501st Legion / Legends The 501st Legion , also known as the 501st or 501st Battalion during the Clone Wars and later known as " Vader ' s Fist " and the Five Hundred and First , was a brigade - sized Legion of elite clone troopers that was secretly commissioned by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars that later became a unit of the Stormtrooper Corps . Since the First Battle of Geonosis , the 501st had gained a reputation for being an effective fighting force , often being victorious in battle even against overwhelming odds . While the Legion fought for the preservation of the Republic , they would secretly undertake covert operations that would boost the agenda of Chancellor Palpatine . During the Clone Wars , the Legion initially wore the standard white Phase I clone trooper armor , but had transitioned to wearing Phase II armor with navy blue markings during the final years of the war . Made up of units like Torrent Company , the 501st fought in many battles throughout the war , such as the Battle of Teth and the Battle of Coruscant , becoming one of the most well - known clone trooper Legions . In 19 BBY , Palpatine issued Order 66 and the 501st became Darth Vader ' s personal unit as he led them during , in which the clones helped take down the Jedi , whom they believed to be traitors to the Republic . Following the rise of the Galactic Empire , the 501st transitioned into a stormtrooper unit , like other clone units . Given new armor and weapons , the 501st faithfully served the Empire , operating under the direct command of the Sith Lord Darth Vader . After the Kamino uprising , the 501st became the last remnant of the Grand Army of the Republic fully composed of Jango Fett clones , as opposed to the ever - growing and more diverse Stormtrooper Corps , where the Fett clones became a minority , with the inclusion of a pool of clones from different templates and birth - born recruits , while others were not clones , but humans from an Imperial academy ; by 0 BBY though Vader was known to comb through the ranks of all stormtrooper units and transferring the very best to the 501st , a fact that angered other Imperial agents - like Mara Jade - who had to work with lesser qualified units . The legion fought in a number of battles during the Galactic Civil War in an effort to defeat the Rebel Alliance and bring peace to the galaxy , although the Alliance ultimately triumphed . Though the 501st was disbanded after the Battle of Endor , the Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn resurrected the designation by forming a new 501st Legion . He also added more diverse recruits to the 501st , including non - Humans . The reconstituted 501st was stationed in the Unknown Regions , where they protected Thrawn ' s Empire of the Hand . Over a century later , the legion was in the service of a new Empire , by then under the rule of Emperor Roan Fel . When Fel was deposed by Darth Krayt shortly after the conclusion of the Sith – Imperial War , the 501st Legion fell under the control of the Dark Lord of the Sith in the year 130 ABY . Seven years later , however , Fel returned from exile and joined in the war against Krayt in order to reclaim his throne . Under the leadership of General Oron Jaeger , the 501st deserted the Dark Lord ' s Galactic Empire in order to join the Fel faction . History . Clone Wars . The troopers of the 501st Legion were clones of the bounty hunter Jango Fett , who had been selected by Jedi Master - turned - Sith Lord Dooku to be the template for an elite army . Cloned by expert Kaminoan scientists , the troopers were given top - notch training in many fields , as they were designed to be the ultimate soldiers . The 501st Legion first fought for the Grand Army of the Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the First Battle of Geonosis , the opening battle of the Clone Wars , in 22 BBY . The Legion ' s first mission was to establish a defensive position near the wreckage of a crashed " Hardcell " - class interstellar transport , sending a lone clone trooper to scout ahead and eliminate the battle droids who were scouting the area and to destroy a damaged IG - 227 " Hailfire " - class droid tank with a thermal detonator before sending in the rest of the 501st . Engineers attached to the Legion were then tasked to repair both a medical droid and an ammunition droid to heal and rearm the other ground troops . The Legion later commandeered an All Terrain Tactical Enforcer to destroy the incoming OG - 9 homing spider droids who were closing in on the crash site . After accomplishing this task , Clone Jet Troopers assigned to the 501st were ordered to retrieve a Sith holocron located on top of the crashed star ship and return it to their staging area . The unit was later ordered to capture and secure a small enemy outpost on the hill next to the crash site , where they established an over watch position to provide sniper cover to deal with infantry and heavy support to deal with Hail Fire Droids and Spider Walkers . Eventually the Jedi Master Mace Windu joined the 501st Legion and led them in a counter attack against the CIS forces , managing to capture a forward position that provided CIS a much needed advantage on the battlefield . The rest of the CIS Droid Army eventually fled the planet and the Clone Army proved victorious with the 501st gaining a reputation as the ultimate soldiers for their efforts in fighting the Droid Army . Earlier in the year 22 BBY , Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had founded the 501st Legion by moving a number of clones to a secret location on Coruscant known only to the Chancellor ' s most trusted advisers , far away from the normal training center on the planet Kamino . These clones were given special training by Palpatine ' s command staff to make the 501st the most feared legion in the galaxy . Some members of the legion would be covertly transferred to other units ; however , they were tracked to ensure that they would be available in the future if they were ever needed for any special assignments , as Palpatine suspected they would be . The core group of this legion was assigned to serve under Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Clone Captain CT - 7567 , nicknamed " Rex . " With Skywalker ' s help , the 501st quickly earned a reputation for incredible victories , often snatching victory from the jaws of defeat . Among the 501st ' s earliest battles was the Battle of Christophsis , where they served under Skywalker , Captain Rex , and High Jedi General Obi - Wan Kenobi . Based out of Crystal City , the 501st troops managed to recapture Christophsis from the Confederacy , beating back Separatist General Whorm Loathsom ' s multiple assaults . However , Loathsom soon deployed a deflector shield to protect his battle droid troops , and the clone troopers were forced to pull back and defend the Republic ' s heavy cannons . After Skywalker and his newly assigned Padawan , Ahsoka Tano , destroyed the shield generator , the heavy cannons annihilated the droids and forced the Separatists to surrender . Immediately following the Republic victory on Christophsis , the 501st detachment Torrent Company was sent with Skywalker , Tano , and Rex to Teth to recover Hutt crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure ' s son , Rotta , in order to gain access to hyperlane s passing through Jabba ' s territory for the Grand Army . Ferried to Teth ' s surface in LAAT / i gunships , the Republic unit began a grueling campaign up the vertical face of a cliff to the B ' omarr Monastery where Rotta was being held . Utilizing AT - TE walkers and grappling hooks , Torrent Company was able to defeat the Separatist battle droids holding the monastery , though half of the unit was lost on the way up . After Skywalker and Tano located and rescued Rotta from the depths of the castle , the Confederate forces — under the command of Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress — launched a counterattack on the Teth monastery . The Jedi and clone troops were forced to barricade themselves inside the stronghold , losing three - quarters of their remaining forces in defending the castle . Skywalker and his Padawan then left to find medical assistance for Rotta , leaving Rex in command of the troops . Ventress and her forces were soon able to break through the monastery door ' s controls , and the defense of the monastery cost Rex all but five troopers . The Captain and the rest of the survivors launched a last stand against the battle droids . General Kenobi and the 212th Attack Battalion eventually arrived at Teth , reinforcing the remnants of the 501st and securing the defeat of the Separatists . A treaty was established between the Republic and Jabba the Hutt , but although the 501st was replenished with new troops , the loss of the original Torrent Company left scars on all involved . Soon after , Rex and troops of the 501st were redeployed with Skywalker and Tano aboard their recently - christened fleet of " Venator " - class Star Destroyers to protect Bothawui from the Confederate General Grievous , who was intent on capturing the planet . Departing from Coruscant , Skywalker ' s forces eventually arrived at Bothawui and defeated Grievous , securing a Republic victory . 