STEP 2: Associate Membership Form

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11th Airborne Division Association - "Angels"

We are a 501(c)(19) which honors 11th Airborne Division Angels / veterans and their loved ones.

11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

23 hours ago

OPERATION TOMAHAWK: MARCH 23, 1951With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the 11th Airborne Division's 187th PIR was called up for duty. Under the command of COL Frank S. Bowen, the 187th was paired with the 674th Field Artillery Battalion and supporting units to form the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (RCT).The Rakkasans participated in the Inchon landing operation in September 1950, and assisted in the liberation of Seoul and the Kimpo Peninsula. In October the 187th made a highly successful jump at Sukehon-sunchon, a classic example of the striking power of well-trained airborne soldiers. After UN forces had defeated the Chinese at Chipyong-ni and pushed north to liberate Seoul, all communist troops had begun fleeing towards the 38th parallel for the supposed safety of North Korea.So on March 23, 1951, the 187th RCT, with the 2nd and 4th Ranger Companies attached, jumped on to DZs at Munsan-ni to seize the surrounding area and trap the enemy frontline units, setting them up for destruction in Operation Tomahawk, the airborne portion of Operation Courageous. In the second largest airborne operation of the war, the 187th RCT consisting of 3,437 paratroopers jumped from C-119 Flying Boxcars in sticks of 42 men from an altitude of 800 feet and dropped 30km northwest of Seoul – well behind enemy lines. Preceding the drop, fighters and bombers attacked the target area to soften enemy resistance. Once on the ground, the paratroopers assembled and organized into their respective units.The 187th's Major Ronald Speirs noted, “The Northern DZ was initially saturated with personnel due to the 1st Battalion’s accidental drop. This hampered the assembly of the 3rd Battalion, as there were too many men at the assembly point, which was the northwest sector of the DZ. The initial mission of the 3rd Battalion was to secure the DZ, and this was accomplished. Forty to fifty enemy were killed and wounded by the battalion.”The capture of Hill 205 on March 24 ended the action around the drop zone. And though faced with some unanticipated Chinese resistance, the link up between the paratroopers and the motorized ground forces of Task Force Growdon occurred mostly as planned.In general, Operation Tomahawk was a success, except for one key aspect: the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) and Korean People's Army (KPA) forces had already withdrawn from the area. The Rakkasans, however, would continue the fight as Eighth Army closed in on the 38th Parallel. In 1952, the 187th was withdrawn to Japan as part of the U.S. Far East Command reserve. For its service in Korea, the Rakkasans were awarded four unit citations, and three soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. In total, the 187th suffered 2,115 casualties in Korea, including 442 killed in action.Rakkasans! AATW! Down From Heaven Comes Eleven!-JCH#11thairborne #Rakkasans #187thRCT #koreanwar ... See MoreSee Less

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11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

2 days ago

On March 21, 1943, the 11th Airborne Division's first full-formed tactical unit the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment left historic Camp Toccoa, Georgia via train for the yet-unnamed Camp Mackall near Hoffman, North Carolina. The 511th PIR under the legendary Colonel Orin D. "Hardrock" Haugen believed they would head to Europe as part of an Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Hardrock's boys were surprised to find Major General Joseph May Swing expecting them; The General welcomed them to the newly forming 11th Airborne Division. Swing would later jokingly say of the 511th's Paratroopers, "They are the best men to take to war, but the last I'd take home to date my baby sister." Two years later, Eighth Army's General Robert L. Eichelberger said the 511th was, "The fightingest outfit I have ever seen!" ... See MoreSee Less

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11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

6 days ago

Happy St. Patricks' Day, 11th Airborne Division Association - "Angels"! ... See MoreSee Less

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