PRINTER'S NO. 1844
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1568
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BONNER, CAUSER, GILLEN, GUENST, HADDOCK, JAMES,
JOZWIAK, KAUFFMAN, KHAN, KINSEY, MOUL, PIELLI, ROWE, SMITH,
STAATS AND STRUZZI, JULY 18, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JULY 18, 2023
AN ACT
Designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 173 between the
southern border of Slippery Rock Township to the southern
border of Slippery Rock Borough in Slippery Rock Township,
Butler County, as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) The 173rd Airborne Brigade was constituted in 1917
as an infantry brigade and deployed to France in 1918 as part
of the 87th Division. Upon returning to the United States a
year later, the brigade was demobilized.
(2) Redesignated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop, the
troop fought in three European campaigns. Although not part
of the brigade in World War II, the history of the 503rd
Parachute Infantry Regiment is significant to the 173rd
Airborne Brigade Combat Team, comprising half of its current
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fighting strength.
(3) The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was formed in
1941 at Fort Bragg. The regiment jumped into New Guinea in
September 1943 as part of the first successful airborne
combat jump in the Pacific Theater. On February 16, 1945, the
regiment jumped onto the island of Corregidor and earned the
Presidential Unit Citation.
(4) The 173rd Infantry Brigade was activated on Okinawa,
Japan, in 1963 as the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The unit earned
the nickname "Sky Soldiers" from the Nationalist Chinese
paratroopers.
(5) In 1965, the 173rd Airborne Brigade became the first
major unit of the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. The
unit conducted the only combat parachute jump of the war in
February 1967. During more than six years of continuous
combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four
unit citations. Sky Soldiers serving in Vietnam earned 13
Medals of Honor. The brigade was deactivated in 1972.
(6) Reactivated in June 2000, the 173rd Airborne Brigade
conducted numerous deployments across Europe. On March 26,
2003, the 173rd Airborne Brigade added to its distinguished
history when nearly 1,000 Sky Soldiers parachuted into Iraq
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. During the
operation, one Sky Soldier was awarded the Silver Star.
(7) In 2005, the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to
Afghanistan along the contentious Pakistan border in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom VI. Five Sky Soldiers were
awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in battle.
(8) Upon returning to Italy in 2006, the 173rd Airborne
Brigade transformed into the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat
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Team. In the spring of 2007, the 173rd Airborne Brigade
Combat Team executed an extended deployment to eastern
Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VIII,
where soldiers exhibited incredible bravery, earning one
Medal of Honor, one Distinguished Service Cross and 32 Silver
Stars.
(9) In 2009, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
returned to Afghanistan for a third time in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom X, continuing the team's proud
tradition of selfless service while executing a difficult
build mission south of Kabul.
(10) In 2012, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
returned to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom XIII, returning to Logar and Wardak Provinces, where
they executed the difficult task of reducing the footprint of
the brigade while continuing to train their Afghan
counterparts.
(11) Upon returning to Italy in 2013, the 173rd Airborne
Brigade Combat Team was redesignated as the 173rd Airborne
Brigade. Today, Sky Soldiers continue the distinction of
honored service dating back to World War I and proudly
represent the Airborne fighting spirit wherever they serve.
(b) Designation.--The portion of Pennsylvania Route 173
between the southern border of Slippery Rock Township to the
southern border of Slippery Rock Borough in Slippery Rock
Township, Butler County, is designated the 173rd Airborne
Brigade Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
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Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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