501st troopers Rex and Denal also helped Skywalker and Tano in destroying the Separatist listening post Skytop Station . Rex , Tano , Clone Sergeant Coric , and six new Torrent Company recruits — Ross , Boro , Joc , Hil , Vere , and Ince — later participated in a routine shakedown cruise aboard Captain Gilad Pellaeon ' s assault ship , the " Leveler " , in the Dantus sector . However , their short respite from the war ended when they were called in to rescue the Republic Intelligence agent Hallena Devis , who had been taken hostage by rebel forces in opposition to the Regent of the nearby JanFathal . Receiving assistance from the Altisian Jedi sect as well as Skywalker , the task force was ultimately successful in extracting and rescuing Devis ; however , troopers Vere and Ince were killed in the mission . Torrent Company itself continued to endure losses even after the JanFathal mission . Rex inducted rookie troopers ARC - 5555 and CT - 21 - 0408 , respectively nicknamed " Fives " and " Echo , " into the 501st for their service in recapturing a Republic outpost from the Separatists and alerting the Republic to an impeding Confederate attack on Kamino . A few months later , Rex , Fives , Echo , and other elements of the 501st were serving with Skywalker and Kenobi on board the former ' s flagship , the " Resolute " , when they were assigned to stage a defense of Kamino , which was being targeted by Grievous , Ventress , and the Separatists . The Jedi and the 501st rushed to the clones ' homeworld and were able to prevent the Confederacy from stealing a sample of the clones ' DNA , and Fives and Echo were promoted to the prestigious rank of ARC troopers for their valiant service in the campaign . The 501st also served with Skywalker and Tano in reinforcing Jedi General Aayla Secura , who was being ambushed by a Separatist fleet over Quell . Arriving at Quell aboard the " Resolute " , 501st troops were deployed in LAAT / i gunships to board Secura ' s cruiser , the " Liberty " , which was under attack by rocket droids . Skywalker and Tano rescued Secura and Clone Commander CC - 5052 from the damaged Star Destroyer , but their escape cruiser ' s hyperdrive was accidentally tripped by a Vulture droid attack . The group mistakenly jumped to hyperspace , leaving Admiral Wullf Yularen in command of the remaining troops . The 501st ' s Torrent Company later helped to retake the Bothan colony world Kothlis from General Grievous , serving there under Kenobi , Tano , Rex , and Coric . Upon arrival at Kothlis aboard the Republic Star Destroyer " Indomitable " , Torrent Company joined in the battle to regain control of Kothlis ' s spynet facility . Although the campaign was ultimately a success , it saw the unit ' s greatest depletion since the Battle of Teth . The injured clones from the 501st company were sent to the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center for treatment , Rex and Coric among them . The legion also participated in " mopping up " the remaining droid forces on the planet Ryloth shortly after the world ' s liberation from the Confederacy , helping Skywalker and Tano to defeat the droids based out of the ruined city of Resdin . Eventually , Rex and a 501st contingent were sent to reconnoiter Geonosis , where evidence of Separatist droid foundries had been discovered . Upon arriving in orbit of the world , the task force was unable to make contact with the clones on the surface but ran preliminary scans and discovered the droid foundries in the planet ' s northern and southern hemispheres . In his report to the Jedi Council , Rex recommended a full - scale invasion to retake Geonosis , and the Jedi Council used the information to mount an assault on Geonosis that was ultimately successful . Later in the war , the planet Umbara seceded from the Galactic Republic and joined the Separatist cause . As a result , the Republic launched a massive campaign to retake the planet through military force . When the Republic invasion army arrived on Umbara , the clone troopers of the 501st Legion spearheaded the assault under the command of General Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex . The initial objective was to capture the planet ' s capital , and the success of the campaign ultimately depended on the 501st Legion . Upon landing on the planet ' s surface , however , the 501st immediately encountered heavy resistance from the soldiers of the Umbaran Militia . Although the 501st suffered some casualties in the first wave of the invasion , Skywalker and his troopers ultimately succeeded in repelling the Umbarans . When Skywalker allowed the 501st time to rest before continuing the march to the capital , the Umbarans ambushed the unsuspecting Jedi and clones . Their position was resecured when General Pong Krell a squadron of BTL - B Y - wing starfighter s cleared the area of hostiles with a bombing run . Afterward , Krell informed Skywalker that he was ordered to return to Coruscant by command of the Jedi High Council and at the request of Chancellor Palpatine . With Skywalker removed from the campaign , General Krell became the temporary commanding officer of the 501st Legion for the duration of Skywalker ' s absence . Some of the clones in the 501st , such as Captain Rex and Arc trooper Fives , had grown accustomed to Anakin Skywalker ' s personal approach to leadership . Thus , they were unprepared for Pong Krell ' s different command style , which centered on discipline and military protocol . While the rest of the clones obeyed their Jedi officer without question , Rex and Fives came to privately and openly question the general ' s strategy . Prior to the Umbara campaign , Krell built a reputation as a successful general who ' s unwavering focus on military objectives won many key victories in the Clone Wars . This track record for success also included high casualty rates among the clones who served under him . A stern and unyielding Jedi Master , Krell had no tolerance for failure or insubordination . Due to the significance of the 501st Legion ' s part in the campaign , Krell ordered the clones to launch a frontal assault on the capital and overcome any resistance with the full force of Republic military might . But when their position was compromised by the Umbarans , Rex ordered his troopers to retreat . The general was outraged by their withdrawal , but also ordered more clones to reinforce Rex and his men . After the Umbarans fell in retreat , Krell confronted Rex for disregarding his orders . Fives intervened by openly criticizing the general in front of the other troopers , but then stood down after being ordered to do so at the point of a lightsaber . In order to diffuse the situation , Rex asserted how his loyalty to the general conflicted with his concern for the clones . Krell was actually surprised by Rex , given the fact that most clones obeyed orders without question , and somewhat complimented the captain for his tenacity . Before Rex and Fives could contemplate Krell ' s words , however , another group of Umbaran soldiers ambushed them , and the 501st