4th Brigade inherits name, legacy of historical 506th
Newest unit will be known as 'Currahee Brigade'
By CHANTAL ESCOTO
The Leaf-Chronicle
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Chantal Escoto/The Leaf-Chronicle
First Battalion soldiers climb down the "Tough One" rope ladder during the Currahee Mile run at the 4th Brigade air assault obstacle course Wednesday. The exercise is a new tradition for the newly formed brigade. Fourth Brigade will be known as the Currahee Brigade, with its 1st and 2nd battalions gaining the 506th Infantry Regiment affiliation. Currahee was the hill where Easy Company of "Band of Brothers" fame trained.
The soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, try their luck with the "Weaver." The exercise blends teamwork and physical exercise to ready them for Iraq.
The 101st Airborne Division's newest brigade now has a legacy with its first and second battalions taking on the 506th Infantry Regiment's name and history.
During World War II, the 506th included the storied Easy Company, depicted in the HBO series "Band of Brothers."
The affiliation took effect July 1, according to officials, although it has not been formally announced and details are being worked out. The 4th Brigade will be known as the "Currahee" brigade, in honor of the hill the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment trained on before jumping into Normandy on June 6, 1944.
"It's a huge motivator," said 1st battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Catterton. "What the (506th affiliation) will do is tie this unit to the honor and tradition of that unit. There's a history with this unit. It will allow us to bring in the old with the new."
The 101st is expected to deploy again for a year to Iraq within the next few months.
To celebrate the new affiliation after coming back from a two-week vacation, 800 soldiers with the 1st battalion took to the air assault course with a competitive fervor for the Currahee Mile.
The Currahee Mile is a tradition that the 101st hopes will keep soldiers mentally and physically prepared for any mission because of the unknowns of a different course each time.
"This is our second one. We do it upon return from block leave," said battalion commander Lt. Col. Ronald Clark of the rigorous physical training. "It's a team competition, and it keeps the soldiers' minds right while they're on leave because they know they'll be coming back to this."
After the soldiers finished the obstacle course and helped each other through the various stations, they were covered in sweat and sand.
Some even sported their own "red badges" of bloody knees and elbows from the low crawl under barbed wire and falling from the wooden equipment.
Spc. John Miller, 22, took his training as seriously as any combat mission and did well on the timed event. His biggest challenge was high rope climb called the "Tough One."
"It's not that hard, but it just takes the most amount of time," Miller said, indicating the time is secondary behind the team. "You never leave a man behind. You never want to leave a soldier in combat so we don't want to leave them here."
For 2nd Lt. Deatae Allen, 23, it's about leading by example and being in the front.
"It helps motivate them and build teamwork," Allen said. "The key thing I was focusing on is staying together as a team, conquering the obstacles and finishing as a team.
"For me as a leader, I look to complete it as a platoon."
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