The 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team (517th PRCT), one of the U.S. Army's first elite combat units, began its existence in March 1943, training at Camp Toccoa

Camp Toccoa

Camp Toccoa was a United States Army paratrooper training camp during World War II west of Toccoa, Georgia. It was first planned in 1938, constructed by the Georgia National Guard and the Works Projects Administration beginning 17 January 1940, and was dedicated 14 December 1940. The U.S. Army...

 in the backwoods of Georgia. Although it began as the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment

517th Parachute Infantry Regiment

During World War II, the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a separate infantry regiment of the United States Army, at times attached to the 17th Airborne Division, 82nd Airborne Division and later, the 13th Airborne Division....

 (517th PIR), an element of the 17th Airborne Division, the 517th PRCT was formed when the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment was combined with the 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (460th PFAB) and the 596th Parachute Combat Engineer Company.