Near Spanish Fort in Baldwin County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

173d Airborne Brigade (Sep)

1963 — 1971

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

1. 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep) Monument

Inscription.
In commemoration of all Sky Soldiers
whose valor and sacrifice in defense of
South Vietnam must never be forgotten
"All Gave Some – Some Gave All"

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, Vietnam.

Location. 30° 44.039′ N, 87° 53.824′ W. Memorial is near Spanish Fort, Alabama, in Baldwin County. It is on Alabama Route 225 0.3 miles north of Upper Shay Branch Road. Located within the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at the Memorial Walk. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 34904 Route 225, Spanish Fort AL 36577, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

and in the Mobile Bay area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian

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Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Women's Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Saluda Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Town of Blakeley / The Battle of Fort Blakeley (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blakeley (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union Artillery Batteries (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Battle of Fort Blakely (approx. 1.2 miles away); Alabama (approx. 1.2 miles away); Battle of Blakeley (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spanish Fort.

More about this memorial. (Sep) is an abbreviation for 'Separate' as "separate" brigades had no division headquarters and could be used for missions that did not require an entire division. The 173rd Brigade was selected to become a separate brigade and a special airborne task force, which could deploy rapidly and act independently.

Regarding 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep). The Brigade was the first complete US Army Unit sent to the Republic of South Vietnam. The 1st and

173d Airborne Brigade (Sep) Marker to right of Women's Veterans Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

2. 173d Airborne Brigade (Sep) Marker to right of Women's Veterans Monument

2nd Battalion of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment were the first US Army units to be sent to the Republic of South Vietnam along with the 3rd Battalion of the 319th Artillery. They were supported by their own Support Battalion and Troop E, 17th Cavalry Regiment and D Company, 16th Armour Battalion. The First Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, and the 161st Field Battery of the Royal New Zealand Army were later attached to the Brigade during the first year. In late August, 1966, the 173rd received another Infantry Battalion, the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment which arrived from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. The 3rd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry joined the Brigade at Tuy Hoa in September 1967 following their reactivation and training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

During more than 6 years of nearly continuous combat in Vietnam, the Brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and 4 unit citations, 13 Medal of Honor recipients, 137 Distinguished Service Crosses, more than 6,000 Purple Hearts and the only Combat Parachute Assault of the war. Sadly, more than 1,700 names of 173rd Brigade's soldiers are inscribed on the Vietnam

173d Airborne Brigade patch. image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

3. 173d Airborne Brigade patch.

Memorial Wall.

Also see . . . The 173d Airborne Brigade history (from the 173d Brigade website). (Submitted on January 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort entrance. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 14, 2017

4. Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,337 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 18, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.