173d Airborne Brigade Separate - Yearbook (Okinawa, Japan)

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v BRIGADIER GENERAL ELLIS W. WILLIAMSON Commanding Officer COMMANDING GENERAL ' S MESSAGE I wish to express my sincere appreciation to each of you for providing the initiative, en- thusiasm, and professional skill to make this past year a memorable one for the 173d Airborne Brigade. Your spirit of determination and leadership ability that I have observed throughout the past year never fails to renew my confidence that our great nation will continue to be a leader in the free world. In this yearbook you will find many pictures which depict the type of activities we have ex- perienced together. Our training in various types of terrain, under many different situations, is invaluable to us as an airborne unit that is fully prepared to get the job done. I congratulate each of you for a job well done and for making this a most memorable and worthwhile year. Airborne, All the Way ELLIS W. WILLIAMSON Brig. Gen., U.S. Army Commanding I •.-» IV I 1 TT1

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DEDICATION JOH FITZGERALD KENNEDY. THIRTY-FIFTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IS DEAD. NO OTHER PRESI- DENT ' S DEATH HAS SO DEEPLY TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF ALL MILITARY FORCES— FOR THEY KNEW HD AS A STAUNCH FRIEND. INDEED, HE WAS A MILITARY FAMILIES ' PRESIDENT. IT IS TO HIM AND TO THE INS IRA- TION WHICH HE LEAVES. THAT WE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS BOOK IN HIS MEMORY. ' ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY

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Asms ORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE) On 25 June 1963 there occurred a new developmenl in the structure of the United States Airborne forces with the ac- tivation of a separate airborne brigade on Okinawa. Initial reorganization began in March of 1963 when Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the new brigade was formed. Activation brought a new concept to today ' s modern Army: formation of a force augmented not only in manpower but in mobility and firepower. One dominant feature remains unchanged — the will to win. Subordinate units of the 173d are the 1st and 2nd Battalions (Airborne), 503d Infantry; 3d Battalion (105MM Towed), 319 Artillery; the 173d Support Battalion; and separate units consisting of the Head- quarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep); 173d Engineer Company; Troop E, 17th Cavalry; and D Company, 16th Armor. Each of the infantry battalions is composed of three rifle companies and a headquarters company, while the 3d Battalion, 319th Artillery has three firing batteries with six 105MM Howitzers each and a headquarters service battery. The 173d Support Battalion is com- posed of Company A (Administrative), Company B (Medical), Company C (Supply and Transportation), and Company D (Maintenance). Located within Company C(S T) is the Air Equipment Support Platoon containing the brigade ' s organic parachute packers and riggers. As indicated by their designations, com- panies of the support battalion provide the brigade with supply, field maintenance, medical service, para- chute and aerial delivery support, administrative and miscellaneous services for all assigned or attached elements.