Division, Regimental & Association History

 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

REX COMBS HONORED IN CHEF DU PONT

On June 5, 2012 a ceremony was held to dedicate a new memorial in the 508th's park in Chef du Pont.

   A stone honoring Rex Combs as an initiator of the park was revealed alongside the two existing monuments.  The first commemorated the 508th's gift of the park land to the local townspeople and the second recognized O.B. Hill as association founder.  Joining those two is a third monument which lauds Rex Combs (C Co) for his efforts in getting the concept in place and sparking the drive within the original 508th PIR Association to make the park a reality.

508TH 1ST BATTALION COMMANDERS LIST

MEDICAL DETACHMENT ROSTER

82D Airborne - Over Ninety Years

UNITED STATES ARMY
82D AIRBORNE DIVISION WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM
FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA
STORY LINE NARRATIVE
02/13/2009

 World War I

His Majesty, King George V, smiled broadly with approval as the gallant men marched spiritedly through the streets of London. The cheering crowd tossed flowers and cigarettes at the marching men and shouted “God bless you!”

The date was May 11, 1918. England fighting with her allies against Germany for 3 ½ years-was wildly applauding the arrival of the 325th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army’s 82d Division. Less than a year earlier-on August 25, 1917, the 82d had been activated at Camp Gordon, Georgia, where raw recruits and draftees learned basic infantry tactics. World War I combat that awaited them, the 82d’s resolute courage proved to be as important as their intensive training.

On the day in May, the 82d Soldiers were in route to the bloody trenches and foxholes of “No Man’s land.” They were headed for the western front in France to join the “doughboys” of other U.S. Army division. They were going there, as the London Times wrote, “…to crush forever the evil spirit of Prussian Militarism.”

Prophetically, the English press wrote of the parade: “In the tread of these men has to be heard the football of fate.” Just six months later, on November 11, 1918, the war ended after a humbled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany fled to Holland.

In those combat-filled six months, the 82d fought campaigns of unparalleled passion through the poisonous gas, the skin slashing wire, and the machine gun nests of Lorraine, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. When all was finally quiet on the western front, the 82d’s 3254th, 326th, 327th, and 328th Infantry Regiment and other attached units had paid bravely but dearly for victory: nearly one-fourth of the division’s 28,000 men had been killed or injured in the fight to protect their allies’ freedom.

The United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, after the sinking of American merchant ships and indications that Germany hoped to entice Mexico into its campaign of colonial conquest. Those actions promoted U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to ask the nation to “… make the world safe for democracy.”

Kaiser Wilhelm II was unimpressed. He predicted, “America is a democracy whose people are incapable of the iron discipline necessary to win victory in the battlefield.”

Four months after America declared war, the 82d-one of the U.S. divisions, which would riddle the Kaiser’s theory with bullets-was busy training at Camp Gordon near Atlanta under the command of Major General Eben Swift.

Soon after the 82d was formed on, August 25, 1917-it was discovered the division members hailed from all 48states. This led to the 82d’s fabled nickname of the “All America,” still proudly carried today on the division’s red, white and blue “AA” patches.

Under the tutelage of American, British, and French officers at Camp Gordon, the All American-from Oregon lumbermen to southern cotton growers-received thorough instruction in the tenacious trench warfare that waited ahead. Slowly but surely, the team spirit needed to rout the emerged.

On April 25, 1918-exactly eight months after the 82d was formed the first of the division’s men sailed from New York. Brigadier General William P. Burnham, the division’s third commander, who had succeeded Brigadier General James B. Erwin, led them.

Behind the lines in France, the 82d continued to train with hand grenades and a variety of small arms. Bayonet warfare training received special attention; the soldiers attacked targets shouting, “In-Out-On Guard!” On May 30, General Pershing inspected their training.

Early in June, small groups of 82d officers and noncommissioned officers went on details to the British front lines near Albert and Amiens. While straining barbed wire with British troops, Captain Jewett Williams, 326th Infantry, became the first 82d member to give his life in combat. German machine gunners killed Captain Williams, From Athens, Georgia, on the night of June 9, 1918.

