The History of the 27th United States
Infantry Regiment  "Wolfhounds"
1970-2001

Jim Malachowski, Association Historian

HAWAII 1970 TO 1980

In 1970 the 1st battalion accompanied the 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division back to Hawaii where the 3d battalion had been stationed as part of the draw down of U.S. combat forces in the Republic of Vietnam. Again, the Battalion became part of Pacific Command's strategic reserve. As with the first two assignments to Hawaii the major focus continued to be training, both locally and throughout the Pacific Rim.

In May 1975, the Battalion deployed to Guam, a U.S. Territory east of the Philippines. The deployment was in support of "Operation New Life", an operation supporting South Vietnamese Refugees fleeing Vietnam following the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam during the Spring of 1975. Approximately 400 soldiers assisted in this Joint operation, with responsibilities ranging from security to refugee processing. Wolfhounds proved again that their warrior spirit was always tempered by compassion for the vanquished and the innocent.
 

The 1980's

    In 1980 the Battalion was reorganized as a light infantry battalion. With this new Table of Organization came new equipment and a transfer to the 3d Brigade. In 1988 the Battalion was able to test its new organization during a deployment to Thailand for "Cobra Gold", again the Battalion performed exceptionally well during this bilateral training exercise with the Royal Thai Army.

The 1990's

In July 1992, and again in March 1993, the Battalion deployed to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. During both rotations, first as a "Maneuver Battalion" and then as a Command Post Battalion" the Battalion performed exceptionally well often, cited for excellent tactical, logistical and administrative operations. These exercises also marked the first time the Battalion had returned to the Continental United States since it departed from Galveston, Texas in 1915.

On 16 September, 1992, the island of Kauai was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Iniki. The Battalion again showed the same Humanitarian spirit it had shown in Osaka and Guam as B Company along with other selected soldiers from the Battalion deployed as part of "Operation Garden Isle". On Kauai the Wolfhounds assisted in the clean up, manned communications nodes and assisted at local medical facilities while the remainder of the Battalion supported the outload of personnel, equipment and supplies for the operation.

In November 1993, the Battalion deployed to Camp Fuji, Japan for "Orient Shield 94". During this exercise the Battalion again acquitted itself well as it trained with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force's 30th Regiment.

Operation Pacific Haven

First Battalion Wolfhounds took part in Operations Pacific Haven in the fall of 1996. The 1st Battalion returned from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam in December 1996. C Company and soldiers from HHC deployed in September to aid in the evacuation of Kurdish Refugees. The Wolfhounds, working with the 58th MP Company, performed security operations and foot patrols in the evacuees' housing area. Kurdish children learned to give "high-fives" and the soldiers learned greetings in Kurdish languages. Private Chad Rappleyea, HHC: "We work as a police officer would in your own neighborhood and also help resolve household problems and emergencies. I was able to get help for a woman who had fallen and badly injured herself. The reward to this operation is being able to really assist with the communication back and forth." The Department of the Army awarded the Joint Meritorious Service Medal to those who participated. 

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Research needed
Operation Golden Pheasant, Mar 88
Operation Nimrod Dancer
Operation Just Cause
Operation Freedom, Desert Storm
North Wind '95
Orient Shield'96
1st Bn's JRTC deployment, Fort Polk
4-27 reflags as 2-27

2-27 deploys to Sinai. Jun 96 - Jan 97
1-27 Squad Evaluations

1-27 Deployment to Thailand Mar 97

Global War on Terror

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This page last updated on Wednesday, January 12, 2005