187TH AIRBORNE REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
THE 187TH AIRBORNE REGIMENT WAS ONE OF THE LAST UNITS OF THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION TO LEAVE JAPAN IN DECEMBER 1948 AS THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION WAS BEING REPLACED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND OF HONSHU, JAPAN ON THE NORTHERNMOST ISLAND OF HOKKAIDO BY THE 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION COMING FROM SOUTH KOREA.
AUGUST 1:
Activation of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. Tactical training commenced and planning for the move began.
SEPTEMBER 1:
Under the command of Colonel Frank S. Bowen Jr. the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, consisting of the following elements, departed Fort Campbell, Kentucky for Camp Stoneman, California.
187th Airborne Infantry Regiment; 187th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion; Company A, 187th Airborne Engineer Battalion; Battery A, 28th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion; Detachment 11th Airborne Military Police Company; Detachment 11th Airborne Quartermaster Parachute Maintenance Company; First Pathfinders Team 11th Airborne Division; Platoon, Clearing Company 11th Airborne Medical Battalion; Platoon, Ambulance Company 11th Airborne Medical Battalion; 2348th Quartermaster Air Packaging and Resupply Company.
Fourteen trains were used to make the move. Train number one carried the Advance Party and departed at one minute after midnight bound for Fort Lawton, Washington. They would go by air to Ashiya AFB, Japan by way of Anchorage, Alaska; Shemya, Aleutian Islands and Tokyo, Japan.
Trains two through fourteen, containing the main body, left every three hours after number 1 for Camp Stoneman, California.
SEPTEMBER 4:
Train one arrived at Fort Lawton. Trains two through fourteen began arriving at Camp Stoneman with arrivals continuing on through the next day.
SEPTEMBER 5:
The advance party flew from Fort Lawton to Anchorage, Alaska, then to Shemya, Aleutian Islands,\ nd Tokyo Japan.
SEPTEMBER 6:
Colonel Bowen and staff officers reported to Supreme Commander, Allied Powers in Tokyo. The balance of the advance party flew to Ashiya Airbase vis Osaka.
The USNS Heintzelman sailed with the First and Second Battalions and the 674th Field Artillery Battalion. Colonel Bowen and his staff reported to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Tokyo whlle the balance of the party flew on to Ashiya AFB. Two members of the advance party, Lt. Colonel Lavern G. Whitney and 1st Lieutenant Robert J. Nelson were killed in an airplane crash at Osaka, Japan while on their way to Ashiya AFB, further to the south.
SEPTEMBER 7:
The Third Battalion and Special Units of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment and Special Units of the 187th Regimental Combat Team departed on the USNS Anderson for Sasebo, Japan.
Advance Party less Colonel Bowen and staff went to Camp Hakata and begdan setting up sand tables, a War Room and an Operations Room.
SOMETIME AFTER SEPTEMBER L7 AND PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 18, COLONEL BOWEN REQUESTED THAT THE RCT BE BILLETED IN THE VICINITY OF ASHIYA AIRBASE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BASE FROM WHICH THEY WOULD FLY. HIS REQUEST WAS APPROVED.
SOMETIME AFTER SEPTEMBER 7 AND BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20, THE DESTINATION FOR BOTH THE HEINTZELMAN AND THE ANDERSON WAS CHANGED TO MOJI, JAPAN BECAUSE OF ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ASHIYA AIRBASE.
SEPTEMBER 19:
The Advance Party moved to a location southeast of Ashiya Airbase.
SEPTEMBER 20:
The first troops arrived at the marshalling area near Ashiya Airbase.
SEPTEMBER 22:
At 2 PM the Third Battalion arrived at the marshalling area.
SEPTEMBER 23:
At 7:30 AM Colonel Bowen held a Staff and Commanders meeting.
SEPTEMBER 24:
At 2 PM the Third Battalion and Support Company were committed to action northwest of Kimpo Airfield using C-119's for the airlift. Within 48 hours of unpacking their equipment, they had moved four hundred eighty miles and were actively engaging the enemy.