right, was first worn by the 5th Infantry Detachment (Pathfinder), matching the colors of the shoulder sleeve insignia of the U.S. Army Aviation Center and School to which the unit was assigned.[8] The 5th wore this patch with a black and gold Airborne tab.

The 5th was expanded and reflagged to become C-509th in 1975 and subsequently the company adopted the same flash and wing oval worn by 1-509th in Vicenza, Italy. On 18 February 1977 the 1st Aviation Brigade, which had served as a combat unit in Vietnam, was reactivated as a training unit at Fort Rucker, resulting in C-509th being assigned to the brigade. As a unit of the 1st Aviation Brigade, C-509th adopted the brigade shoulder sleeve insignia and worn it beneath a blue and white Airborne tab.

Note: The U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry notes that an Airborne tab is an intrinsic part of a shoulder sleeve insignia and is not supposed to be worn as an add-on by Airborne units assigned to non-Airborne commands; however, this has been a common practice in the Army for many decades.

The lineage of 1-509th was reactivated provisionally in 1987 to serve as the

Fort Polk
, 1-509th Infantry has become an elite urban fighting training unit.

On 31 May 1993, the separate Company C (Pathfinder), 509th Infantry at Fort Rucker was reflagged as Company A (Pathfinder),

11th Airborne Division
and the short-lived (1963–65) 11th Air Assault Division (Test). The era of a Pathfinder unit at Fort Rucker ended on 31 October 1995 when A-511th was inactivated to meet budget cut ceilings.

Global War on Terror

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In May 2004 Companies A and B, with attachments from Troop D of the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry deployed to

Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II to the areas surrounding Baghdad to reinforce the 10th Mountain Division. One member of Troop D received the Silver Star
for Valor in combat. Companies A and B and attachments returned in March 2005. During the deployment, Troop D and HHC continued to support JRTC exercises.

With the expansion of the Airborne force in

Operation Iraqi Freedom
in October 2006. The following is a media release from 10 November 2007, covering the battalion's work during OIF:

KALSU, Iraq — Paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Richardson, Alaska have returned home after being deployed in Iraq since early October 2006.

After conducting numerous combat operations to include patrols, raids, and air assault operations with the Iraqi Army and Police, these Paratroopers are ready to stand down for some well-deserved rest, relaxation and getting re-acquainted with their families and friends. Since October 2006, the "Geronimos" from 3-509th Airborne have performed magnificently. During this deployment, the Geronimos were based out of Forward Operating Base Kalsu, located approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of Baghdad in Babil Province. On Christmas Day of 2006, part of the Battalion moved west of Baghdad to Al Anbar Province where they fought with the 1st and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces (Forward) against Al Qaeda in Iraq. While providing protection to the local citizens of the area, they were quite effective in helping the local populations create their own civil defense organizations, something that has become a model for success in stemming violence countrywide. During this time, the remaining Paratroopers also operated out of FOB Kalsu and FOB Iskandariyah to achieve similar goals. The Battalion consolidated in June at FOB Kalsu and began concerted efforts to stabilize their area of operation in Babil Province. In the months following, the Geronimos took on the role as a strike force, where they made great strides in fostering reconciliation between Sunnis and Shias in the cities of Haswah and Iskandariyah, and the surrounding areas. Operating "outside the wire", the paratroopers encountered many obstacles, including firefights with insurgents, improvised explosive devices, car bombs and explosively formed projectiles. They also captured numerous suspects, extremists, and terrorists considered to be high value targets, found a myriad of weapons caches, IED making facilities, al-Qaeda safe houses, and facilities used for detaining and torturing Iraqi citizens by performing countless operations, day and night, on the ground and by air assault.

Throughout their deployment, many of the Paratroopers received decorations for valor, achievement, and combat wounds. The 3-509th is part of the 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division also known as the "Spartan Brigade". After doing a most remarkable job as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, these "Spartans" are looking forward to some quiet time and enjoying the safety and freedom that they have worked so very hard to keep for all American citizens.

Operation Enduring Freedom

In February 2009 the Geronimo battalion deployed as a part of the 4th BCT (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A portion of the Valorous Unit Award citation is below.

For extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy. During the period 1 July 2009 to 30 November 2009, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment and its subordinate units displayed extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the vicinity of East Paktika. The unit conducted a total of 302 combat patrols, and was responsible for 398 enemies killed, as well as the capture of 34 detainees. The company was also responsible for the safety of the populace of East Paktika during Afghan national elections. The unit's unrelenting perseverance and coordination allowed the unit to advance the struggle against the Taliban and contribute to the political and economic growth and development of the region.

