FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division welcomed a new battalion into its ranks during a ceremony, Dec. 11, at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The ceremony marked the inactivation of 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment and commemorated the activation of the 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
“As the primary stewards of the Airborne legacy, it’s only fitting that today one of the battalions of the very first parachute infantry regiments activated in the United States be here in the 82nd Airborne Division, and in the 1st Brigade Combat Team,” said Lt. Col. Mark T. Purdy, commander of 2-501st PIR. “We, [the] new All-American Geronimo paratroopers, are extremely honored and humbled today to pick up the lineage and honors of this great battalion.”
The squadron initially began as the 76th Tank Battalion on Jan. 13, 1941, and was renamed the 756th Tank Battalion before being activated on June 1, 1941, at Fort Lewis, Wash.
The squadron joined the 82nd Abn. Div. as 4th Sqdrn., 73rd Cav. Regt., in 2006 when the Army transformed to a new modular force structure.
The squadron will always be unique in that it is the only organization within the regiment whose work was characterized by combat operations.
“It’s an exciting time for the 2-501st PIR,” said Spc. Amador Pena, a trooper in activated unit. “I’m excited to be a part of the Devil brigade, and I expect to see great things from our team.”
The colors for the squadron were cased, but this isn’t the end of the line for them. With the casing of their colors a new mission is introduced, and now they are Devils.