On June 25, the 82d received its first combat orders, directing one battalion from each regiment to the Lagny Sector, where they relieved the 26th U.S. Division. Through August 10, the 82d doughboys learned about life in and between the trenches of the Lorraine region, which Captain William Sirmon, 326th Infantry, described in his diary:

“It was my night to tour the trenches.
In The middle of the night, I leaned over the
Parapet and gazed into the darkness that
Shrouded that mysterious waste-No Man’s
Land. . . Out there the spirits of heroic
Souls, whose brave flesh perished for the
Cause of freedom, in the high grass and wire,
With eyes strained in the gloom for a glimpse
Or sound of the enemy.”

In Lorraine, the 82d soldiers maintained and advanced their ground. During daring nighttime “over-the- top” forays deep into the German lines, they inflicted numerous enemy casualties. However, those stealthy raids took a grim toll: 44 All American dead and 327 wounded.

On September 12, the St. Mihiel offensive began the AEF’s first big operation. The 82d, forming the right flank of the AEF, pushed forward at 0500-zero hour-to make contact with the enemy. They were successful in their mission. They found the enemy, inflicted many casualties, and gained valuable information about the Germans’ supporting troops.

Before the St. Mihiel offensive ended, an 82d officer-Lieutenant Colonel Emory J. Pike earned the division’s first Medal of Honor. During the 328th Infantry’s taking of Vandieres, divisional machine gun officer Pike had been on frontline reconnaissance. When enemy shellfire disorganized advancing infantrymen, he reorganized the men -at great risk to himself- and secured their position. However, he was not finished. He then dashed to the aid of a wounded infantryman at an outpost. There, a shell struck Lieutenant Colonel Pike, suffering fatal injuries. Lieutenant Colonel Pike, in his daring deed of September 15, was not alone in that ultimate sacrifice. The 82d’s key role in the bloody drive of St. Mihiel offensive from September 11 through the 20th left 950 of their men dead or injured.

On September 30, division records showed the embattled All American’s numbers 25,489 men, including members of support units. The division’s final major mission-the Meuse-Argonne Campaign from September 29 through October 30 would claim the lives of many of those brave men.

Two days into their ferocious attack on the eastern edge of the Argonne Forest, the division had suffered 1,782 casualties. In all, the campaign produced 6,009 divisional casualties and claimed the lives of 903 gallant men. Nevertheless, under newly named commander, Major General George B. Duncan, the drive into the Argonne Forest, through Marcq, across the Aire River and into St. Juvin broke the supply lines-and the will of the enemy.

A brief October 7 communication between a company officer and his battalion headquarters reflected the 82d’s ever-growing success in the Argonne: “Going good, captured 39 prisoners and three machine guns. No casualties yet.” Elsewhere, the enemy began to “fall like ten pins,” as an 82d officer later described the furious action.

A day later, one of the many 82d soldiers who fought gloriously in the Meuse-Argonne performed what General Pershing later called the greatest individual feat performed by an American fighting man in World War I. His name was Alvin Cullum York, a tall corporal in Company G, 328th Infantry, known for an expert shooting eye honed from Turkey hunting near his home in Mountainous Fentress County, Tennessee.

On October 8, Corporal York was the point man in the 17-man patrol that ventured into enemy territory near Chatel-Chenery in a perilous attempt to silence machine gunners who had cut many other All Americans to ribbons. Mimicking the Tennessee woodsman’s nearly silent passage into the forest, the men miraculously advanced 400 yards without drawing gunfire. Suddenly, they saw two German soldiers and gave chase. Within a short distance, the chase ended when they stumbled onto a behind-the-line German command post. The startled Germans dropped their weapons. However, in another moment, machine gunners spewed a torrent of bullets at the All American cutting down ten of York’s fellow soldiers. Only seven privates and one corporal-Alvin C. York were not wounded or killed. Two of the privates scurried behind a tree, three hurled themselves into the bush and two dropped behind the prisoners and held them at gunpoint. Corporal York also dove for the ground but refused to yield his position. Using his German captive as a shield, the sharp shooting corporal killed 18 machine gunners as they popped their heads up to get a clear view of him. But just as the machine gun fire began to stop, six German soldiers and an Officer, who were crouching in a gun pit 20 yards away rushed Corporal York. He killed those men with unerring blasts from his pistol.

