173rd AIRBORNE BRIGADE
(SKY SOLDIERS)

Lineage
Constituted 5 August 1917 in the National Army as Headquarters, 173rd Infantry Brigade, an element of the 87th Division. Organized 25 August 1917 at Camp Pike, Arkansas. Demobilized in January 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. Reconstituted 24 June 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Infantry Brigade, an element of the 87th Division. Organized in December 1921 at Mobile, Alabama. Redesignated 23 March 1925 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Brigade. Redesignated 24 August 1936 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Infantry Brigade.
Converted and redesignated 13 February 1942 as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop (less 3rd Platoon), 87th Division (Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 174th Infantry Brigade, concurrently converted and redesignated as the 3rd Platoon, 87th Reconnaissance Troop, 87th Division). Troop ordered into active military service 15 December 1942 and reorganized at Camp McCain, Mississippi, as the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, an element of the 87th Infantry Division. Reorganized and redesignated 2 August 1943 as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized. Inactivated 21 September 1945 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Redesignated 28 April 1947 as the 87th Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop. Activated 12 May 1947 at Birmingham, Alabama. (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps; redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve.) Reorganized and redesignated 18 May 1949 as the 87th Reconnaissance Company. Inactivated 1 December 1951 at Birmingham, Alabama.
Converted and redesignated (less 3rd Platoon) 26 March 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and relieved from assignment to the 87th Infantry Division; concurrently, withdrawn from the Army Reserve, allotted to the Regular Army, and activated on Okinawa (3rd Platoon, 87th Reconnaissance Company-hereafter separate lineage). Inactivated 14 January 1972 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Campaigns
World War I
Streamer without inscription

World War II
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe

Vietnam
Defense
Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Consolidation I

Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DAK to (Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, cited; DA GO 42, 1969, as amended by DA O 5, 1979)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1967 (Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, cited; DA GO 48, 1968)
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1970 (Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, cited; DA GO 51, 1971)
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1971 (Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, cited: DA GO 5, 1973)