3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment
| 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
187th Infantry Regiment's Distinctive Unit Insignia | |
| Active | 1943–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Campbell |
| Nickname(s) | "Iron Rakkasans" |
| Motto(s) | "Iron Sharpens Iron" |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War Vietnam War First Gulf War War in Afghanistan War in Iraq |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding officer | LTC Drew Schaub |
| Command Sergeant Major | CSM Daniel J Murphy |
| Insignia | |
| 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment Airborne Background Trimming | |
| Historical beret flash of the battalion, currently being informally worn on the Army Black Beret | |
The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Iron Rakkasans, is a battalion of the US Army 187th Infantry Regiment. The battalion was activated on 25 February 1943 and first saw action in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War, during the battle to regain US control of the Philippines. Troops from the battalion then served in the four-year occupation of Japan, where they earned their nickname "Rakkasans" (meaning "falling down umbrellas"), before stationing in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The battalion served in the Korean War from 1950 as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and participated in 12 major missions during the Vietnam War, emerging from that conflict as the US's most highly decorated airborne battalion. In 1992 they were designated as the "Iron" Rakkasans by Lieutenant Colonel David Petraeus due to his Leader Rakkasan physical fitness test that added a fourth element of pull-ups to the standard APFT. The battalion has received numerous awards and commendations, including six Presidential Unit Citations and four Valorous Unit Awards.