According to the American soldiers who witnessed the stunning feat, a German officer on the ground then asked Corporal York,"What are you? "I'm an American,” was the corporal’s blunt response along with a firm order for the officer to blow a retreat whistle to draw remaining Germans from the woods.

Holding a pistol to the German Officer's head, Corporal York ordered the Germans to carry the All Americans wounded. York then led his captive, a German Major, three lieutenants, and 128 German soldiers back to American lines.

It was a deed that stood up to the scrutiny of scores of disbelieving U.S. Army officers and journalists: An American soldier, nearly single handedly, had dismantled a German camp and machine gun battalion, captured 132 men and killing about 25 foes in the process. This deed earned Corporal York the Medal of Honor.

Alvin York's heroic action foreshadowed the end of the German Army in France. On November 11th -12 days after the end of the decision Argonne captain Sirmon’s diary entry for that long awaited day ends with this sentence: thank God for this night that the world rests again in peace!

After their triumphant trip home, the 82d was inactivated at Camp Mills, New York, on May 27, 1919. The All Americans had earned 2 Medals of Honor, 3 Distinguished Service Medals and 85 Distinguished Service Crosses. Nevertheless, the casualty count read 1,035 killed and 6,387 wounded.

From 1921 until 1942, the 82d Division was part of the Organized Reserves, with a headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina. The small reserve component would form the cadre for the division of World War II.

World War II

The 82d Infantry Division was called to active duty on March 25, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, under the command of Major General Omar N. Brandley. On August 15, 1942, the division took wings as the 82d Airborne-becoming the U.S. Army’s first airborne division-now commanded by Major General Mathew B. Ridgway. At the same time, half of 82d Soldiers were used in the formation of a second airborne division-the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division.

In October, the 82d was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to conduct airborne training. On October 14, the 82d absorbed the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which had formed May 1 at Fort Bragg. By the time they went overseas, the 82d would consist of 325th Glider Infantry Regiment and the 504th and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments.

At Fort Bragg, the All Americans trained vigorously. General Ridgway vowed his division would become the best division in the Army, airborne or otherwise. Later, on V-E Day, many observers agreed the 82d had met their leaders challenge.

While the pioneering paratroopers stood up, hooked up and leaped from a C-47 transport planes, glider borne troops were at work in the 15-man WACO-CG4A glider-towed by the transport planes. Half of the division troops went into battle by glider.

In the spring of 1943, the 82d All Americans became the first airborne division sent overseas landing in Casablanca, North Africa, on May 10, 1943. From there, they moved by rail to Oujda and then by truck to Kairouan, Tunisia. That would be their departure point for the Division’s first combat drop-the invasion of Sicily.

Sicily

Poised in the Mediterranean after the successful North African campaign, the Allied forces hoped to give Italy a kick in the boot by attacking Sicily in the mission code-named “HUSKY!” The Sicilian strategy had been planned in January 1943 at the high-level conference in Morocco attended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Confident of success in Africa and cognizant that a cross-channel invasion of Europe was more that a year off, the conference targeted Sicily as a stepping-stone to Italy, whose troops had been performing Axis occupational duties in their country and the Balkans. With Italy weakened, Germany would be forced to spread its troops more thinly.

“HUSKY” called for four separate airborne operations, two by the British and two by the “All American.” To ensure surprise and to guard the paratroopers from antiaircraft activity, the operations would occur during the pre-dawn hours of July 10. With the aid of a nearly full moon, airborne troopers would begin landing before midnight on July 9 to be in place before the arrival of amphibious forces in the morning. Approximately 200,000 Allied troops were scheduled to participate in the initial assault-comparable in size to what the Axis forces were estimated to have serving in Sicily.

The 82d’s objective, HUSKY I, was led by paratroopers from the 505th, under the capable leadership of Colonel James M. “Jumping Jim” Gavin. Organized as a Regimental Combat Team, the 505th was to parachute into an egg-shaped area around Gela on the southern shore. They would then close off the roads leading to beaches and secure the drop zone for future use. Especially important near the DZ was enemy-held “Objective Y” – a series of 16 concrete “pillboxes” from which German gunners controlled movement on nearby roads.

The 82d’s second task, Called “HUSKY II,” would involve delivering the 504th Combat Team, lead by Colonel Reuben Tucker, a night later to the DZ secured by the 505th.

