My ancestors immigrated to the United States (U.S.) from Germany in the late 1800s. Although my grandfather did not serve in the U.S. military due to his service age falling between World War I and World War II, my great uncle bravely served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was wounded in a mustard gas attack, which left him with lifelong injuries and earned him the Purple Heart. Additionally, my father’s older cousin fought in World War II as a Marine. He tragically lost his life during the battle of Iwo Jima.
Being the only son, my father himself served in the Korean War as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 7th Division. He made me promise not to join the military, and I honored that promise. However, when my son, also an only son, expressed his desire to join the U.S. Army before college, I wasn’t surprised. He was following in the footsteps of many of his ancestors.
After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in combat engineering, my son was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, commonly known as the Rakkasans.
The 101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division, often referred to as the “Screaming Eagles,” earned the moniker “the tip of the spear” from former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. This nickname aptly captures the division’s role in modern deployments, starting with World War II. Stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, the 101st is a light infantry division specializing in air assault missions.
Initially created in 1918, the division was officially constituted just nine days before the end of World War I and did not engage in combat during that conflict. However, it was reconstituted as an airborne unit for World War II and played a significant role in various major battles
throughout Europe, including Operation Overlord (D-Day), Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. Additionally, regiments that would later become part of the 101st were involved in the defeat and occupation of Japan.
During the Vietnam War, the 101st Airborne Division played an important role in multiple engagements. In 1968, it was redesignated as an air mobile division, and in 1974, it became an air assault unit, signifying its transition from parachute-based deployments to a primary
reliance on helicopters.
The 101st Airborne Division continued to live up to its reputation as the “tip of the spear” during the War on Terror, with deployments in Iraq (1991, 2003-2005, 2016), Afghanistan (2001-2021), and Syria (2015-2021). Many soldiers within the division are graduates of the rigorous U.S. Army Air Assault School, also located at Fort Campbell, which boasts a graduation rate in the 50th percentile and is considered one of the Army’s most challenging programs.
Currently, portions of the 101st Airborne Division are deployed in Poland (2022-) in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment
The 187th Regiment, originally established as a glider unit, was formed in 1942 at Fort Mackall in North Carolina and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. Training in parachuting and glider deployment took place at Fort Polk in Louisiana in 1944. Later that same year, the regiment was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 187th took part in multiple engagements throughout the Pacific theater including New Guinea and the Philippines culminating in preparing for Operation Downfall (the planned invasion of Japan). Two days before Japan’s official surrender the unit parachuted into Okinawa as an occupation force and received its name, Rakkasans. The airborne deployment to Okinawa made the 187th the only unit to parachute into Japanese territory during the war.
The Rakkasans
The name Rakkasan is derived from the Japanese word for parachute, or literally, “umbrella for falling.” At the time, the Japanese did not have a word for airborne soldiers. A translator settled on ‘falling down umbrella men’ or Rakkasans. The term gained popularity among the locals, and the unit embraced it with pride. The 187th also adopted the Japanese Torii as their symbol, representing a gateway to honor. Following Japan’s surrender, some credit the 187th as the first unit to occupy mainland Japan. In peacetime, the Rakkasans were then assigned to Fort Campbell (the future home of the 101st Airborne Division) as part of the 11th Airborne Division.
The Rakkasans continued their history of firsts by being the first U.S. combat force to arrive in Korea in 1950 at the start of the Korean War. The 187th was involved in the first parachute raid of the Korean War trying to capture fleeing North Korean leaders as well as freeing U.S.
prisoners of war in the Battle of Yongju. They also led the second and last parachute operation in 1951 as part of Operation Tomahawk. The Rakkasans returned to Fort Campbell in 1956 to, at least in part, join the reactivated 101st Airborne. Post-Korean War would be a confusing time for the 187th. Multiple elements were activated and deactivated through various reorganizations until 1964.
In 1964 the Rakkasans joined the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. From 1967-1971 the Rakkasans were deployed to Vietnam and took part in 12 major campaigns primarily performing air assault and search and destroy missions. The Rakkasans emerged from this conflict as the most decorated airborne battalion. For their actions battling for hill 937 (Hamburger Hill) in 1969, they were awarded one of their five Presidential Unit (Army) Citations. Additionally, these actions were the focus of the Hollywood movie, Hamburger Hill released in 1987. Post Vietnam until 1989 was another period of redesignation and changes. Their two noteworthy deployments were both to Egypt as parts of multinational peacekeeping forces (1984-1985 and 1988-1989).
During the Gulf War in 1990, the Rakkasans were deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield. Adding again to their list of firsts, they spearheaded the largest and deepest (155 miles behind enemy lines) air assault operation into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. This action was successful and directly resulted in the Coalition victory over Iraq forces. Iron (though used previously) was more officially added to the name Rakkasans in 1993 reflecting the physical fitness expectations of the unit. Post Desert Storm the unit continued to be deployed as needed including Egypt (1995-1996), Saudi Arabia (1997), and Kosovo (2000).
After the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 on the U.S., the Rakkasans took part in operation in Afghanistan (2001-2002). In 2003-2004 they were instrumental in the invasion of Iraq winning another Presidential Unit (Army) Citation. They returned to Iraq in 2005 and participated in the
largest combat mission since the original invasion in Operation Swarmer. They returned in 2007-2009 as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom helping to secure the violent region referred to as the Triangle of Death (South of Baghdad). In 2010 they again deployed to Afghanistan
supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They continued to see service working counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan from 2016 until the U.S. departure in 2022.
187th Rakkasans — Tip of the Spear
The 101st is known as the tip of the spear and the 187th, as a part of that spear, has a long history of firsts and citations. With five Presidential Unit (Army) Citations and many other awards, the 187th Rakkasans is one of the most decorated units in the U.S. Army. The Rakkasans are also the only combat unit to fight in every major operation since the inception of airborne assault. This legacy is summed up with their motto “Ne Desit Virtus – Let Valor Not Fail.” I could not be prouder that my son is now a part of this history.
I wish to thank the Don F. Pratt Memorial U.S. Army Museum. I highly recommend “The Rakkasans: The Combat History of the 187th Airborne Infantry” by Lt. Gen. E. M. Flanagan, Jr. Presidio Press, 1997.
