Something bugging me about those letters from GIs

[Bandit]

They were all supposedly from the 2nd Bn. 503rd Airborne Infanty Regiment but the guy who supposedly wrote the letters is Commander in the 101st Air Assault (Airborne). Is the 503rd a part of the 101st or is this another screw up within the ranks? I plead ignorant to all the different regiments in the Army.

[denverbill]

1. You're confusing Division with Regiment.

That 101st is the Division. The 503rd is a regiment within that division. I think the breakdown goes

Division
Brigade
Regiment
Battalion
Company
Squad

I'm sure some real soldier will tell you for sure:).

[Bandit]

3. You left off Platoon

;-)

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Back in may days...

solider
squad
paltoon
Comapany
Batalion
Brigade
Division
Corp

But what does a dumb draftee know?

[Bandit]

6. That was pretty much the breakdown when I was in also

Don't know anything about Regiments although we did have a couple of Troops in 1st Cav when I was there.

[Walt Starr]

9. You left off *Army*

Army is the highest designation. In WWII, there were several Armies.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. You're right

only I can't think of what army I served under, and hence, I couldn't name it. Remember, I was just a dumb draftee.

[Touchdown]

8. Confusing Cavalry with Infantry.

IIRC...

Cavalry... //Infantry...
Corps //Corps
Division //Division
Brigade //Brigade
Regiment //Battalion
Troop //Company
Platoon //Platoon
Squad //Squad

Then there's artillery, which instead of companies and troops are batteries, and the confusion goes on...Of course, it's been 18 years since I had to know any of this, so your mileage may vary.

Edited because TAB keys are not recognized:mad:

[BrotherBuzz]

10. works for me

Thanks... and now that explains F Troop.

[Warren Stuart]

2. The guy who wrote the letters ..

is a Lieutenant Colonel, hence a Battalion Commander.

The 101 Airborne is a division and most likely is commanded by a two star General.

Generally there are from 3 to 5 Battalions in a Brigade, and 3 to 5 Brigades in a Division.

[goddess40]

5. "The guy whose taking the fall for writing the letters"

Seems more appropriate. First they tried to pawn it off on five unidentified enlisted men and when that wasn't working this guy stepped in. I wonder what his reward is?
The reports say he won't be punished as his intentions were good. What is that, I think that type of propaganda is appalling and can't be done with 'good' intentions.

[TacticalPeek]

7. I believe the 503rd is actually part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

The 173rd was planned to come down through north Iraq with the 4th ID, but then Turkey said no, and they went to plan F, dropping into the north back in March. They may still be on their own there, or attached or something to 4th ID or 101st. On their own, seems like they'd be easier pickins' for WH PR types.