Constituted 14 March 1941 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 503d Parachute Battalion

Activated 22 August 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia

Consolidated 24 February 1942 with Company B, 503d Parachute Infantry (concurrently constituted in the Army of the United States), and consolidated unit designated as Company B, 503d Parachute Infantry

Inactivated 24 December 1945 at Camp Anza, California

Redesignated 1 February 1951 as Company B, 503d Airborne Infantry, an element of the 11th Airborne Division, and allotted to the Regular Army

Activated 2 March 1951 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Inactivated 1 March 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 11th Airborne Division

Redesignated 1 September 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Airborne Battle Group, 503d Infantry, assigned to the 82d Airborne Division, and activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)

Relieved 24 June 1960 from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division

Relieved 1 July 1961 from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division

Assigned 26 March 1963 to the 173d Airborne Brigade


Reorganized and redesignated 25 June 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry

Relieved 14 January 1972 from assignment to the 173d Airborne Brigade and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division

Inactivated 1 October 1983 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division

Assigned 16 December 1986 to the 2d Infantry Division and activated in Korea

Inactivated 29 September 1990 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 2d Infantry Division

Assigned 16 December 2001 to the 173d Airborne Brigade and activated in Italy


2d Battalion
503d Infantry Honors

Campaign Participation Credit

World War II: *New Guinea; *Leyte; *Luzon (with arrowhead); *Southern Philippines

Vietnam: *Defense; *Counteroffensive; *Counteroffensive, Phase II (with arrowhead); *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

Decorations

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for CORREGIDOR

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for PHUOC VINH

*Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DAK TO

*Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1965-1967

*Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945

*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1965-1970

*Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1969-1971