173rd Airborne Brigade formed (1963)

ON THIS DATE IN AIRBORNE HISTORY: 26 MAR 1963

On 26 March 1963, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) was assigned to the Regular Army and activated on Okinawa. Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson took command of the unit, which was chartered to serve as the quick reaction force for the Pacific Command. Under Williamson, the unit trained extensively, making mass parachute jumps. They earned the nickname Tien Bing, literally Sky Soldiers, from the Taiwanese paratroopers.

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