In 1963, on the island of Okinawa, the U.S. Army activated a unit that would leave an indelible mark on military history—the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Trained for rapid deployment and airborne operations, the brigade was built for the toughest missions.
Just two years later, in 1965, the 173rd became the first major U.S. Army combat unit to enter Vietnam, bringing the fight to the enemy in some of the most challenging terrain of the war. From the Central Highlands to the Mekong Delta, the Sky Soldiers engaged in relentless combat, earning a reputation for their courage and tenacity.
In February 1967, the brigade made history again, executing the only combat parachute jump of the Vietnam War—an airborne assault into...
