U.S. Army Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment (Texas Army National Guard), 173rd Airborne Brigade stand at the parachute turn in area following the the commemorative airborne operation on Iron Mike Drop Zone II in Normandy, France. Paratroopers from across the armed forces and NATO jumped into Normandy to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of Operation Overlord, also known as D-Day. The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibilities. Forward-based in Italy and Germany along with a National Guard-partnered battalion in Texas, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen the Alliance.