3:502nd

• Formation and Origin: The 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (3/502nd) is part of the famed "Strike" Brigade, originally formed as part of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II in 1942. • Normandy Invasion: The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, including 3/502nd, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, playing a crucial role in the liberation of France. • Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge: In December 1944, the unit participated in the defense of Bastogne, Belgium, enduring freezing conditions and heavy German attacks during the Battle of the Bulge. • Vietnam War Service: The 3/502nd deployed to Vietnam in 1967, conducting major combat operations in the A Shau Valley and participating in significant battles such as the Tet Offensive. • Nickname "First Strike": The battalion's motto, "Strike and Hold," reflects their rapid assault capability and tenacity in holding ground under intense enemy pressure. • Reactivation and Modern Deployments: The 3/502nd has been reactivated and deactivated several times, most recently serving as a mechanized and later light infantry battalion, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in the Global War on Terror. • Distinguished Unit Citations: The battalion has received multiple Presidential Unit Citations for extraordinary heroism in action, notably during World War II and Vietnam. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: 3/502nd was among the first U.S. units to enter Baghdad in 2003, conducting urban combat and stabilization operations. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Soldiers from the 502nd have received the Medal of Honor, including Private First Class Joe Mann (posthumously awarded for actions in Best, Holland during WWII). • Symbolic Insignia: The regiment’s distinctive unit insignia features a “winged foot,” symbolizing its airborne roots and speed in combat operations.