were forced to resume the fighting . The 501st Legion received its next objective when they were ordered to disable an Umbaran airbase in order to sever its supply lines to the capital city , therefore making the enemy stronghold more vulnerable to military assault . During this time , some troopers within the 501st argued over General Pong Krell ' s command style . Fives and Jesse strongly disapproved of Krell ' s strategies because of his lack of concern for clone lives ; Dogma was fiercely loyal to his general and took the opportunity to defend Krell ' s tactics against the others ' doubts ; Hardcase was unconcerned with his comrades ' dilemma and only wanted more opportunities to kill enemy combatants . Although Captain Rex retained his own misgivings over Krell ' s tactics , he wanted to honor his code of loyalty by faithfully executing the general ' s will without question . As Fives became increasingly outspoken and critical , Rex reminded him that Krell was an effective leader , citing the Jedi Master ' s extensive record of key military victories . Furthermore , Rex also reminded Fives that the duty of every clone — every soldier — was to obey their orders and , when necessary , to sacrifice their lives for victory . The fierce Umbaran resistance that stood between the 501st and the airbase caused Rex to amend General Krell ' s original plan by dispatching Fives and Hardcase on a covert mission to infiltrate the targeted location and steal a pair of Umbaran starfighters . At the same time , Rex and his troopers pressed with the forward assault , in accordance with the general ' s strict orders . Fives and Hardcase ultimately succeeded in their mission and , with their commandeered fighters , caused significant damage to the airbase before coming to the aid of Rex and his men . As the airbase was engulfed in flames , Krell ordered Sergeant Appo to send the rest of the 501st to reinforce Rex ' s troops . Shortly afterward , the surviving Umbarans were captured and the fallen airbase was secured under Republic control . End of the war . In the final years of the war , the 501st was frequently shuttled across the galaxy , often divided into specialized groups to assist other missions that would prove vital to the Republic ' s eventual victory . The Legion had went through some significant changes during the final year of the war . Sometime during this period , Captain Rex was removed from his leadership position within the 501st and command of the Legion was given to Sergeant Appo , who had been promoted to Commander and led the 501st through the final battles of the Clone Wars . Under the orders of Chancellor Palpatine , the 501st would sometimes operate outside of the usual command structure , with detachments of the unit serving at many pivotal campaigns to fulfill his political agenda . In 19 BBY , the final year of the war , the 501st took part in several battles pivotal in ending the war . The Legion had participated in the Battle of Mygeeto , where they were tasked with destroying a droid energy collector , but were secretly involved in Project Hammertong , a classified mission to acquire a Mygeetan power crystal from the energy collecter that was authorized by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine , who secretly had plans of using the crystal as a power source for his superlaser project . From their staging ground , the 501st fought through a war torn bridge and managed to capture CIS ' s forward command post . After destroying two enemy heavy turrets , the Legion was joined by Jedi General Ki - Adi - Mundi , who assisted the elite clones in destroying the CIS barricades and capture a lookout point that would prove vital to their mission . The troopers of the 501st found it difficult to keep Mundi in the dark about their true objective , as the Jedi Master was already untrusting of Palpatine and kept a close eye on the 501st ' s activities . After fighting their way to the energy collecter , the Legion managed to destroy the shield generators protecting the collector and destroyed it , secretly taking the power crystal with them out of sight of General Mundi . As Mundi and the Galactic marines continued their assault against the CIS , the 501st returned to their staging area across the bridge where an LAAT / i Gunship awaited to pick up the power crystal from its courier , immediately taking off once the hand off was complete . Shortly before the Battle of Coruscant , members of the 501st were stationed on Coruscant , where they were used to carry out security patrols . Like many other ground based units , the clones of the 501st spent the majority of their down time in flight simulators preparing for space combat as clone pilots at that time had become scarce . Not long afterward , the 501st fought in the Battle of Coruscant in an effort to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine from the Confederacy . Members of the legion , many flying starfighters in battle for the first time , were tasked with destroying a number of droid starfighters and capital ships in an effort to create a diversion . They were then tasked with targeting a confederate flagship that was escorting General Grievous ' s flag ship , the " Invisible Hand " . They were ultimately successful in clearing the way for Generals Skywalker and Kenobi as they were able to get on board and rescue the Chancellor . The Legion later fought in the Battle of Felucia to reinforce the 327th Star Corps , where many of the 501st found the conditions of the fungal planet and it ' s hostile inhabitants to be hellish . A few months into the battle , members of the 501st had begun to crack under pressure and began to fall victim to both flesh eating diseases and the hostile wild life , believing that their superiors on Coruscant had abandoned them on the unforgiving world . What kept the Legion fighting strong was their Jedi Commander , Aayla Secura , who ' s iron will against the Separatist forces kept the 501st in high spirits . At some point during the battle , the Legion ' s forward unit was attacked by unknown creatures and communications from them ceased . A second unit of the 501st was sent in to give them fire support , although by the time they got there , the forward unit had already been massacred and their AT - TE was rendered inoperable . The second unit soon came under attack by a pack of wild Acklay s , but were ultimately able to defeat them . Upon driving off the wild Acklays , Command ordered them to hold out against incoming CIS forces near the downed AT - TE until Master Secura arrived with reinforcements . Upon her arrival , Secura and the 501st were tasked with retrieving a power cell from a crashed LAAT / I Gunship to repair the AT - TE . Once the walker was fully operational , the 501st were ordered to destroy the CIS heavy turrets that were set up near their base camp , eventually driving the CIS out of the area . Once their orders came through to leave the planet , Master Secura came to see them off personally , a gesture which made many of them being unable to look her in the eye as they knew of her eventual death . After that battle , a detachment of the 501st were dispatched to Kashyyyk to assist in repelling the Separatist invasion of the planet until reinforcements could arrive . While the troopers in the 501st remained dedicated to completing their mission , some members saw the operation as a text book suicide mission and believed that the only way anyone was getting off planet was in a body bag . When they jumped out of hyperspace , they found the planet blockaded by the Separatists . The 501st was forced to punch a hole in the Confederate Navy , starting out by targeting and destroying two CIS Frigates and later taking out the CIS flagship ' s main cannons as they were doing significant damages to the Republic flagship ' s shields . Afterwards , some pilots were called back to their main hanger where they and a strike team of clone marines were tasked with flying an LAAT into the enemy hanger . Once onboard , the strike team was tasked with destroying the ship ' s life support systems and engine cooling tanks , crippling the enemy vessel . Needing Intel on the