The 503rd Infantry Regiment (IR), famously nicknamed "The Rock," is one of the most storied and geographically dispersed airborne units in U.S. Army history. Activated in 1941 as a Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), the 503rd distinguished itself in the Pacific Theater of World War II, executing the first successful Airborne Combat Jump in the Pacific into New Guinea in 1943, and achieving eternal fame with its legendary combat jump onto Corregidor Island in 1945—an action that earned the nickname "The Rock Regiment" and a Presidential Unit Citation. In the Vietnam War, as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, "Sky Soldiers" of the 503rd conducted the war's only major combat jump during Operation Junction City. Today, the lineage is proudly maintained by the 1st Battalion (1-503rd IN) and the 2nd Battalion (2-503rd IN), both of which are ACTIVE Airborne Infantry battalions stationed in Vicenza, Italy, as core components of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team—the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, always ready to deploy globally.
The 503rd Infantry Regiment's history began on August 22, 1941, with the activation of the 503rd Parachute Battalion at Fort Benning, GA, shortly before the United States entered World War II. It was formally established as the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in March 1942. Unlike the other early parachute regiments assigned to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, the 503rd was initially designated as a separate, independent parachute regiment, eventually forming the core of the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team (PRCT).
World War II: The Pacific Theater and "The Rock"
The 503rd PIR was shipped to the Southwest Pacific Theater in late 1942, becoming the first American airborne unit to serve in the theater. Its combat history in World War II is entirely linked to the Pacific campaigns:
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New Guinea: On September 5, 1943, the 503rd executed the first successful, large-scale Airborne Combat Jump in the Pacific onto Nadzab in the Markham Valley, New Guinea. This strategic jump helped secure a vital forward airbase and forced the Japanese evacuation of Lae.
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Noemfoor: In July 1944, elements of the 503rd made a costly combat jump onto the island of Noemfoor to eliminate the Japanese garrison, where Sergeant Ray E. Eubanks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The regiment's most defining action, and the source of its famous nickname, was the airborne assault on Corregidor Island, Philippines. From February 16 to March 2, 1945, the 503rd PRCT conducted a daring, high-risk parachute jump onto the small, rock-laden island known as "The Rock," which had stood as the symbol of American resistance before its capture in 1942. Despite extremely difficult landing conditions on the small "Topside" drop zones and facing a deeply entrenched and numerically superior Japanese force of over 5,000, the paratroopers successfully secured the island. General Douglas MacArthur personally raised the U.S. flag over the island and remarked, "I see that the flagpole still stands... hoist the colors to its peak and let no enemy ever haul them down." For this audacious and pivotal victory, the 503rd PRCT was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and officially adopted the nickname, "The Rock Regiment." The 503rd finished the war fighting on the island of Negros before being inactivated in December 1945.
Vietnam War: The Sky Soldiers
The regiment was reactivated, redesignated, and reorganized multiple times in the post-war and Cold War eras, serving with the 11th Airborne, 24th Infantry, and 82nd Airborne Divisions. In 1963, the 1st Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) were assigned to the newly formed 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) on Okinawa, which soon adopted the moniker "Sky Soldiers."
The 173rd Airborne Brigade, with its 503rd battalions, became the first major U.S. Army ground combat unit deployed to the Vietnam War in May 1965. The "Sky Soldiers" spent over six grueling years in continuous combat, participating in twelve major campaigns and countless battles, including:
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Operation Hump (1965), one of the first major battles of the war.
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Operation Junction City (1967), where elements of the 2-503rd conducted the only major American combat parachute jump of the entire war.
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Fierce fighting in the Central Highlands, Dak To, and the Iron Triangle.
For their exemplary service in Vietnam, the regiment received two further Presidential Unit Citations and produced four Medal of Honor recipients. The 503rd was inactivated in 1972 following the brigade's withdrawal.
Modern Era and Current Status (Active)
After being activated briefly with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, the 503rd Infantry Regiment was permanently reactivated in the year 2000 as part of the reactivated 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Europe.
The "Rock" Regiment’s modern history is defined by its role as a global, rapid-response airborne force:
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Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): In March 2003, paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd IN (Airborne), led the airborne component of the invasion, executing a combat parachute jump into Northern Iraq during Operation Northern Delay to seize a strategic airfield and open a northern front against Saddam Hussein's regime.
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Global War on Terror (GWOT): Both the 1-503rd IN and 2-503rd IN have served multiple, intensive combat deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, including the infamous Battle of Wanat in 2008, where the unit suffered heavy casualties but successfully repelled a massive Taliban attack, showcasing the regiment's unwavering resolve.
The lineage of the 503rd Infantry Regiment remains ACTIVE today, with its two battalions maintaining their full Airborne status:
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1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (1-503rd IN)
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2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (2-503rd IN)
Both "The Rock" battalions are assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, stationed forward at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, and serve as the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe (CRF), ensuring they are perpetually trained and ready to deploy anywhere in the European, African, or Central Command theaters on short notice.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the 503rd legacy.