Constituted 14 March 1941 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 502d Parachute Battalion

Activated 1 July 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia

Consolidated 24 February 1942 with Company B, 502d Parachute Infantry (concurrently constituted in the Army of the United States), and consolidated unit designated as Company B, 502d Parachute Infantry

(502d Parachute Infantry assigned 15 August 1942 to the 101st Airborne Division)

Inactivated 30 November 1945 in France

Redesignated 18 June 1948 as Company B, 502d Airborne Infantry

Allotted 25 June 1948 to the Regular Army

Activated 6 July 1948 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky

Inactivated 1 April 1949 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky

Activated 25 August 1950 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky

Inactivated 1 December 1953 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky

Activated 15 May 1954 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina

Reorganized and redesignated 1 March 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Airborne Battle Group, 502d Infantry, relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division (later redesignated as the 11th Air Assault Division) (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)

Inactivated 1 July 1958 in Germany

Redesignated 21 January 1964 as the 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry; concurrently relieved from assignment to the 11th Air Assault Division and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division

Activated 3 February 1964 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Inactivated 21 January 1983 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division

Assigned 5 June 1984 to the 101st Airborne Division and activated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

2d Battalion
502d Infantry Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

World War II: * Normandy (with arrowhead); * Rhineland (with arrowhead); * Ardennes-Alsace; * Central Europe

Vietnam: * Defense; * Counteroffensive; * Counteroffensive, Phase II; * Counteroffensive, Phase III; * Tet Counteroffensive; * Counteroffensive, Phase IV; * Counteroffensive, Phase V; * Counteroffensive, Phase VI; * Tet 69/Counteroffensive; * Summer-Fall 1969; * Winter-Spring 1970; * Sanctuary Counteroffensive; * Counteroffensive, Phase VII; * Consolidation I; * Consolidation II

Southwest Asia: * Defense of Saudi Arabia: * Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

Decorations

* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for NORMANDY

* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BASTOGNE

* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for AN KHE

* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DAK TO, VIETNAM 1966

* Valorous Unit Award for TUY HOA

* Valorous Unit Award for NAM HOA DISTRICT

* Valorous Unit Award for BA LONG DISTRICT

* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1965-1966

* French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for NORMANDY

* Netherlands Orange Lanyard

* Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm for BASTOGNE; cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at BASTOGNE

* Belgian Fourragere 1940

* Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in FRANCE AND BELGIUM

* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966-1967

* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968-1969

* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1971

* Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1968-1970