CIS ' s strategy , the strike team was ordered to steal a set of attack plans for the upcoming battle and return it to their cruiser using the LAAT . Upon the strike team ' s return with the CIS battle plans , the 501st set a course to enter the planets atmosphere . As they entered the surface of the ancient forest world , many troopers of the 501st began to contemplate on why so many of their own had to die for the sake of the Wookies , who they considered to be nothing more than a " bunch of walking carpets . " The 501st ' s warship soon landed on the planet ' s surface , where they discovered that things were just as bad as they feared before touching down . Learning they they were heavily outnumbered by the CIS forces , the 501st initially had low hopes for victory until they encountered the Wookiee Warriors . Being the first time that they fought alongside Wookiees , the members of the 501st Legion were very much surprised by the Wookiee ' s incredible strength and formidably fierce on the battle field , something that none of the 501st were counting on . Along with the Wookiees , the Legion fought alongside the 41st Elite Corps and Jedi Master Yoda , who were defending a Wookiee oil refinery that was crucial in their efforts to drive the CIS off world . The 501st were initially tasked with holding off the Droid army by holding the beach head until reinforcements arrived . Fighting alongside the Wookiees , the troopers of the 501st were initially able to hold their own against the massive droid army , but they were eventually overrun and the surviving troopers were forced to retreat back to the Wookiee Stronghold where the refinery was kept . Upon reaching the refinery , command informed them that the Separatist ' s were planning to destroy the facility , which would cause the entire complex to explode . Ordered to hold the refinery at all costs , the 501st fought off the incoming CIS forces until Master Yoda arrived , who then led the Legion in a counter attack by taking over several strategic points across the battlefield , eventually forcing the CIS to retreat . Following this battle , many of the 501st could tell that they were reaching the end of the war with some saying that they could feel it in their very bones . Soon a detachment of the 501st was transferred to Utapau to assist General Obi - Wan Kenobi and the 212th Attack Battalion in capturing of General Grievous , who was currently holed up on the sink hole filled planet . Being dropped near the CIS controlled Hanger 10 , the 501st were tasked with assaulting and capturing a two story building that the CIS were using as an outpost , wanting to use it as a lookout point for their mission . Once this was accomplished , the 501st were ordered to capture an enemy position further down the highway , destroying any enemies they encountered . After taking control of the area , Obi - Wan arrived to assist the 501st in taking over Hanger 10 . After clearing out the hanger , Obi - Wan and the 501st were confronted by Grievous , who proceeded to attack them and the Jedi Master . While he proved to be dangerous enemy , Grievous was ultimately forced to retreat with Obi - Wan in pursuit of him . The 501st were then tasked with destroying Hanger 10 ' s Anti - Aircraft Turrets so that air support could deliver a Fighter tank to their location . Upon the tanks arrival , the 501st were ordered to destroy an ATX Energy Pillar , ultimately removing the CIS ' s hold over the area . Upon completing this objective , command praised the 501st for a job well done and ordered them to pull out for their next assignment . It was not long after that General Kenobi was ultimately able to kill the Confederacy ' s Supreme Commander , Grievous , something which the 501st would ' ve normally celebrated , although their next orders put a hold on those thoughts . Fall of the Republic . As the battle was winding down , a group of clones from the 501st was discreetly transferred back to Coruscant , in preparation for Order 66 — a top - secret order given by Chancellor Palpatine which stated that the Jedi had rebelled against the Republic , and needed to be eliminated . On Coruscant , the 501st rendezvoused with the Sith Lord Darth Vader , formerly known as Anakin Skywalker , and were given their orders : destroy the Jedi . Though they appreciated the Jedi , their loyalty lay first with Palpatine , as all clone troopers had been taught to obey the Supreme Chancellor first and foremost . Vader led them into the Jedi Temple , ready for battle . Though some may have held quiet doubts about what they were commanded to do , years of psychological programming and conditioning prevented any of them from resisting such an extreme order , and so they said nothing . With their inability to resist morally - questionable orders , the 501st Legion steadily marched behind Darth Vader and towards the main entrance of the Jedi Temple . Then they carried out Order 66 to the letter by attacking every Jedi in their path , from Masters and Knights to Padawans and younglings . The Legion was initially met with armed resistance from the Jedi Temple Security Force , who remained loyal to the Jedi and tried to assist the them in preventing the 501st from capturing the Jedi Council Chamber , but were ultimately overrun and killed by the elite clone troopers . The Legion was soon tasked to prevent the Jedi from destroying the Holobooks within the Jedi Library , using engineers to keep the bookcases intact while the rest of the Legion fought hard to keep the Jedi back . After scanning the contents of the library , the 501st were ordered to retrieve two Holocrons rumored to contain both Sith and Jedi knowledge . Knowing that the first Holocron was in the Temple ' s Communications Center , members of the 501st fought through several Jedi defending the Holocron , killing them and retrieving the Holocron . It was not long after that Darth Vader arrived to support the 501st in their mission when they we ' re ordered to retrieve a second holocron from a Jedi Master who tried to protect it . Vader and the 501st eventually killed this Jedi and retrieved the holocron which was soon handed off to a LAAT / I which took off immediately once it had the second holocron . Eventually , Vader and the 501st were ordered to eliminate three Jedi Masters who were coordinating the efforts of other Jedi against the 501st . While the three Masters proved themselves to be deadly opponents against the 501st , they we ' re eventually slaughtered and the defense of the other Jedi soon began to crumble . While most of the senior members of the Jedi Order scattered throughout the galaxy on various fronts , the Temple ' s remaining occupants were left in a hopeless position as Vader and the 501st clone troopers turned the Temple into a scene of slaughter and mayhem . Though the 501st suffered their own fair share of casualties , and even though several Jedi were able to escape from the doomed battle , the clones ' superb training and Vader ' s relentless onslaught resulted in the deaths of almost every Jedi within the Temple . Meanwhile , Palpatine was transmitting Order 66 around the galaxy to different clone commanders . Nearly all obeyed their orders without question , killing their unsuspecting Jedi officers who made the mistake of trusting the clones with their lives . The Coruscant Security Force tracked a number of suspected Jedi , such as Tru Veld , and called in the 501st for assistance in capturing them . The legion also attacked and killed a number of Jedi on Shinarcan Bridge a couple of hours after the declaration of Order 66 , and Jedi Knight Etain Tur - Mukan was killed by a fellow Jedi when she tried to stop him from killing one of the 501st troopers . Following the extermination of the Jedi , Decoy Squad Five was tasked with deceiving any Jedi that returned to the Temple in order to kill them , though the eight - member squad was later killed by Obi - Wan Kenobi and Yoda , who had managed to escape the carnage and return to Coruscant . The 501st troopers that remained behind to occupy the Temple attempted to kill Kenobi and Yoda , only to be wiped out by the two Jedi Masters . Imperial rule . A short