Sky Soldiers: The Story of the 173rd Airborne Brigade

The origins of the 173rd Airborne Brigade trace back to a World War I muster roll, where the unit first appeared as the 173rd Infantry Brigade in 1917. Assigned to the 87th Division and deployed to France, the unit was demobilized shortly after the war; its name disappearing for decades before its airborne rebirth.

By the 1940s, the airborne concept was climbing to new heights. The elite 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, born at Fort Bragg in 1941, soared into combat in the Pacific, making history with the first successful airborne jump into New Guinea (1943) and later liberating Corregidor in February 1945, earning a Presidential Unit Citation. Though not officially part of the 173rd back then, the 503rd's legacy would become inseparable from the brigade's future.

Rebirth on Okinawa and the Sky Soldiers' Baptism of Fire

On 26 March 1963, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) was activated on Okinawa, quickly designated as the U.S. Army Pacific's quick reaction force. Its core included battle-tested paratroopers from the 503rd, laying the foundation for one of the most storied airborne units of the modern era.

Vietnam would be the brigade's crucible. In May 1965, the 173rd became the first major U.S. Army ground combat unit deployed to Vietnam. Over the course of six continuous years in theater, the brigade launched the only U.S. Army combat parachute assault of the war (February 1967), fought from War Zone D to Dak To, and endured staggering casualties. The brigade earned 14 campaign streamers, four unit citations, and 13 Medals of Honor,  more than any other brigade-sized Army unit in the conflict.

173rd soldier in Vietnam

Among the most brutal engagements of the Vietnam War was Hill 875, part of the larger Battle of Dak To in November 1967. Located near the Cambodian border, Hill 875 was a key strategic high ground fiercely defended by well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. On November 19, elements of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment advanced under intense fire. Over four days of brutal, close-quarters fighting, Sky Soldiers encountered machine gun nests, booby traps, and relentless mortar fire.

The final assault on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1967, came at extraordinary cost: nearly 300 casualties in a single battle, including over 100 killed in action, the highest one-battle toll the brigade would suffer during the war. Despite the losses, Hill 875 was secured.

From Silence to Shadow: Deactivation, Reactivation, and a Return to Combat

Following the Vietnam War, the brigade was deactivated in 1972. It remained dormant until June 2000, when it was reactivated in Vicenza, Italy, as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, NATO’s only forward-stationed airborne brigade.

In March 2003, the brigade made history once again when nearly 1,000 paratroopers executed a combat jump into northern Iraq as part of Operation Northern Delay. It was the last large-scale U.S. combat parachute assault to date.

SSG Ryan Pitts, left, became the third living "Sky Soldier" to receive the MOH

The Global War on Terror brought the 173rd to Afghanistan for multiple deployments, including 2005, 2007–08, 2009–10, and 2012–13.

The 2007–08 deployment marked one of the brigade’s most intense and decorated campaigns since Vietnam. Operating in Regional Command-East, including the Korengal Valley, Wanat, and Nuristan, Sky Soldiers were deployed into some of the most unforgiving terrain in Afghanistan.

In October 2007, the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment launched Operation Rock Avalanche, a daring multi-day mission in the Korengal Valley. The operation aimed to disrupt Taliban strongholds in an area known for constant ambushes and limited air support due to rugged terrain. Daily firefights, coordinated attacks, and perilous high-altitude conditions defined the rotation.

The deployment also included the Battle of Wanat on July 13, 2008, one of the fiercest engagements of the war. At Combat Outpost Kahler, a force of over 200 Taliban fighters launched a coordinated assault on just a handful of Sky Soldiers. Nine U.S. soldiers were killed and 27 wounded. Despite being nearly overrun, the platoon held the line, inflicting massive enemy losses.

The valor shown throughout this deployment was unmatched: Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts received the Medal of Honor for heroism at Wanat, Specialist Kyle J. White earned the Medal of Honor for actions in Nuristan Province, and over 30 Silver Stars and dozens of Bronze Stars with Valor were awarded across the brigade.

Today’s Sky Soldiers

Today, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, known simply as "Sky Soldiers", remains a vital element of the U.S. Army’s rapid deployment capability. Headquartered in Vicenza, with battalions also based in Germany, the brigade continues to train alongside NATO allies and serves as a strategic deterrent force in Europe and beyond.

The Sky Soldiers' role today reflects their long-standing ethos: Ready, Empowered, and Disciplined.