504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)

504th Parachute Infantry Regiment 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment 504th Infantry Regiment
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active	1942–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Airborne forces
Role	Parachute infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Nickname(s)	Devils in Baggy Pants
Motto(s)	Strike Hold
Colors	Blue
Engagements	World War II Operation Husky Operation Avalanche Operation Shingle Operation Overlord (Small contingent serving as pathfinders) Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Western Allied invasion of Germany Armed Forces Expeditions Operation Powerpack Operation Urgent Fury Operation Golden Pheasant Operation Just Cause Southwest Asia Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation (3) Valorous Unit Award Meritorious Unit Commendation Army Superior Unit Award Military Order of William Belgian Fourragere Netherlands Orange Lanyard Cited in Order of the Day of the Belgian Army (2)
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Colin P. Tuley
Notable commanders	Reuben Tucker William Westmoreland Hugh Shelton John Abizaid David Petraeus John Campbell Patrick J. Donahue
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flash.

World War II

Armed Forces Expeditions

Southwest Asia

The 504th Infantry Regiment, originally the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (504th PIR), is an airborne forces regiment of the United States Army, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, with a long and distinguished history. The regiment was first formed in mid-1942 during World War II as part of the 82nd Airborne Division and saw service in Sicily, Italy, Anzio, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

A parent regiment under the United States Army Regimental System, two battalions from the regiment, 1st Battalion (1-504 PIR) and 2nd Battalion (2-504 PIR), are currently active, both assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

The regiment was initially constituted on 24 February 1942, over two months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent American entry into World War II, in the Army of the United States as the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions were constituted the same date as Company A, B, and C, respectively, of the 504th PIR, and were activated on 1 May 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to the U.S. Army Airborne Command. When complete with its regimental training, the 504th, then under the command of Colonel Theodore L. Dunn, was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, commanded by Major General Matthew Ridgway, on 15 August 1942. Serving alongside the regiment in the 82nd were the 325th and 326th Glider Infantry Regiments, together with supporting units.