time after the execution of Order 66 , Palpatine would announce that he was reorganizing the Republic into the Galactic Empire , which he would rule as emperor . Now serving the Empire , the members of the 501st took the designation stormtrooper , as well as new armor , weapons , and ships . They would continue to serve directly under Vader , and in the years to come , would fight in a number of pivotal battles . The legion was often deployed in places where its advanced fighting skills could be used to make a political statement . Most of its missions were classified , so as to hide what it was doing from the Imperial Senate . In the years following Order 66 , the 501st would fight on a number of mop - up missions against either remnants of the Confederacy or the few Jedi that had managed to survive Order 66 . To assist in the hunt for Jedi survivors , clone deserters , and varied Imperial dissidents , Vader brought together the ARC troopers and clone commandos who had formerly served in the Republic ' s Special Operations Brigade and formed a new special forces unit that was attached to the 501st Legion . Known as the Imperial Commando Special Unit , the Imperial 501st ' s veteran commandos were responsible for the death of Jedi Master Iri Camas on Celen and for killing the Jedi Knight Borik Yelgo aboard the Coth Fuuras space station . A short time after Order 66 , the 501st Legion went on Kessel to help Darth Vader take down the Jedi conclave there . Vader fought against a total of eight Jedi , and though he was wounded , the 501st aided him in killing them . When it was over , the eight Jedi lay dead . Vader ' s reputation , along with that of the 501st , grew tremendously with this victory . On the planet New Plympto , Commander Vill led a detachment of the 501st against Nosaurian forces still loyal to the Confederacy . The Nosaurians held out for a time , but Vill and his men succeeded in defeating the rebels at the Battle of Half - Axe Pass . The 501st followed Vader to Murkhana , where they confronted a group of clones who had refused to execute Order 66 . Vader killed most of them and had the rest taken into custody , and then led his men to Kashyyyk once more , where they fought against a group of Jedi who had survived Order 66 . Led by Commander Appo , they killed and enslaved tens of thousands of Wookiees in an effort to gain workers for the Emperor ' s new secret project , the Death Star superweapon . Some of the Jedi , including Master Roan Shryne , were killed . However , before dying , Shryne managed to kill Appo . Vader then brought a unit from the 501st with him on a visit to the devastated planet of Honoghr . There , they were attacked by the native Noghri , who proved to be a match for the elite stormtroopers . Impressed , Vader devised a plan to enslave the species and use them as his personal assassins . In late 19 BBY , Emperor Palpatine dispatched Darth Vader on an assignment to rescue Admiral Garoche Tarkin , the son of Moff Wilhuff Tarkin who disappeared while hunting down insurgents in the Atoa system of the Ghost Nebula — a barely explored area in the Expansion Region of the galaxy . Commander Voca and two battalions of the 501st Legion were placed under Vader ' s direct command for the mission . Captain Shale , a friend of Admiral Tarkin and trusted subordinate to Moff Tarkin , was sent on the mission as well . Once the Imperials arrived at the planet Atoa , the stormtrooper clones launched a brutal and merciless assault on an Atoan city , killing most of its defenders while Vader personally led the attack . Commander Voca obeyed the Sith Lord ' s orders without question hesitance , even when commanded to execute anyone old enough to hold a weapon , as well as to drown defenseless prisoners in a river . After locating the remains of Admiral Tarkin ' s missing Star Destroyer , Voca and squadron of 501st V - wing starfighters assisted Vader and Shale with their inspections of the destroyed warship . However , the Imperials were caught completely off guard by a group of Atoan starfighters , mainly because the 501st failed to thoroughly sweep the area and thus fell into a trap . Regardless , superior technology , superb training and the leadership of a Sith Lord helped the 501st to turn the tide and defeat their ambushers . When a captured pilot revealed to Vader that Tarkin was held on an unknown world that was covered in tar - pits , Vader ordered Voca to assemble the 501st and prepare for a ground assault . The rescue attempt ultimately proved to be costly effort . The planet ' s tar - pits made it almost impossible for the AT - AT Walkers to operate effectively . As a result , more than a few Walkers , including several 501st squads , were lost while trying to attack an Atoan city that was built to move like a ship on the tar - pits . The direct assault , however , was only meant to serve as a distraction so that Vader , Shale Lady Saro and a company of storm commando s could infiltrate the city and execute a stealth attack . Though they succeeded in capturing the bridge crew , they failed to retrieve Tarkin since the admiral was not in the city as they were led to believe . Up until the botched attempt to rescue Tarkin on the tar - pit covered world , the 501st Legion suffered few casualties . But on Darth Vader ' s Star Destroyer , a mutiny broke out and caught the Imperials completely by surprise . Shale betrayed the Empire and incited the storm commandos to commit the ultimate act of treachery by attempting to assassinate Vader . Although Vader survived the attempt on his life , most of the ship ' s crew were not as fortunate . All of the officers were executed and many stormtroopers were killed by their mutinous clone brothers . Commander Voca and the troopers with him managed to survive long enough for Vader to assist them against the commandos . After executing the last of the traitors on the Star Destroyer , Vader and his remaining troop were forced to evacuate the warship due to Shale ' s sabotage . Though they managed to escape before the vessel ' s destruction , their shuttle was severely damaged after crash landing on another unknown world in the Atoa system . Vader , Voca and eight stormtroopers survived the crash ; the rest of the 501st soldiers were dead . The Imperials were then ambushed by a large force of Atoan insurgents . Outnumbered and exhausted , the 501st were utterly unprepared to defend themselves , thus forcing Vader to confront the enemy alone while Voca and his troops tried to escape to safety . Their path was cut off , however , by the traitor Shale and a group of insurgents . Shale half - halfheartedly apologized to the commander before ordering his men to execute the last soldiers of Darth Vader ' s lost command . Despite the loss of Commander Voca and the two battalions of the 501st Legion , Darth Vader was ultimately able to complete his true mission for the Emperor , which was to assassinate Garoche Tarkin so that his father would grow to hate the Empire ' s enemies even more than he already did . At first , Vader was captured and rendered helpless . But his self - hatred and desperation strengthened the dark side of the Force within him , thus allowing him to break free and eventually kill Shale , Lady Saro and Garoche Tarkin , all of whom had betrayed him and the Empire . Though he nearly killed himself in the process , Emperor Palpatine was able to have Vader retrieved and repaired on Coruscant . Another crucial mission took place a year after the Empire ' s rise . After many of Naboo ' s ambassadors were sent home in various forms of dismemberment , the Naboo ' s current leader , Queen Apailana of Naboo greatly disapproved of the Empire and its policies , including the systematic extermination of the Jedi Order . Thus , she secretly used her political connections as Queen to find and take in any Jedi fugitives that were seeking protection . As the Empire swiftly strengthened its rule over the galaxy , Queen Apailana broke off diplomatic ties in order to explore military options . In response to Naboo ' s act of defiance , the 501st Legion was dispatched to Naboo ' s capital of Theed with orders to assassinate the queen , her bodyguards and any Jedi found on the planet . While the Legion had fewer numbers than that of Theed ' s Security Force , the 501st annihilated the security guards throughout Theed , taking over key positions throughout the city and destroyed the courtyards auto turret grid . Apailana tried to escape from the city while her remaining guards and Jedi protectors fought to defend her . Their efforts were in vain , however , and the 501st succeeded in assassinating the queen . With the opposition crushed and the capital secured , the 501st Legion ' s mission was a success and Naboo quickly fell back into line . It was the first time that the 501st was ordered to forcibly adjust a planet ' s government ; similar missions would follow over the years . Their track record for successful missions , combined with a fearsome reputation for brutal efficiency , earned the 501st Legion the nickname " " Vader ' s Fist " , " not in the least because their primary commanding officer was Darth Vader . As the Sith Lord ' s personal legion of stormtroopers , the 501st executed many top - priority assignments over the years since the end of the Clone Wars . Hence , the 501st essentially became responsible for aiding the Sith Lords in building their empire throughout the first decade of the New Order . Sometime after the Battle of Naboo , the 501st was sent to Mustafar to stop a droid rebellion led by the rogue Geonosian Gizor Dellso , who had somehow managed to avoid execution at the hands of Vader . When the Empire learned that Dellso discovered a hidden droid factory , the Geonosian fugitive had already reactivated the facility and produced a new army of battle droids . The 501st first had to fight his fleet before they were able to land on the planet . They also succeeded in taking back the plans for an experimental starfighter that Dellso had managed to steal from the Empire previously . On Mustafar , they destroyed numerous droids as well as Dellso ' s Confederate infantry prototype schematics before confronting Dellso and his bodyguards . The troopers killed Dellso as well as his guards , then bombarded the planet from space . In 12 BBY , a special detachment of the 501st Legion was dispatched to Kamino with orders to suppress and destroy a covert rebellion on Kamino . When the Empire discovered that a group of disgruntled Kaminoan scientists had taken it upon themselves to liberate their homeworld . Thus , they created the Anti - trooper s , an army of clone soldiers created from the genetic template of Jango Fett . In addition to the Anti - troopers , a new generation of ARC troopers was engineered to bolster the strength of Kamino ' s new army . With Kamino ' s priceless cloning technology in danger of being lost to the Empire , the 501st was tasked with annihilating their renegade clone brothers in order to bring Kamino back into the Empire ' s fold . To better ensure the success of the mission , the 501st was placed under the command of the bounty hunter Boba Fett , an unaltered clone , who was hired to serve as the mission commander because of his knowledge regarding Tipoca City ' s inner workings . The combined might of the Anti - troopers and ARC troopers was ultimately no match against Fett and the more experienced 501st stormtroopers . After completing several primary objectives such as retrieving Jango Fett ' s DNA , disabling the clone tanks ' life - support systems to prevent the creation of more Anti - troopers and destroying a pair of LAAT / i gunships , the 501st crowded the remaining enemy clones onto the facility ' s platforms where they were all exterminated . Though they destroyed the entire rebellion at the cost of killing their own clone brethren , Emperor Palpatine no longer had any faith in the concept of an army created entirely from just one man . Hence , new genetic sources were introduced and resulted in stormtrooper clones that were not based on the Fett template . Not long afterward , the Stormtrooper Corps began recruiting real Humans into their ranks . As a result of the huge influx of different clones and enlisted troopers , the Fett clones were reduced as a small minority within the army that they once filled as a whole . Stormtroopers of the 501st were also stationed at the ruins of the Jedi Temple at some point when Darth Vader ' s secret apprentice Starkiller arrived in search of the Great Holocron . Since the apprentice could not afford to be discovered by Emperor Palpatine , he was instructed by Vader to kill all who saw him . Thus , Starkiller eradicated a number of 501st troopers guarding the Temple in order to preserve the secrecy of his existence . Galactic Civil War . In 0 BBY , the 501st were stationed on board the Death Star , an assignment that many of the troopers found to be dull and unbearable as they had been used to fighting on the front lines , and instead were tasked to perform either guard duty or be on patrol through the Death Star ' s endless corridors . Little did they know that they would soon have their first encounter with the Rebel Alliance . A group of prisoners , led by a captured Jedi Knight , rebelled and took over one of the cell blocks , having plans to download the station ' s schematics and then flee on one of the shuttles . While many of the higher ups found the situation to be disastrous , the 501st saw it as good opportunity to get back in the fight and were soon deployed to quell the riot . A trooper of the 501st Legion was on guard duty in the Hanger control room when he was contacted by command , who told him that the riot was currently in process in one of the detention areas . Being told that a detachment of the Legion was aboard an incoming shuttle from an inspection , the trooper was ordered to rendezvous with his squadmates and hold off the incoming prisoners , who were planning on taking the shuttle the 501st had just arrived in . While the prisoners proved to be more dangerous than expected , the 501st were ultimately able to hold off the prisoners and were ordered to take over the captured cell block . Upon accomplishing this task , the 501st were informed that a prisoner was in possession of the Death Star plans and was trying to make a break for it . After killing the prisoner and returning the plans , the 501st were informed that the prisoners had taken over the the station ' s fire control room and were ordered to take it back before the prisoners could damage the main cannon . After intensive fighting , the Legion was ordered to make their way to a nearby hanger bay , where the prisoners had managed to capture one of the shuttles and were planning to soon take off . While the Legion managed to destroy the shuttle , the riot ' s Jedi leader soon appeared and began to attack the 501st , with command ordering them to eliminate the Jedi traitor . While the Jedi proved to be a worthy adversary , the 501st were able to eliminate him and bring an end to the riot . While they ultimately put an end to the riot , the 501st handling of the situation was seen as embarrassing by many Imperial officers , as the troopers of the 501st were considered to be the best . For their embarrassment , the 501st were reassigned under Vader once more and were tasked with assisting him find the stolen Death Star plans . The 501st soon learned that the plans they thought they had recovered was a decoy . They followed Vader around the galaxy , trying desperately to get back the lost plans . Following a battle on Polis Massa in which the Rebellion put up a much greater fight than expected , the 501st once again thought that they had recovered the plans . Much to Vader ' s displeasure , they learned that it was once again a decoy from the Alliance . They then learned that Princess Leia Organa had the plans . With that information , the Star Destroyer " Devastator " followed the " Tantive IV " , Organa ' s ship . Above the Outer Rim planet of Tatooine , the " Devastator " managed to disable the corvette . The 501st then stormed the ship , and stunned Organa , but failed to locate the plans , as an escape pod containing them had been jettisoned . Though some troopers were by now tired of this chase , they were not so foolish as to voice their