October-November 2015, Issue 63 See all issues to date at the 503rd Heritage Battalion website: Contact:
[email protected] http://corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm ~ 2/503d Photo of the Month ~ The late LTC Bob Sigholtz, Col (R), CO 2/503, announcing to men of his battalion plans for the 2/503d combat jump in Vietnam. (Photo provided by Jerry Hassler, RTO Extraordinaire, Recon 2/503, ‘66/’67, combat jump experienced) 2/503d VIETNAM Newsletter / Oct.-Nov. 2015 – Issue 63 Page 1 of 78 The Marines and the 173rd Airborne Brigade By Dick Culver here are time when two units with equal egos The 173rd was a really great outfit, and gave us a run and bragging rights are co-located in time and for our money. The Marines of course simply sat space. When this happen, the normal expected around and grumbled a bit over our lack of such an friction will usually manifest itself with predictable ostentatious symbol (the jump wings) of our ability to consequences, but every so often the inter-unit impose our will on the enemy. The 173rd of course, competition will get out of hand, and so it was with a sensed this, and took every opportunity to display a regiment of Marines and a Brigade of Airborne Soldiers. sense of quiet arrogance and superiority toward their The story takes place a number of years prior to the brothers in arms. The stage was set for disaster. unpleasantness in Vietnam. About 1961 I was the The Army Airborne troops, during that particular Executive Officer of Golf Company, of the 2nd Battalion time frame, had a rather maddening tradition of saying of the 9th Marine Regiment, stationed on Okinawa.