HHQ 504

• Origins: The Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC), 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), traces its heritage back to World War II, having been activated in 1942 as part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. • Airborne Firsts: The 504th was among the first airborne units to make a combat parachute jump during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. • Nickname: The regiment and its HHQ company are known as the "Devils in Baggy Pants," a nickname given by German adversaries who feared their fierce fighting spirit. • Battle Honors: HHQ 504 participated in major campaigns including Sicily, Italy (Salerno and Anzio), Normandy, the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), and the Battle of the Bulge. • Salerno Jump: Members of HHQ 504 made a rare "combat glider landing" at Salerno, Italy, in 1943, a unique and dangerous method of troop insertion. • Decorations: The 504th PIR, including its HHQ, has received numerous unit citations, including Presidential Unit Citations and the French Croix de Guerre for its bravery in combat. • Cold War Deployments: After WWII, HHQ 504 played roles in Cold War operations, including deployments during the Dominican Republic crisis (Operation Power Pack) and the Panama invasion (Operation Just Cause). • Modern Deployments: In recent decades, HHQ 504 has seen action in the Global War on Terror, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Leadership: HHQ 504 has produced several notable military leaders who have gone on to hold high-ranking positions in the U.S. Army. • Legacy: The HHQ 504 continues to uphold its legacy of rapid deployment, versatility, and combat effectiveness, embodying the airborne motto: "All The Way!"