HHC 3rd BN 505th PIR FC

• 1. Distinguished Lineage: The Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), is part of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division, known for its rapid deployment and airborne operations. • 2. World War II Origins: The 505th PIR was activated in 1942 and saw its first combat in the invasion of Sicily, where it made one of the first regimental-sized combat jumps in U.S. Army history. • 3. Normandy Jump: The regiment, including HHC elements, participated in the famous D-Day parachute assault on June 6, 1944, leading the way for Allied forces in Normandy. • 4. Operation Market Garden: The 505th PIR played a crucial role in Operation Market Garden, parachuting into the Netherlands to secure key bridges and territory. • 5. Battle of the Bulge: During the winter of 1944-45, the 505th helped hold the line at the Battle of the Bulge, facing harsh conditions and fierce German attacks. • 6. Cold War Deployments: Throughout the Cold War, the 505th was on constant alert, ready to deploy anywhere in the world on short notice, exemplifying the 82nd Airborne’s “Ready to Go” ethos. • 7. Operation Just Cause: In December 1989, 3rd Battalion, 505th PIR participated in the invasion of Panama, helping to remove dictator Manuel Noriega from power. • 8. Gulf War Service: The battalion was deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield and participated in the liberation of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. • 9. Global War on Terror: Since 2001, HHC 3-505 PIR has deployed multiple times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom, conducting airborne assaults and combat operations. • 10. “H-Minus” Motto: The 505th PIR’s motto, “H-Minus,” signifies the unit’s readiness to jump into action even before H-Hour, the scheduled time for an operation, highlighting their rapid deployment capability.