An Airborne Expeditionary Unit?

[Ken White]

Ken, just out of curiosity, do you think the 173rd's Drop was necessary?

Nope -- but we gotta keep Jump Pay going...

Do you even consider it a real "combat jump"?

I don't, DA probably will -- as many medals as they kick out nowadays, they'll probably tell the Herd to put a wreath around their combat jump star...

The M1s were of little benefit -- other than to demonstrate a capability (which no one questioned that we had in any event...).

Seriously, not militarily necessary, both the drop and the tanks were pure PR -- I don't know when the Army's going to realize that kind of stuff, like poor PFC Lynch, is totally counterproductive -- not least because it cheapens the actuality for those who participate.

FWIW, the biggest US combat jump in Viet Nam by 2-503 of the then 173d was also militarily unnecessary as was the second jump in Korea by the 187 and Operation Varsity by three divisions in WW II. All IMO, of course.