The All Americans trained intensively day and night for the mission. Exactly one month before the airborne assault was to begin; a party led by Colonel Gavin flew to the Southern coast of Sicily, where the flight checkpoints came into view on the moonlit night. It was assumed the same checkpoints would be readily visible a month later when the moon was in the same phase.

To avoid “friendly fire” from the hundreds of Allied ships heading toward Sicily, the pilots of the airborne assault were to fly a long, circuitous route from Africa. They would first go to Malta, then to the southwest corner of Sicily, then back out to sea to avoid shore batteries. Upon reaching the mouth of the Acate River, they were to head inland to the DZ. All this- 415 miles rather then a straight-shot 250-at 200 feet about water, to avoid detection, before rising to 600 feet for the final approach to the DZs.

Once over land, Colonel Gavin’s plane banked to the right to correct the line of fight. To the pilots behind, this appeared to be the pre-arranged signal to release their troops. On came the green jump signal lights.

When Colonel Gavin and the men in formation with him jumped, they landed about 20 miles east of the DZ. Many of the others, further off course, landed in the British zone, about 60 miles east of the DZ. Only about 15 percent of the combat team had been delivered to the correct DZ, and even they were widely spread apart. Nonetheless, considerable successes were achieved on the ground by small of lost paratroopers. They cut every telephone line they found, devastating the communications that would be required by the enemy to devise a counterattack. Small groups of paratroops conducted ambushes. A hundred brave paratroopers of the 1-505th, whose other comrades had in the British sector, secured even Objective Y, the deadly pillboxes.

Gavin’s paratroopers repulsed German counterattacks by the Hermann Goering Panzer Division, elite German Unit. At Biazza Ridge, the 505th troopers fought courageously against German tanks and Infantry. Though losses were high, the paratroopers held their ground. Later Mark VI Tiger tanks, made of four-inch thick steel, attacked. The American bazookas could penetrate only three inches of steel, but with determination and again, albeit at high cost.

The Sicilian campaign closed to mixed reviews. General D. Eisenhower, commander of U.S. troops, was concerned about unpredictable landings of airborne troopers who initially were not together on land in sufficient numbers to prevent significant movement by enemy tanks. He and other critics noted that the 2,800 paratroopers landed over a 65-mile area. General George S. Patton, however, reported that he gained 48 hours in his ground advance as the far-flung paratroopers scurried to their positions.

Years later, someone who knew best - General Kurt Student- Chief of staff of all German parachute forces from 1943-45 spelled out the importance of the 82d’s blocking action. Student noted that the 82d Airborne Division had prevented the German Panzers from reaching the beachhead in Sicily, thus denying the Axis troops the opportunity of driving the Allies back into the sea. He testified, “I attribute the entire success of the Allies Sicilian operation to the delaying of German reserves until sufficient forces had been landed by the sea to assist the counterattacks of our defending forces.”

Holland

The 82d’s next mission, after recuperating and adding troops to their depleted ranks in England, was code-name Operation “Market Garden” the invasion of German held Holland by air.

Just as the Germans had done four years earlier, the Allied plan of September 17, 1944 using the 82d and 101st U.S. Airborne Divisions and England’s first Airborne Division was to be launched by dropping paratroopers and Glidermen into Holland. If successful, it would speed up the process for reaching the final target of the war- Hitler’s headquarters in Berlin.

MARKET GARDEN was to be the first major daylight air assault attempted by any military power since Germany’s attack on Crete. The airborne Allied troops were to seize roads, bridges, and the key communications centers of Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Arnhem, forming, and airborne carpet over which the British Second Army would roll on the way to Germany.

By weather standards for that time of year, September 17, 1944, proved to be good day for flying. Under clear skies, bombers and troop transports rose from Britain, flew across the English Channel and over Belgium and Holland, now relatively clear of German fighter planes. It would be the fourth and final World War II combat drop for the All Americans. Their objective: Capture and hold the key bridges at Grave and Nijmegen as well as some subsidiary bridges over a canal to the east of Grave.

The 82d successfully dropped and assembled at the Maas River Bridge at Grave and secured the structure within an hour.

