United States Army 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Geronimo)

U. S. ARMY 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT (GERONIMO) -  The 509th Infantry Regiment is an airborne infantry regiment of the United States Army. Previously titled the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (509th PIR) was the first parachute infantry unit of the U.S. Army to make a combat jump during World War II.  Currently its 1st and 3rd battalions are active.  The 1st Battalion serves as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) at the Army's Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  The 3rd Battalion is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

With the advent of World War II, the United States Armed Forces foresaw a need for highly mobile units that the Allies could quickly insert into the theater of battle.  The 509th PIR was originally constituted on March 14, 1941 as the 504th Parachute Battalion and activated on October  5, 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The 503rd and 504th Parachute Infantry Battalions were joined together to form the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment on February 24, 1942 at Fort Bragg, NC.  The 504th PIB was reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, and its Companies A, B, and C were redesignated as Companies D, E, and F, respectively, of the 503rd PIR.

Campaign participation credit

World War II:

• Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
• Tunisia (with arrowhead);
• Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead);
• Anzio (with arrowhead);
• Rome-Arno;
• Southern France (with arrowhead);
• Rhineland;
• Ardennes-Alsace

Global War on Terror:

• Operation Iraqi Freedom V
• Operation Enduring Freedom X

Decorations

• Presidential Unit Citation for LIEGE, BELGIUM
• Presidential Unit Citation for CARANO, ITALY
• Superior Unit Award for 1993–1994
• Meritorious Unit Commendation for Operation Iraqi Freedom 2.5
• Valorous Unit Award for Operation Iraqi Freedom 5
• Valorous Unit Award for Operation Enduring Freedom X
• French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, World War II for MUY EN PROVENCE
• Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the ARDENNES
• Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at ST. VITH
• Personnel authorized to wear the insignia of the French 3d Zouaves Regiment