The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (2-503rd) is an active duty airborne infantry battalion in the United States Army, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and stationed in Vicenza, Italy. The battalion has served with the 2nd Infantry Division, the 11th Airborne Division, the 24th Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade; has been stationed in Korea, Germany, Italy and the United States; and earned campaign credits in World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The lineage of Company B, 503rd AIR was redesignated on 1 September 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Airborne Battle Group, 503d Infantry (2-503rd), assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated).
2-503rd was relieved on 24 June 1960 from assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. The following year, on 1 July 1961, it was relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division and assigned on 26 March 1963 to the 173rd Airborne Brigade on Okinawa.
On 25 June 1963, 2-503rd was reorganized and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry.
Constituted 14 March 1941 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 503d Parachute BattalionActivated 22 August 1941 at Fort Benning, GeorgiaConsolidated 24 February 1942 with Company B, 503d Parachute Infantry (concurrently constituted in the Army of the United States), and consolidated unit designated as Company B, 503d Parachute InfantryInactivated 24 December 1945 at Camp Anza, CaliforniaRedesignated 1 February 1951 as Company B, 503d Airborne Infantry, an element of the 11th Airborne Division, and allotted to the Regular ArmyInactivated 1 March 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 11th Airborne DivisionRedesignated 1 September 1957 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Airborne Battle Group, 503d Infantry, assigned to the 82d Airborne Division, and activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)Relieved 24 June 1960 from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division and assigned to the 25th Infantry DivisionRelieved 1 July 1961 from assignment to the 25th Infantry DivisionAssigned 26 March 1963 to the 173d Airborne BrigadeReorganized and redesignated 25 June 1963 as the 2d Battalion, 503d InfantryRelieved 14 January 1972 from assignment to the 173d Airborne Brigade and assigned to the 101st Airborne DivisionInactivated 1 October 1983 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne DivisionAssigned 16 December 1986 to the 2d Infantry Division and activated in KoreaInactivated 29 September 1990 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 2d Infantry DivisionAssigned 16 December 2001 to the 173d Airborne Brigade and activated in ItalyRedesignated 1 October 2005 as the 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment(173d Airborne Brigade redesignated 16 September 2006 as the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team)
World War II: New Guinea; Leyte; Luzon (with arrowhead); Southern PhilippinesVietnam: Defense; Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II (with arrowhead); Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation IWar on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determinedAfghanistan: Consolidation I, Consolidation II, Consolidation III, Transition IIraq: Liberation of Iraq (with arrowhead); Transition of IraqNote: The published Army lineage shows War on Terrorism "Campaigns to be determined". Comparison of the battalion's deployment dates with the War on Terrorism campaigns estimates that the battalion will be credited with participation in the six campaigns listed.
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered CORREGIDORPresidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered PHUOC VINHPresidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DAK TOMeritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1967Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1965-1970Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1971503rd Infantry Distinctive Unit Insignia
503rd Infantry Coat of Arms