Before dark, brigadier General Gavin, who became 82d commander on August 28, led his men in bloody fighting in the Nijmegen region, secured the approach to the bridge at Nijmegen, the second longest span in Holland, and heavily fortified by the enemy.

On the night of September 19, British and American Allied leaders mapped their strategy for taking the bridge. However, at the same time, a German Panzer Grenadier division was being ferried to Nijmegen to bolster the vital span.

On September 20, the 3-504th Regiment performed the death-defying feat of reaching the enemy held bridge by boating across the fast flowing Waal River. The first wave of paratroopers who launched in the assault boats lost half of their members to the fierce enemy gunfire and the raging river. But 200 men charged ashore, smashing the Germans and opening the way to the Rhine River at Arnhem. It was in extraordinary action, one of the most valiant of the war.

When the British Second Army’s commander, Lieutenant General Sir Miles Dempsey, greeted Brigadier General Gavin in the battle zone, he said, “I am proud to meet the commander of the greatest division in the world today.” It was an assessment shared by many other British officers who was the 82d in action in Holland, where about 800 All Americans were killed.

While serving in Holland, a second 82d Airborne trooper gained the Medal of Honor. Private Towle of Cleveland, Ohio, Company C, 504th Infantry, earned that distinction in combat near Oosterhout, Holland, on September 21, 1945. Armed with a rocket launcher, he single handedly, without orders moved into an exposed position, and broke up a German counterattack force of 100 infantrymen, two tanks and half-track. He was finally stopped by a fatal wound from a mortar shell.

Battle of the Bulge

In November, the 82d moved out to Holland in order to rest and refit. However, while many of the troopers were catching their breath in France, Adolph Hitler was planning a final desperate offensive through the Ardennes Forest aimed at capturing the key Belgian seaport of Antwerp. Once that offensive began, the 82d Airborne Division again was ordered into combat on December 17, 1944 in the battle of the Bulge.

In bitter cold and snow, the 82d fought against tanks, assault guns, and motorized infantry, blunting field Marshal Karl R. Von Rundstedt’s northern salient in Germany’s last big push. That put the U.S. Army in good position for major attacks inside Germany. By February 17, 1945, Jim Gavin and his airborne troopers were in Germany.

Of the 82d’s performance in Belgium, Major General Gavin wrote in his official report:

“Men fought, at times, with only rifles, grenades and knives against German armor. They fought with only light weapons in waist deep snow, in blizzards, in near zero temperature and in areas where heavy forestation and almost total lack of roads presented problems which only men of stout hearts and iron determination could overcome. The Battle of Bulge also proved again that planes and material are important but most important essential of all in a fighting heart, a will to win.”

Belgium was site of a particularly remarkable action, which, on January 29, 1945, earned a Medal of Honor for a third All American in World War II, First Sergeant Leonard Funk, of Braddock Township, Pennsylvania, and Company C, 508th Infantry. After Leading his unit in capturing 80 Germans, First Sergeant Funk, walking around a building into their midst, had a machine pistol thrust into his stomach by a German Officer. Pretending to comply wit the demand to surrender, he slowly un-slung his Thompson sub machine gun and with lighting fast action riddled the officer and led his men resisting the enemy, 21 of whom were killed in the process.

Central European Campaign

After regrouping in Sissonne, France, following the Ardennes Campaign, the 82d again was ordered into action on March 30, 1945, with orders to move to the area of Bonn, Germany, and the Rhine River. In early April, the All Americans conducted a successful assault river crossing at the Rhine north of Cologne, throwing back the numerous counterattacks by the enemy.

At the end of April, the paratroopers repeated their performance in moving out northeast from Cologne to cross the Elbe River, in the final attack of the war.

On May 12, 1945, the 82d received the unconditional surrender of the 21st Germany Army 146,000 men at Ludwigstlust.

After the Allies victory on May 7, 1945 V.E. Day with Germany’s unconditional surrender, and in July, the 82d was sent to patrol the American sector of Berlin. There, the division got its nickname of “American’s Guard of Honor” when General George Patton told them, “In all my years in the Army, and of all the honor guards I have ever seen, the 82d honor guard is undoubtedly the best.”

The 82d wound up being one of the most highly decorated U.S. Army divisions in the war. The 82d paratroopers earned three Medals’ of Honor, 79 Distinguished Services Crosses, 894 Silver Stars, 2,478 Bronze Stars, numerous foreign decorations.

