Operation "Willow Freeze"

We were packed up and sent by train to the maneuver area just in time for the end of the operation to help load the Battle Group up for its return to Fort Richardson. The maneuver had seen the 23d act as aggressors against the 1st Battalion of the 187th Airborne from the 82d Airborne Division. In these exercises, the aggressors always lose. It is interesting that the Airborne Commander had his Battle Group jump into the landing zone wearing Steel Helmets, black finger gloves, black leather combat boots, and field jackets with no liners or hoods. None of the Arctic gear that had been provided. They hit the blast at -40 degrees ground temperature. It was a simple matter to capture the whole outfit, by trading a chunk of firewood for their rifles. These guys were in sad shape. This stopped the exercise while they re-equipped themselves. At one point, Bravo Company of the 23d, on snowshoes, outran a ski equipped 187th company to put them out of action.