complaints , and suspected that soon this pursuit would be over . The unit believed that Organa would cave in to Vader ' s methods of persuasion , and inform him of all the Alliance ' s secrets . However , she refused to divulge any secrets , even under torture . Meanwhile , the 501st was stationed onboard the Death Star . Much to their displeasure , Organa was able to escape from her cell with the help of several Rebels who managed to infiltrate the Death Star . The Alliance finally received the plans , and was able to discover a weak spot in the battlestation ' s defenses — an unshielded thermal exhaust port located on the surface . Unfortunately for the Alliance , the Empire had finally discerned the location of the Rebellion ' s secret base — the moon Yavin 4 . Taking the Death Star to the Yavin system , the Empire expected to finally emerge victorious . However , in the subsequent battle , the Rebel Alliance was able to destroy the Death Star . Around two thirds of the men of the 501st died in the explosion . In response , the remnants of the 501st joined the Empire ' s blockade of Yavin 4 . The legion managed to destroy a number of capital ships and starfighters in space before landing on the surface . There , they managed to kill three Bothans who were among the Alliance leadership . Still , the 501st was furious , as they felt like they had overlooked the Rebellion , only to pay for it with the lives of millions . The men were determined to end this threat once and for all . In 0 . 5 ABY , the unit was sent to Makrin City along with Vader on a mission to capture Leia Organa and arrest Governor Barshnis Choard for high treason . Though Organa escaped with the help of Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Chewbacca , and five rogue stormtroopers , Choard was arrested and taken into custody . In 3 ABY , the 501st took part in the Battle of Hoth along with Blizzard Force . The unit destroyed the Alliance ' s shield generator , and placed a homing beacon under the last Rebel transport , allowing several Star Destroyers to bombard the planet , decimating the transport and killing a number of Rebels . Overall , the battle was an Imperial rout . The 501st believed they had finally ended the Rebel Alliance threat , calling this battle their finest hour . However , a year later at the Battle of Endor , the Rebel Alliance destroyed the second Death Star with Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader onboard . The Empire , and the 501st , was in shambles . Fall of the Empire and rebirth . After the fall of the Empire , the squabbling of numerous Imperial warlords caused the 501st Legion to be dissolved and its soldiers assigned to other units . Upon assuming command of the Imperial military in 9 ABY , Grand Admiral Thrawn reconstituted the 501st Legion , knowing the symbolism of the legion ' s name and reputation . Thrawn assigned the new 501st to protect the Empire of the Hand in the Unknown Regions while he attempted to restore the galaxy under Imperial rule . The Chiss also took the step of incorporating non - Humans into the 501st , something that would have been considered unthinkable under Palpatine . As reformed , the most basic unit in the 501st was a squad of four troopers , capable of acting as a fire team within a larger force , but also able to serve as a self - supporting commando team on special missions . Also as a result of the Empire ' s collapse and Thrawn ' s reforms , the new 501st Legion was no longer composed by a super majority of Jango Fett ' s clones . As with the rest of the Stormtrooper Corps , the ranks of the 501st became dominated by enlisted troopers , Human and non - Human alike . In 22 ABY , the 501st Legion ' s Unit Aurek - Seven helped Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker explore the crashed ship " Outbound Flight " . With the aid of the stormtroopers and Chak Fel , the son of Baron Soontir Fel , the Jedi were able to defeat the alien Vagaari . The 501st ' s service to the Empire of the Hand was short - lived , however , when the fledgling state was dissolved and its territories annexed to the Chiss Ascendancy . Despite the fall of Thrawn ' s Empire , the 501st Legion continued to exist as a military unit under the new Empire , a successor - state to the former Galactic Empire . The inclusion of non - Humans into the 501st intensified over the years , thus necessitating the creation of specialized armor was created for certain species . Further reforms also enabled females to serve as stormtroopers in the 501st as well . By the year 130 ABY , the 501st Legion was still an active unit in the Empire , at the time ruled by Emperor Roan Fel . In the same year , the Empire succeeded in reconquering most of the known galaxy after defeating the Galactic Alliance in the Sith – Imperial War . However , the resurgent Galactic Empire experienced a regime change when Fel was deposed and forced into exile by a Sith coup d ' état . When Darth Krayt declared himself the new Emperor of the galaxy , the 501st Legion continued its service under the Empire ' s new sovereign . In the year 137 ABY , the 501st was stationed on Bastion under the command of General Oron Jaeger . After spending nearly a decade hiding from Krayt ' s forces , the fugitive emperor , Roan Fel , returned to Bastion with the goal of using the former Imperial Capital as his base of operations . Although Lieutenant Kiefer remained staunchly loyal to Darth Krayt , Fel gave an impassioned plea to Bastion ' s military garrison , urging the soldiers to serve him once again . To Kiefer ' s surprise , the stormtroopers of the 501st Legion knelt before the deposed monarch , thus signaling their switch of allegiance from Krayt to Fel . Kiefer , outraged by the 501st ' s betrayal , declared for Krayt and attempted to execute Fel on the spot — only to be fatally shot in the back by mutinous stormtroopers . General Jaeger personally welcomed Roan Fel and committed the 501st Legion to his cause . With Bastion secured as the center of the so - called " True Empire , " the 501st Legion remained on the planet and served as the exiled emperor ' s praetorian guard throughout the duration of the Second Imperial Civil War . Roughly a year later , Darth Krayt perished in the Battle of Coruscant and his Galactic Empire ceased to exist by 138 ABY . However , Roan Fel died in the same battle as well . With both emperors dead , the Galactic Federation Triumvirate was formed to establish a new form of rule over the known galaxy . The Triumvirs consisted of Admiral Gar Stazi , Jedi Master K ' Kruhk and Roan Fel ' s successor — Empress Marasiah Fel . Notable members . A number of troopers fought in the 501st over the years . Originally an ordinary unit , the 501st , under the direction of Chancellor Palpatine , developed into an elite squad . Following the rise of the Empire , the unit became Darth Vader ' s personal legion , receiving the nickname " Vader ' s Fist " . The members of the legion gained a reputation for being ruthless and efficient . Following the Battle of Endor , non - Humans were eventually integrated into the legion , and a number of reforms took place . CT - 7567 . CT - 7567 , nicknamed Rex , was the gruff , no - nonsense leader of the 501st Legion and Torrent Company during the early stages of the Clone Wars . His abilities of leadership and confidence were spotted early by the Kaminoan cloners , and he went through additional rigorous training in a variety of tactics and fighting styles to enhance his abilities , emerging to eventually hold the reputation as one of the toughest clones in the galaxy . Having displayed himself in battle , he wore honorific Mandalorian Jaig eyes on his helmet with his customized armor . Serving directly under Anakin Skywalker , he adopted the Jedi ' s tendencies for unorthodox combat strategies and tactics . He led the 501st in many battles , including ones at Christophsis , Teth , Bothawui , JanFathal , Quell , and Kothlis . Rex cared greatly for his men , and was always on the look for clones that showed grit under fire for consideration as potential 501st recruits . Coric . Coric was a clone trooper trained in both combat and the