LINEAGE

Constituted 1 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 506th Parachute Infantry.
Activated 20 July 1942 at Camp Toccoa, Georgia.
(506th Parachute Infantry assigned 1 March 1945 to the 101st Airborne Division)
Inactivated 30 November 1945 in France.
Redesignated 18 June 1948 as Company B, 506th Airborne Infantry.
Allotted 25 June 1948 to the Regular Army.
Activated 6 July 1948 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.
Inactivated 1 April 1949 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.
Activated 25 August 1950 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.
Inactivated 1 December 1953 at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky.
Activated 15 May 1954 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
**Inactivated 25 April 1957 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division; concurrently reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 506th Infantry.
Redesignated 21 January 1964 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, and assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (organic elements concurrently constituted).
Battalion activated 3 February 1964 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Inactivated 31 July 1972 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and relieved from assignment to the 101st Airborne Division.

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT

World War II

Vietnam
Normandy (with arrowhead) Counteroffensive, Phase III (1 Jun 1967-29 Jan 1968)
Rhineland (with arrowhead) Tet Counteroffensive (30 Jan-l Apr 1968)
Ardennes-Alsace Counteroffensive, Phase IV (2 Apr-30 Jun 1968)
Central Europe Counteroffensive, Phase V (1 Jul-l Nov 1969)
Counteroffensive, Phase VI (2 Nov 1968- 22 Feb 1969)
Tet 69/Counteroffensive (23 Feb-8 Jun 1969)
Summer-Fall (9 Jun-31 Oct 1969)
Winter-Spring (1 Nov 1969-30 Apr 1970)
Sanctuary Counteroffensive (1 May-30 Jun 1970)
Counteroffensive, Phase VII (l Jul 1970-30 Jun 1971)
Consolidation I (1 Jul 1971 - 30 Nov 1971)
Consolidation II (1 Dec 1971 - 29 Mar 1972)
DECORATIONS

Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered NORMANDY
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered TRANG BANG
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II, Streamer embroidered NORMANDY
Netherlands Orange Lanyard
Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, Streamer embroidered BASTOGNE; cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Bastogne
Belgian Fourragere 1940; cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in France and Belgium
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970
Companies A and D additionally entitled to: Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered DONG AP BIA MOUNTAIN

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:

JOHN W. MOUNTCASTLE
Brigadier General, United States Army
Chief of Military History

**Correction to official lineage:
On 15 March 1956, the 506th was redesgnated as the 506th Airborne Infantry (Combat Group) under the plan called ROTAD, Reorganization of the Airborne Division. The 506th took part in the reactivation ceremonies for the 101st Division on 21 September 1956, at Fort Campbell.