After twenty years overseas and 442 days in combat, the most by any airborne division the 82d returned to the United States January 3, 1946, to a roaring reception in New York City. But there was a somber side to the war’s conclusion: The 82d’s casualty count showed 3,228 dead, 106 missing and 12604 wounded.

If the Sicily campaign proved how well the 82d Airborne could perform when things were awry, the Salerno proved the division could perform even better when external forces were cooperative.

To gain the accuracy of night drops, the division experimented with radar sets to guide planes to their drop zones and with the krypton lamp, which could produce a brilliant one-second flash of light visible from 10,000 feet. These devices would be put operation at the drop zones of Salerno by small pathfinder units that jumped ahead of the main force, a practice that would always be used by airborne units.

By September 13, 1943, General Mark Clark’s Fifth Army had held tenaciously to the Salerno beachhead for four days but needed quick assistance. He sent a message to Major General Ridgway requesting a drop that night.

A plan was immediately set for the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment to jump several miles from Clark’s embattled troops, then be driven in trucks to the front lines. Pathfinder teams would arrive first to mark the DZ. In addition, ground troops would set ablaze cans filled with sand and gasoline arranged in a “T” shape. This time, it all worked. Except for one company that landed ten miles off target, all the paratroopers landed within 200 yards of the DZ. No troopers or planes were lost in the jump, and no “friendly fire” was experienced. It went just as smoothly the next night, when Colonel Gavin and 1,900 of his 505th All Americans arrived. A day later, the beachhead was declared secure -a feat that could not have been attained without the 82d’s assistance. Indeed, General Clark felt that the 82d had saved the beachhead by its quick and effective response.

With Salerno secure, General Ridgway led his division, with other 5th Army units, on the key seaport of Naples. There, the 82d troopers enjoyed the experience of liberating that famous city. In November, after sharp fight in mountains around Naples, the 82d withdrew to England to prepare for the invasion of France. General Clark kept the 504th PIR in Italy where they fought at Anzio, returning to the 82d in April 1944. It was at Anzio that the 504th earned its famous nickname “Devils in Baggy Pants.”

Normandy

With Italy in good hands, Allied eyes focused on France. Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Normandy, would be the greatest military operation in history. The massive plans for D-Day included Operation “Neptune,” an all-important airborne phase of Overlord. Ridgway’s All Americans would play an integral part in Neptune. Joined by the 507th and the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments, the 82d was prepared to assault Normandy with 12,000 Parachute and Glider troops. Their mission: Destroy vital Germany supply bridges and capture causeways leading inland across the flooded areas behind the Normandy beaches where seaborne forces would land to gain control of roads and communications.

On June 6, D-Day, it must indeed have seemed as though the 82d Airborne was “everywhere,” as a German officer wrote in his diary. This perception of paratroopers being “everywhere” was vital, for in actuality the All Americans engaged enemy forces of four to ten times their number.

At H-hour, the early morning darkness and low-hanging clouds diminished visibility causing many of the pathfinder’s aircraft to miss their designated drop zone. In the 82d Airborne area, only 505th’s pathfinders were accurately dropped into the DZ.

Compounding the landing problems were thousands of physical barriers. Hedgerows - earthen dikes about four feet high, covered with thick hedges, and bushes - crisscrossed the farmers’ fields that formed the battle area. In addition, German troops had sown the field with hundreds of thousands of wooden poles with mines on top, providing hazards for glider borne warriors from the 325th Regiment and other glider units. In addition, much of the countryside had been purposely flooded and many of the daring jumpers drowned under the weight of their equipment.

Nonetheless, one of D-Day’s major objectives - the town of Ste Mere Eglise was captured by dawn. The 505th’s 3rd Battalion had the honor of liberating this first town on the western front.

Meanwhile a platoon from the 2nd Battalion, 47 men in all, encountered a large enemy force moving toward Ste Mere Eglise from north. A four-hour battle ensured before the Germans withdrew, thinking mistakenly they were outnumbered. Only 15 paratroopers survived, but they saved the division’s position around Ste Mere Eglise.

