The 506th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Currahees”, is one of the most storied units in U.S. Army history. Activated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, in 1942, the regiment trained as part of the 101st Airborne Division and gained fame for its role in Normandy, Operation Market Garden, and the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. From World War II to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the 506th has carried the Currahee motto—“We Stand Alone Together”—into battle. Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 506th Infantry Regiment.
The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) was activated on 20 July 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, under Colonel Robert F. Sink. The regiment became legendary for its grueling training, including runs up nearby Currahee Mountain, which inspired its enduring motto, “Currahee”—We Stand Alone Together. Assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, the 506th PIR parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, seizing causeways and disrupting German defenses behind Utah Beach.
The regiment fought throughout France, participated in Operation Market Garden in Holland, and was pivotal in the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. By war’s end, the 506th had fought its way into Germany, earning a reputation as one of the toughest airborne regiments of the war. Its exploits—especially those of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR—were immortalized in the book and HBO series Band of Brothers.
Postwar and Vietnam
After World War II, the 506th was inactivated and reactivated several times. During the Vietnam War, it returned to combat, serving in the 101st Airborne Division as well as the 3rd Brigade, 506th Infantry. The regiment conducted air assault and counterinsurgency operations, carrying the airborne ethos into jungle warfare. Soldiers of the 506th earned numerous decorations for valor during the conflict.
Cold War to Modern Day
Throughout the Cold War, the 506th served as a key element of the 101st Airborne Division, shifting from parachute infantry to air assault with the Army’s doctrinal changes. The regiment deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, continuing its long combat legacy.
In June 2022, with the reactivation of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 506th Infantry Regiment remained with the 101st Airborne Division, carrying the Currahee lineage forward into the 21st century.
Key Figures and Honors
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Colonel Robert F. Sink: First commander, known for his leadership and dedication. The 506th was sometimes called the “Five-Oh-Sink” in his honor.
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Major Richard D. Winters: Commander of Easy Company, 2-506th, famed for leadership from Normandy through Germany.
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Medal of Honor recipients connected to the regiment include Private First Class Joe E. Mann (2-506th, Operation Market Garden, posthumous award) and Sergeant Paul R. Smith (attached, Iraq, 2003).
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The regiment has earned numerous unit citations, including Presidential Unit Citations for Normandy, Bastogne, and Vietnam campaigns.
Legacy
From the slopes of Currahee Mountain to the hedgerows of Normandy, the frozen forests of Bastogne, and the deserts of Iraq, the 506th Infantry Regiment has lived up to its motto. Its Soldiers are remembered for grit, sacrifice, and brotherhood—qualities that have made “Currahee” a name synonymous with the U.S. Army Airborne legacy.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the legacy of the 506th Infantry Regiment.