1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
"Quiet Professionals"
On 15 January 2006, as part of the Army's transformation towards a modular force, the composition of the 1st Battalion was changed.
The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment is a rapid deployment Parachute Infantry Battalion in the 82d Airborne Division "America's Guard of Honor". Within 18 hours of notification, Task Force 1-505 PIR strategically deploys, conducts forcible entry parachute assault and secures key objectives for follow-on combat operations in support of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the 82nd Airborne Division, and US National interests.
The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment was constituted on 24 June 1942. After training in Georgia and Alabama, it was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division and arrived at Fort Bragg in February 1943. In April, the battalion moved to North Africa in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. At the completion of the invasion of Sicily, the unit was airlifted back to North Africa to await further orders.
The unit made its second combat jump at Salerno, Italy, in September after the Allied amphibious landings at Salerno got bogged down. After assisting in the liberation of Naples, the unit was moved by ship to Ireland in November to train for the invasion of Europe. In February, the unit moved to England and stood ready for its third combat jump.
On 6 June 1944, the battalion jumped into the Normandy area of France in the vicinity of Ste. Mere-Eglise as part of the D-Day invasion, "Operation Overlord." Although the battalion was scattered on the jump, troopers assembled and accomplished all assigned tasks. After clearing German troops from the area, the battalion moved to England in July to await its next mission. The fourth combat jump came in September at Groesbeek, Holland, as part of "Operation Market Garden" to capture bridges over the Maas River and the Waal Canal. After serving two months in the Dutch countryside, the unit was moved back to France in November. The rest was short-lived, because in December, the 82d was thrown into the Ardennes region of Belgium to help defeat the German counter-offensive of the now famous Battle of the Bulge. In February, the battalion returned to France, but in April was called back to action as the German war machine was close to complete collapse. V-E Day was 8 May 1945. In July, the 82d moved to Berlin for occupation duty, and in January 1946 returned home to a ticker tape parade in New York City.
In 1959, the battalion was assigned to the 8th Infantry Division in Europe. In 1963, the battalion retuned home to Fort Bragg and the 82d Airborne Division. In 1965, the battalion deployed to the Dominican Republic to evacuate US personnel and restore order after a leftist insurrection.
In February 1968, the battalion deployed as part of the 3d Brigade to Vietnam to help counter the Tet Offensive. In December 1969, the battalion once again returned to Fort Bragg. The battalion's next call to arms occurred in October 1983, when we deployed to Grenada as part of "Operation Urgent Fury."
On 15 August 1990, the battalion was sent to "draw the line in the sand" in Saudi Arabia as part of "Desert Shield". "Operation Desert Storm" began on 24 February 1991 as the battalion seized Tallil Airfield in Iraq. The battalion returned to Fort Bragg in April 1991. The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment stood ready for another combat jump on 18 September 1994 as part of "Operation Restore Democracy" in Haiti. Aboard the aircraft and poised to fly to Haiti, the airborne assault was aborted when the civilian leaders of Haiti chose a peaceful transition to democracy rather than face the paratroopers of the 82d Airborne Division.
The battalion deployed in January 1997, to the Republic of Panama for "Operation Jungle Warrior" and returned to Fort Bragg in May 1997. Their mission in Panama was to defend the Panama Canal and be prepared to respond to other regional contingencies. The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment exists this day and age as it has in the past - maintaining the high standards and traditions of the American paratrooper.
The most recent deployment came in early July 2002, elements of the 3rd Brigade deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan to replace air assault troops of the 101st Airborne. 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment departed Fort Bragg to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 3rd Brigade headquarters assumed command in July of 2002 of a Brigade Combat Team that was comprised of 1-505 PIR, 3-505 PIR, and 1-504 PIR. All 3 battalions executed many different combat operations throughout the country to prevent the re-emergence of any Al Qaeda operatives and Taliban forces, in order to deny sanctuary to terrorist groups operating in the region.
As of October 2004 the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment was in Afghanistan helping provide security for the country’s first presidential elections.