medical field . Serving in the 501st Legion ' s Torrent Company , he used his talents to treat injured troops during the Battle of Christophsis , manning the Republic ' s temporary medical station in Crystal City . The sergeant led a squad at the following Battle of Teth , which saw him emerge as one of the few Torrent Company survivors alongside Captain Rex and five other clones . Coric once again served with Rex on JanFathal , flying the shuttle that the Republic task force used to extract Intelligence Agent Hallena Devis from the world and escape to Captain Gilad Pellaeon ' s " Leveler " . During the flight back , the sergeant employed his medical skills to help the injured Ince , but the trooper died shortly after returning to " Leveler " . Coric expressed a dry humor , even in the direst situations , much like Rex himself . CC - 1119 . CC - 1119 , or Appo , was in command of the 501st by 19 BBY . He had trained under the Alpha - class Advanced Recon Commando Alpha - 17 . Before rising to the rank of Commander of the 501st Legion , Appo served as a Sergeant in the ranks of the 501st during the Republic campaign on Umbara . When Order 66 was put into effect in 19 BBY , Appo participated with the rest of the 501st in — the utter destruction of the Jedi Temple and the massacre of its occupants . During this mission , he led the legion under the command of the newly - anointed Sith Lord Darth Vader . While the operation was still being carried out , Appo was injured by the Padawan Zett Jukassa , who attacked a group of clones , including Appo , as they barred Senator Bail Prestor Organa from entering . However , Jukassa was killed by Fox , and Appo survived to continue leading the 501st under the orders of Vader . Appo and his men later helped Vader defeat several Jedi at the Kessel conclave , and would follow Vader to Murkhana . Following a confrontation with several rebellious clones there , Appo and his men accompanied Vader to Alderaan in hopes of arresting Senator Fang Zar for treason . On Alderaan , Vader was able to fatally injure Zar as he tried to flee , and the Dark Lord then led his men to Kashyyyk . Appo was killed by Roan Shryne on Kashyyyk , although Vader then finished off the Jedi while the forests of Kashyyyk burned from Imperial bombardment . CT - 0000 / 1010 . CT - 0000 / 1010 , also known as Fox , was a sergeant by the time of Order 66 . Stationed on Coruscant , he helped establish patrols in the Coruscant underworld to locate terrorists . Fox also knew of the Mandalorian Journeyman Protectors on Concord Dawn , and wished to become one at some point . In 19 BBY , Fox was a member of the squad that stormed the Jedi Temple under the command of Lord Vader , and helped guard the the Council Towers ' hangar complex . When Senator Organa arrived during this incident , asking to speak to the Jedi Council and demanding to know what had happened , Appo insisted he leave . When the Padawan Zett Jukassa suddenly attacked the clones , Fox shot and killed him . He then ordered his men to let Organa leave unharmed as the senator fled away in his airspeeder . Retired clone trooper . This veteran trooper composed a journal of his thoughts during some of the most well - known battles he had fought during his long service in the Clone Army and later the Imperial Military . A clone of Jango Fett , he was a member of the 501st from its formation , and took part in the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War . This trooper recorded entries on the battles of Mygeeto , Felucia , Coruscant , Kashyyyk , Utapau , Naboo , Mustafar , Kamino , Polis Massa , the Death Star , Tantive IV , Yavin , and Hoth . Daine Jir . Daine Jir was a member of the 501st by 0 BBY . Jir was known as a dedicated , competent officer who was unafraid to speak his mind , even to Darth Vader , a man who normally tolerated no dissent among his soldiers . However , it was said that the Dark Lord appreciated Jir ' s honesty and even respected Jir . In 0 BBY , Jir helped lead the attack on the " Tantive IV " above Tatooine . There , the 501st was able to capture Leia Organa , and turn her over to Vader for questioning . Jir warned Vader that holding Organa could be dangerous ; if the Senate learned that the Empire had taken one of its own into custody , it could create controversy and even support for the Alliance . However , Vader was unconcerned and ordered Jir to destroy the " Tantive IV " and then send a distress signal claiming the ship had been hit by meteorites . Su - mil . Su - mil was an Eickarie member of the 501st from Kariek . Originally a freedom fighter on his planet , he participated in the Battle of Kariek in 22 ABY , in an effort to liberate his planet from the control of The Warlord . Fighting alongside the 501st , the Eickaries were able to defeat the Warlord . Impressed with the efforts of Su - mil , the trooper Jorm Whistler Mackenni offered him a position in the squad . Su - mil accepted , and took the name Grappler . A member of Unit Aurek - Seven following Mackenni ' s retirement , he participated in the Battle of the Redoubt against the Vagaari . Oron Jaeger . Oron Jaeger was the commander of the 501st in 137 ABY . Jaeger was injured during the Battle of Corulag , and was fitted with cybernetic implants during his surgery . The implants made him a cyborg and allowed him to perform various complex tasks at once , such as monitoring communications . Jaeger remained loyal to Emperor Roan Fel after he was overthrown by the One Sith in 130 ABY , although he did not rebel against Darth Krayt ' s new government , feigning loyalty until Fel arrived on Bastion and succeeded in taking the planet back from Krayt ' s supporters . When Lieutenant Kiefer — who was loyal to Krayt — attempted to kill Fel , Jaeger shot and killed him . Behind the scenes . The name is a reference to the fan organization known as the 501st Legion charity group . Formed by Albin Johnson and Tom Crews in 1997 , it was originally composed of members who wore stormtrooper costumes , and has since expanded to include all trooper variations , as well as Sith Lords , bounty hunters , and other villains from the series . It boasts over 3 , 500 members in 40 countries . The 501st Legion helps coordinate volunteers at Celebration , the official " Star Wars " convention . The group also has the nickname " Vader ' s Fist , " which was subsequently also made the in - universe designation for the legion . The honorary leader is David Prowse , the actor who physically portrayed Darth Vader in the original trilogy . The 501st Legion was first canon ized in 2004 by the novel " Survivor ' s Quest " and e - book " Fool ' s Bargain " , both written by Timothy Zahn and released simultaneously . In a further tribute to the real - life organization , the legion of blue clone troopers led by Darth Vader into the Jedi Temple in was designated the 501st . Although this name was not mentioned in the film itself , much of the support material and merchandising for the film make this reference , including the video game " " , which first gave backstory to the legion . In " " , the 501st Legion is referred to as the 501st Battalion . Non - canon . " Star Wars : The Force Unleashed : Ultimate Sith Edition " . The video game " " features an alternate timeline that follows the non - canon ical dark side ending of . The game features a different take on the Battle of Hoth , although the 501st Legion is still deployed to the planet Hoth just as they had been in the canonical version of the battle . After infiltrating Echo Base , a squad of 501st snowtroopers are ambushed by Rebel troopers in one of the corridors near the main hangar . At the same time , Lord Starkiller — Emperor Palpatine ' s Sith apprentice and successor of the late Darth Vader — is proceeding to the hangar as well . Along the way , his liaison , Lieutenant Marsen , informs Starkiller via comlink about the 501st ' s predicament . Starkiller aids the troopers by killing all of the insurgents and wampas in the area . The Imperial soldiers then attack the remaining Rebels in the hangar while the Dark Lord of the Sith confronts his former Master ' s son , a pseudo - Jedi named Luke Skywalker .