Two key bridges on the Merderet River, La Fière and Chef-du-Pont proved difficult to take. Brigadier General Gavin, who led the 82d’s assault contingent into Normandy as assistant division commander, gathered about 500 paratroopers from various regiments and split them in half to secure the bridges. After much fighting, the bridge at Chef-du-Pont was taken. The La Fière Bridge was taken once, and then reoccupied by the Germans, and then American controlled, became the scene of two more days of battle before it again.

A German battalion stopped a group from the 508th, whose mission was to seize a bridge over the Douve River at Pont L’Abbe, just before reaching the town. Realizing they were vastly outnumbered, the 508th group withdrew to Hill 30, where for two days Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J.B. Shanley and his men fought off strong German units trying to overrun the main paratrooper landings. This action has been considered decisive in helping the airborne meet its objectives at Normandy.

Also on D-Day, the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment departed from England, towed by troop carriers to land in the Normandy Beach DZ secured by the paratroopers. The Glidermen who avoided the steady “ack-ack” fire of enemy guns landed quickly reinforcing the paratroopers.

On June 9th, three days after the invasion, Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, became the first 82d Division member to win the Medal of Honor in World War II. Weighting 240 pounds and standing six feet seven inches tall, he allowed himself to become a target for a large force of Germans while other platoon members broke free and formed the first Bridgehead across the Merderet River at La Fière. PFC DeGlopper, of Grand Island, New York, was already wounded several times when he made his gallant move. He mowed down many Germans before he died.

The airborne troops continued their ferocious fight as infantrymen for 33 days after landing at Normandy. When relieved to go to England, tallies showed nearly half of the 82d’s Soldiers had been wounded, captured or killed. But, they had cost the Germans many more men and had destroyed 62 enemy tanks and 44 anti-tank guns and artillery pieces. Most importantly, they had choked off reinforcements for the Axis forces defending the French coast preventing some 35,000 to 40,000 enemy troops from rushing to the sea where they were needed.

In preparing for the arrival of amphibious troops, the airborne had done a magnificent job. By the end of D-Day alone, 20,000 troops and 1,700 vehicles had come ashore at Utah Beach with virtually no opposition. Only 12 men were killed and 46 wounded or injured at Utah Beach. By contrast, at Omaha Beach, where no airborne troops had been sent, the Allied casualties were heavy. The Germans killed many infantrymen before they got to shore. There every bit of land gained required great sacrifice. At the end of D-Day, troops had moved inland just ½ miles, and 2,374 men had been killed or wounded.

Post War Preparedness

While several Army airborne units were inactivated after the war, the highly decorated 82d returned to Fort Bragg to vigorously and pridefully maintain the high state of readiness it showed during its long service in World War II.

Since then, the All Americans’ work has never stopped… In 1947, some 82d elements participated in Operation Combine, a mock air to ground assault “invading Forces” from Florida. That winter, it was off to New York State dressed in white winter outfits to the freezing snow linden fields of Camp Drum for Operation Snowdrop.

In 1948, there was a massive mock invasion exercise at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and a joint exercise in Florida with the members of the Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Since the end of World War II, the 82d Airborne Division has gone through numerous changes of equipment and weapons as well as organizational adjustments.

Within a half-dozen years the demise of the Axis forces, the strategic reserve quality of the 82d America’s most experienced division of paratroopers was crystallizing. That can be seen in documents detailing the fact that during the Korean Conflict, Commanding General Douglas A. MacArthur sought to utilize the All American in a combat drop during the crucial Inchon landing. However, superiors nixed that idea, apparently signifying a desire to keep the All Americans for any other uprisings in other locations where freedom was in jeopardy. The 82d was the only strategic reserve unit ready to move in the states.

In 1958, that “first strike” policy was more formally expressed when the XVIII Airborne Corps under which the 82d Division serves, was designated as the strategic Army Corps command for rapid strike “first-in” mission trouble sports worldwide. With that, readiness training and joint exercises with other military units continued at an even greater pace.

The need for a rapid deployment force was further underscored because of the Cuban crisis of 1962. Three years later, when a power keg erupted in the Caribbean, the 82d was ready.

