The regiment was initially formed at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in 1942 where it earned its nickname, "the Currahees", after the Currahee Mountain they trained on inside the camp. The Cherokee word, which translates to "Stands Alone", also became the unit's motto. During World War II, the only commander of the regiment was ColonelRobert F. Sink. As such, the 506th was sometimes referred to as the "Five-Oh-Sink". On June 10th, 1942, the 506th became part of the 101st Airborne Division.
At the completion of their training at Camp Toccoa, the 2d Battalion marched 118 miles to Atlanta, Georgia. This march was conducted over 75 hours and 15 minutes, with 33 and one-half hours being used for marching. Only 12 out of 556 enlisted men failed to complete the march. All 30 officers completed it, including their commander, Major Robert L. Strayer. Newspapers covered the march and many civilians turned out to cheer the men as they neared Five Points (Atlanta).
Like almost all paratroop units, the 506th was widely scattered during the Operation Chicago night drop on the morning of D-Day. The most famous action for the 506th on D-Day was the Brécourt Manor Assault. Although promised they would be in battle for just 3 days, the 506th did not return to England for 33 days, participating in the battle for Carentan. Of about 2000 men who jumped into France, 231 were killed in action, 183 were missing or POWs, and 569 were wounded — about 50% casualties for the Normandy campaign.
Post WWII
The 506th was de-activated in 1945, then re-activated as the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment in 1948–1949, again in 1950–1953 and finally, in 1954 to train recruits. Despite the designation "Airborne Infantry" and its continuing assignment in the 101st Airborne Division, none of these troops received airborne training, nor was the "Airborne" rocker worn above the Divisional patch.
It was de-activated again in 1984, then re-activated to serve at Camp Greaves in the DMZ in Korea in 1987 a part of the 2nd Infantry Division.
In 2004, the 506th was reassigned from the DMZ to a tour in An Habbaniyah Iraq. Returning from this deployment in August 2005, their new home is now back in the 101st Airborne Division Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Famous members of the 506th
Joseph Beyrle, of I Company, fought for US and Russian forces in WWII.
David Webster, a rifleman and diarist of Easy Company during WWII, reporter, shark enthusiast. In 1961, he went out into the ocean, and was never seen again.
Richard Winters, an officer of Easy Company during WWII, called back into service in 1956 to train officers and Rangers; he now lives in Pennsylvania.
