HHC 3rd Brigade, 101st ABN

• Origins: HHC (Headquarters and Headquarters Company), 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (“Rakkasans”), was originally constituted during World War II as part of the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment. • Nickname: The 3rd Brigade is famously known as “Rakkasans,” a Japanese word meaning “falling umbrella,” referencing their airborne roots and the parachutes used in airborne operations. • World War II Service: The unit participated in the Pacific Theater, including notable actions in the Philippines and the occupation of Japan after the war. • Korean War Glory: The Rakkasans made two combat parachute assaults in Korea, at Sukchon and Munsan-ni, earning distinction and several unit citations. • Vietnam Combat Operations: The brigade saw heavy combat in Vietnam, conducting several air assault operations and earning multiple unit decorations for valor. • Operation Desert Storm: The 3rd Brigade led the division’s ground assault into Iraq, covering more than 150 miles in less than 72 hours, one of the longest and fastest assaults in U.S. Army history. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: The HHC 3rd Brigade deployed multiple times to Iraq, notably in the initial 2003 invasion and in subsequent counterinsurgency and stabilization operations. • Afghanistan Deployments: The unit also served with distinction in Operation Enduring Freedom, conducting counterinsurgency and support operations in challenging terrain. • Symbolism: The brigade’s crest features three spears, symbolizing the 3rd Brigade, and the torii gate, representing their occupation duty in Japan after World War II. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Several soldiers from the 3rd Brigade and its subordinate units have received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism, including in Vietnam and Iraq.