509th Infantry Regiment (United States)

509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
509th Infantry Regiment
509th Infantry Regiment coat of arms
Active1942–45
1947-present
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeAirborne forces
RoleAirborne infantry
SizeTwo battalions
Part of Joint Readiness Training Center
and
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division
Garrison/HQFort Johnson, Louisiana
and
Fort Richardson, Alaska
Nickname(s)The Gingerbread Men
Geronimo
"G" Man
Motto(s)All the Way / Geronimo
ColorsBlack and gold
EngagementsWorld War II

War on Terror

Commanders
Current
commander
LTC Kyle Spade, USA
Notable
commanders
Edson Raff
Doyle Yardley
William P. Yarborough
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Beret flashes for 1st and 3rd Battalion
World War II pocket patch and beret flash

The 509th Infantry Regiment (previously the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment) is an airborne infantry regiment of the United States Army. The unit was initially activated as a single battalion, the 504th Parachute Infantry Battalion, in October 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Nicknamed "Geronimo", the 509th conducted the U.S. Army's first combat jump during World War II on 8 November 1942, flying 1,500 miles from England to seize Tafarquay airport in Oran, Algeria.[1][2] The 509th made a total of five combat jumps during the war.

The 1st and 3rd Battalions remain active. 1st Battalion serves as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) at the U.S. Army's Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana, while 3rd Battalion is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The 509th operates independently from larger airborne units such as the 82nd Airborne Division.

  1. ^ Breuer, William B. (1989). Geronimo! American Paratroopers in World War II (First ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 5–6. ISBN 0-312-03350-8.
  2. ^ Raff, Edson D. (1944). We Jumped To Fight (First ed.). New York: Eagle Books. pp. 30–35.