Airborne 187th LRRP

[jochen]

I am doing some research regarding a Vietnam jacket that was my dads. It is an Airborne 187th lrrp werewolf jacket. I know some of the logistics surronding lrrp's. But if anybody has any details or links for info I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

[LRS Guy]

The 187th Airborne Infantry was an ABN/Airmobile Inf Bn in the 101st. Great history going back to WWII in the Pacificwith the 11th ABN DIV. LRRPs were generally a Divison or Corp asset in VN. Never heard of a 187th LRRP "Werewolf".

Perhaps they were a Bn Scout Platoon or a provisional Brigade asset?

Might try the 101st Association.

[Ace]

Check with these guys, maybe they can point you in the right direction.

http://www.187thahc.net/

[RGR.Montcalm]

The 187th RCT wasn't part of the 101st in Viet Nam; the 173rd was the 3rd BDE back then. Only the 3-187 was part of the 173rd along with 1-503rd and 2-503rd later designated the 3rd bde 101st after the inactivation of the 173rd.

[SFS0AVN]

The 187th Airborne Infantry was an ABN/Airmobile Inf Bn in the 101st. Great history going back to WWII in the Pacificwith the 11th ABN DIV. Never heard of a 187th LRRP "Werewolf".

Don't forget, the 1/187th was also a part of the 82nd ABN Div.

[gulchbuster]

I wanted to add some info here, even if a bit late. I was with 3/187 in 1985, did the parade for Westmoreland at the reunion in Hartford and the wonderful summer at the Point training cad-idiots.

The 3/187 Rakkasans deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Brigade of the 101st on 13 December 1967 and returned home to Fort Campell in 1971. They led the initial assault on Hill 937 ( Hamburger Hill ). All the Herd infantry battalions were part of the 503rd, there were 4 battalions, 1st through the 4th. I researched to make sure and no batts of the 187th were assigned to the 173rd in Vietnam.

To my knowledge there wouldn't have been a " 187th LRRP ", there would have been a LRRP company with the 101st at division level but not at battalion level. Whether or not each battalion had a scout platoon assigned to its HHC as in the 80s- I don't know.

I will say the 3/187 did get around quite a bit in Vietnam, it was under the operational control of several different divisions at various times but that wasn't unusual.


Hope the info helps.

[MoonDog]

If you will send me a PM with a POC, I can connect you with a LRRP from proper unit, time frame.

VR,
MoonDog

[Trip_Wire]

Also, the 187th RCT (Rakkasans) served in the Korean War, both in Korea and Japan. They made combat jumps during the Korean war, and except for the Airborne Ranger Infantry Companies that made it to Korea, it was the only Airborne Infantry unit assigned to Korea during the war.

http://home.hiwaay.net/~magro/parakorea.html

[SFS0AVN]

Also, the 187th RCT (Rakkasans) served in the Korean War, both in Korea and Japan. They made combat jumps during the Korean war, and except for the Airborne Ranger Infantry Companies that made it to Korea, it was the only Airborne Infantry unit assigned to Korea during the war.

http://home.hiwaay.net/~magro/parakorea.html

Not to mention the 10th SFG Folks who got UNPFK started.

[Trip_Wire]

Not to mention the 10th SFG Folks who got UNPFK started.

True; however, I don't recall any airborne infantry combat jumps listed for them during the Korean war. I know that they assisted with the training and dropping of South Korean and turncoat NK agents, behind the lines, etc. Some of the Rangers from the disbanded Ranger Companies were taken into this organization, as well. Note: Some of these activities were going on before UNPFK was formed or the SF people arrived.

A lot of their operations were conducted from and on the Island off the Korean coast and were mostly boat borne.

A quote from:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/arsoc-history3.htm

"This was not the Special Forces' first involvement in the Far East. By the end of 1952 the first Special Forces troops to operate behind enemy lines had been deployed to Korea on missions that remained classified for nearly 30 years. Anti-communist guerrillas with homes in North Korea and historical ties to Seoul had joined the United Nations Partisan Forces-Korea.

Known in Korean as "fighters of liberty," the UNPFK soon became known as "donkeys" by Americans who derived the nickname from the Korean word for liberty, dong-il. From tiny islands off the Korean coast, the Donkeys conducted raids, rescued downed airmen and maintained electronic facilities. Under the guidance of the Special Forces and other U.S. cadre, they eventually numbered 22,000 and claimed 69,000 enemy casualties."

http://www.korean-war.com/SpecOpsRosters/UNPIKPART.htm

[SFS0AVN]

True; however, I don't recall any airborne infantry combat jumps listed for them during the Korean war.

I'm sure they jumped, it was just not considered a infantry combat jump. The 5th jumped in Vietnam and the SF units in SW Asia are also jumping but, it is not considered a combat jump.

[Trip_Wire]

I'm sure they jumped, it was just not considered a infantry combat jump. The 5th jumped in Vietnam and the SF units in SW Asia are also jumping but, it is not considered a combat jump.

Perhaps, in a few clandestine operations and to qualify for their jump pay; however, most operations,as I said were conducted by boat and/or infiltration by land.

As I recall, most airborne operations, the people dropped were South Korean, North Korean and Chinese agents. The Americans, supplied the jump master's and aircraft.

One noteable incident that I'll quote from the website below.:

Feb. 19 1952: CCRAK-Aviary mission is downed 12 kilometers west of Wonsan when an agent flips a primed grenade back into C-46 as he jumps. Plane crashes but most crew able to jump. Pilot and one CCRAK EM KIA. One AF noncom DOW shortly after jump. One Av iary noncom captured and one noncom MIA. Information indicates possibility this MIA noncom taken to Russia.

http://www.kimsoft.com/korea/darkmoon.htm

[TakeshiX]

this post is very old I see but the topic was sorta interesting to me. When I did a search for 187th LRRP I came up with a few hits. Some items for sale on ebay that unfortunately I couldn't see as the auction had ended. Then it dawned on me to subject this search term to images specifically and I came up with this patch.

http://www.museodevietnam.com/militaria/insignias/fuerzas_especiales.php?foto=115#photo

Now even this isn't concrete as to the exsistance of this unit as it could be a local made custom patch. When I was in Korea you could get the local Korean tailor to make just about anything. But it does seem to me with all the search info that popped up that most likely there was a 187th LRRP unit called "Werewolf." It was a fun search I liked it ^^

I hope you find more out about your fathers coat ^^ Report back when you find something.