173rd Combat Brigade

The 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as "Sky Soldiers," was activated in 1915 and later reactivated in 1963 as a separate airborne brigade of the United States Army. The unit gained distinction during the Vietnam War, becoming the first major U.S. Army ground unit deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and participating in over 75 major operations, including the Battle of Dak To. After deactivation in 1972, the brigade was reactivated in Italy in 2000, serving as the Army’s forward-deployed airborne brigade in Europe. Since then, the 173rd has supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing its legacy as a rapid-response force capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours.