[Eric in the Ozarks]

Were these guys known as "the hurd ?"

[leadpenny]

Were these guys known as "the hurd ?"

I don't know.

[JPop]

While in Okinawa, before being deployed to Vietnam (in May 65), the 173d's commander was a big fan of the tv series "Rawhide," about a bunch of cowhands moving big herds of cattle, etc. Thus, the morning wake-up call (reveille) blaring out of huge speakers, was usually the sound track to Rawhide, 'head em, move em out, keep them doggies moving!--RAWHIDE!, RAWHIDE! (or something like that!).
Thus, they started calling themselves "The Herd."