82nd Airborne Division
"All American"
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After a year and a half of protecting the western flanks of Saigon from enemy attacks, the 3rd Brigade, Airborne Division has worked itself out of a job. The unit was named as one of the major elements to be redeployed as part of the Phase II cutback. With the brigade's departure in late 1969, another chapter in its colorful history was brought to a close. The story of the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division begins in 1917 when it was activated as the 156th Infantry Brigade, an element of the 78th Division. In May 1964, the brigade was reorganized as the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. When the brigade jumped into Florida, Jan. 22, 1968, little did the paratroopers realize that they would be fighting in Vietnam less than one month later. But on Feb. 13, the advance party departed Pope Air Force Base, N.C., for the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of Valentine's Day the huge airlift began: an operation which was to require 135 C141`s and six C133s before it was over. The All-Americans were on the way to Vietnam. Landing at Chu Lai, the brigade had just began to muster itself from its deployment when it moved again. The All-Americans were attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) and given the mission to protect the ancient capital of Hue in the I Corps sector. In the fall of 1968, the brigade moved again, this time to the Capital Military District where it remained until its redeployment.