Operation Freedom's Sentinel

Lineage

509th Infantry Regiment [1] Archived 9 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine

Official website:

Coat of Arms

Blazon

Shield

Gules, a fess nebuly counter wavy Argent a barrulet wavy Azure, on a pile Sable fimbriated of the second, between in base 4 arrowheads points down palewise of the same, another of the like below a stylized figure of a parachutist Or.[9]

Crest

On a wreath Argent and Gules, a rock proper charged with a crescent Or, a prowling desert jackal of the like.[9]

Motto

ALL THE WAY[9]

Symbolism

The stylized figure of a golden parachutist on a black background is taken from the WW2 insigna of the unit. The wavy lines represents the Anzio amphibious landing on January 22, 1944. The arrowheads represent the participation in five air landing operations during WW2. The prowling jackal on the crest is taken from the badge of the French 3rd Zouaves Regiment, that the French Army Commander-in-Chief authorized to be worn as a mark of honour by the 509th Regiment after the November 15th 1942 airdrop on the Youks-les-Bains Airfield in Algeria.

Background

The coat of arms was approved on 30 September 1963.

Honors

Decorations

1st BN, 509th Infantry Regiment

Ribbon Award Year Notes
Dark blue ribbon with a gold border
Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) 		1944 for fighting in the
LIEGE, BELGIUM
Dark blue ribbon with a gold border
Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) 		1943 for fighting in the
CARANO, ITALY
Meritorious Unit Commendation 2004 Company B, 1st BN, 509th IN - for fighting in
Operation Iraqi Freedom
A red ribbon with a vertical green stripe running down the center Superior Unit Award 2011-2012 for fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
A red ribbon with a vertical green stripe running down the center Superior Unit Award 2009-2010 for fighting in
Operation Iraqi Freedom-Iraq
A red ribbon with a vertical green stripe running down the center Superior Unit Award 1993-1994

3rd BN, 509th Infantry Regiment

Ribbon Award Year Notes
Dark blue ribbon with a gold border
Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) 		1944 for fighting in the
LIEGE, BELGIUM
Dark blue ribbon with a gold border
Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) 		1944 for fighting in the
CARANO, ITALY
March 1944
Dark blue ribbon with a gold border
Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) 		1943 for fighting in the
CARANO, ITALY
Valorous Unit Award Valorous Unit Award (Army) 2009 for fighting in PAKTIKA PROVINCE Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
Valorous Unit Award Valorous Unit Award (Army) 2007 for fighting in BABIL PROVINCE
Operation Iraqi Freedom-Iraq
Valorous Unit Award Valorous Unit Award (Army) 2007 Company D, for fighting in
Operation Iraqi Freedom-Iraq
Valorous Unit Award Valorous Unit Award (Army) 2006 for fighting in AL ANBAR PROVINCE,
Operation Iraqi Freedom-Iraq

Additional Decorations Include:

  • French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star
    , World War II for MUY EN Province
  • Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES
  • Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at
    ST. VITH
  • Personnel authorized to wear the insignia of the French 3d Zouaves Regiment

Campaign participation credit

  • World War II:
    • Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
    • Tunisia (with arrowhead);
    • Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead);
    • Anzio (with arrowhead);
    • Rome-Arno;
    • Southern France (with arrowhead);
    • Rhineland;
    • Ardennes-Alsace
  • Global War on Terror:
    • Operation Iraqi Freedom - II
    • Operation Iraqi Freedom - V
    • Operation Enduring Freedom - X

Combat Parachute Jumps

List of 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment Combat Parachute Jumps[10][11]
Date Unit Operation Troopers Country Dropzone
8 Nov. 1942 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) Torch 556 Algeria Tafaraoui airfield, La Senia
15 Nov. 1942 509th PIB Torch 300 - 350 Algeria Youks les Bains
24 Dec. 1942 509th PIB, Hdqt's. Co. Two French paratroopers 32 Tunisia El Djem
14 Sep. 1943 509th PIB Avalanche 640 Italy Avellino
15 Aug. 1944 1st Abn. Task Force (460th PFA, 463rd PFABn.; 509th PIB; 517th PCT; 551st PIB; 596th PCEng. Co.) Dragoon 5,607 France Cote d' Azur, Riviera

Organization timeline and major events

References

  1. ISBN 0-312-03350-8
    .
  2. ^ Raff, Edson D. (1944). We Jumped To Fight (First ed.). New York: Eagle Books. pp. 30–35.
  3. ^ "509th Infantry Regiment". The Army Historical Foundation. National Army Museum. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. ^ Molony, p. 322.
  5. ^ a b "509th Infantry Lineage". Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  6. ^ Gal Perl Finkel (7 September 2016). "How to win a modern war". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  7. ^ "4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery".
  8. ^ "Shoulder Sleeve Insignia".
  9. ^ a b c "Coat of Arms". tioh.army.mil. Institute of Heraldry, US Army. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "United States Combat Jumps". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  11. ^ Units Credited With Assault Landings, General Orders No. 10, Department of the Army, dated 25 September 2006, last accessed 30 April 2017
  12. ^ Headquarters, 1st Battalion, and 2nd Battalion organic elements concurrently constituted
  13. ^ Barnard, Raymond. "Public Affairs Officer". Fort Polk Guardian. United States Army. Retrieved 22 September 2014.[permanent dead link]

External links

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