[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE HOLDS REUNION

                                 ______


                           HON. GIL GUTKNECHT

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 1995
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to 
commend the 173d U.S. Airborne Brigade. This important military group 
will be hosting its 30th anniversary reunion in Rochester, MN later 
this week. It is my understanding that approximately 1,500 of these 
brave veterans will be in attendance.
  The 173d Airborne Brigade fought in southeast Asia from May 5, 1965, 
to September 26, 1970, and consisted of the following groups:
  1st Battalion, 503d Infantry.
  2d Battalion, 503d Infantry.
  3d Battalion, 503 Infantry.
  3d Battalion, 503d Infantry (from Oct. 26, 1967, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  4th Battalion, 503d Infantry.
  173d Support Battalion.
  Company C, 75th Infantry (Feb. 1, 1969, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  Special Troops Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade.
  Troop E, 17th Cavalry.
  173d Engineer Company.
  46th Public Information Detachment (from Mar. 23, 1967, to Sept. 26, 
1970).
  51st Chemical Detachment (from Feb. 15, 1968, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  24th Military History Detachment.
  172d Military Intelligence Detachment (from Feb. 15, 1968, to Sept. 
26, 1970).
  534th Signal Company (from Dec. 20, 1968, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  45th Postal Unit.
  Company N, 75th Infantry (from Feb. 1, 1969, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  39th Infantry Platoon.
  75th Infantry Detachment (from Feb. 1, 1969, to Sept. 26, 1970).
  Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173d Airborne Brigade.
  1st Battalion, 50th Infantry (from Apr. 5, 1968 to Oct. 6, 1969).
  54th Infantry Detachment (from Feb. 22, 1968, to Apr. 11, 1969).
  Company D, 16th Armor (from May 4, 1965, to Sept. 24, 1970).
  Tuy Hoa Provisional Tank Company (from May 5, 1969, to Oct. 21, 
1969).
  The 173d Airborne Brigade was a combat-experienced unit, composed of 
courageous soldiers who always displayed an enthusiastic anti-Communist 
spirit. During its 5 years of fighting in the Republic of Vietnam, the 
173d Airborne Brigade was instrumental in the fight against communism, 
yet at the same time participated in the humanitarian restoration of 
the country.
  In recognition of their service, the 173rd Airborne Brigade and its 
attached and assigned units were awarded the U.S. Meritorious Unit 
Commendation and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm for their 
outstanding service. These unit citations were awarded to the 173rd 
Airborne Brigade by authority of U.S. Department of the Army General 
Order (D.A.G.O.) 51 of 1971.
  Unfortunately, one of the foreign attachments to the 173rd Airborne 
Brigade, the First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR 
Group), was inadvertently left off the D.A.G.O. 51 of 1971.
  The 1 RAR (Group) consisted of the following groups:
  First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.
  161 Field Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery.
  105 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.
  3 Field Troop, Royal Australian Engineers.
  4/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse (1 APC Troop).
  1st Australian Logistic Support Company.
  161 Recce Flight (Independant).
  709 (Ind) Sig Troop, Royal Australian Signals.
  After many years and multiple attempts to correct this oversight, the 
1 RAR (Group) finally received the recognition they so rightly deserved 
by receiving the U.S. Meritorious Unit Commendation.
  I must say, however, their fight is not over. While receiving the 
unit citation, the 1 RAR (Group) was not included on the D.A.G.O. 51 of 
1971. Therefore, I intend to work with the U.S. Department of Defense 
[DOD] and the Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC to amend the 
D.A.G.O. 51 of 1971 to include the 1 RAR (Group).


                          ____________________