Strategic Reaction, 1965-1992

Since the mid-1960’s the 82d Airborne Division has had to fulfill its primary strategic reaction mission three times in the Caribbean region: Dominican Republic (1965), Grenada (1983), and Panama (1989) and once in Vietnam (3rd Brigade, 1968-1969). Each of these actions demonstrated the combat readiness of the division. In every instance, the division was able to move on short notice straight into combat.

Dominican Republic

In April 1965, the All Americans were doing their normal rigorous training when elements were alerted in response to a civil war raging in the Dominican Republic. Spearheaded by elements of the 3rd Brigade, the 82d deployed to the Caribbean in Operation Power Pack. Peace and stability were restored by Jun 17, when the rebel guns were silenced. The paratroopers spent the rest of their time performing security and humanitarian returned to Fort Bragg.

Vietnam

Although the 82d Airborne Division was the nation’s primary ready strategic reserve, the uproar caused by the Tet Offensive, which swept across the Republic of Vietnam in January 1968, forced the depletion of even the 82d in attempt to avert a perceived disaster in Vietnam. The 3rd Brigade was alerted and within 24 hours, the brigade was in route to Chu Lai. The 3rd Brigade performed combat duties in the Hue-Phu Bai area of the I Corps sector; later the brigade moved south to defend Saigon, fighting battle in the Delta, the Iron Triangle, and along the Cambodian border. After serving nearly 22 months in Vietnam, 3rd Brigade troopers returned to Fort Bragg in December 1969.

Tet Counteroffensive; 15 February 1968- 1 April 1968

OPERATION CARENTAN I

8 -31 March

The 3d Brigade was quickly sent into the fight after it is arrival. The entire Brigade arrived in 10 days and the battalions completed training, within five days of arrival.

At Hue, eight enemy battalions infiltrated the city and fought the three U.S. Marine Corps and eleven South Vietnamese battalions defending it. The fight to expel the enemy lasted a month. The 2-505th Infantry was quickly deployed there to bolster the friendly forces. The rest of the Brigade joined them and they defended the city to the South. The Brigade was placed in the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division for OPERATION CARENTAN I where the it was given the mission to secure the approaches to Hue. The 1-505 Infantry deployed southeast of Hue, 1-508 Infantry south of Hue and 2-505 Infantry further south of the two sister battalions. Each Infantry Battalion established forward operating presence and conducted patrols and operations. The 2-321 Artillery conducted harassing fire in support of the infantry battalions.

The biggest battle was The Candy Stripe from 18-22d March 1968. The Candy Stripe was Highway 552; here the Brigade fought North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops. The NVA built a trench and bunker complex along a canal zone south of the highway. After several days of contact, the NVA units abandoned the line of defense and retreated from the area.

Counteroffensive, Phase IV; 2 April 1968 - 30 June 1968

OPERATION CARENTAN II

During this period, friendly forces conducted a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy. CARENTAN II to block NVA supply routes from the rice fields on the coast to the mountain bases. 3d Brigade moved from east of Hue to northwest to conduct economy of force operations . The 1-505 Infantry was east of Hue and air assaulted to an area of northwest of Hue. The 1-508 Infantry secured an area north of Hue and 2-505 Infantry moved southwest of Hue on Highway 547. The 2-505 and 1-508 Infantry began a pacification operation, while the 1-505 Infantry conducted a recon in force which began a battle known as the Lazy W along the Song Bo River, 5-16 April 1968.

The battle occurred between the river and the Highway 1, as the units forced the NVA back to the river fighting became intense. During this phase, Sergeant Ronnie Harrell earned the Distinguished Service Cross while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 505th Infantry. His squad, point element for his platoon, maneuvered against well-fortified enemy positions, which had pinned down the rest of the company. Sergeant Harrell advanced through a hail of fire, entered the enemy trench system and killed two North Vietnamese soldiers. Hurling grenades, he continued to expose himself to enemy fire as he moved down the trench to eliminate a North Vietnamese Army position inside a nearby house. He destroyed the emplacement and began to return to his platoon's position. As he did so, he found four wounded comrades in the trench. He deployed three of them into a hasty defensive position and dragged the severely wounded fourth man to cover. He then returned to the other wounded, led them to a protected friendly position, and integrated them into the company's defenses. Upon returning to his platoon, Sergeant Harrell relayed timely information concerning the location of enemy positions to his officers, allowing them to better deploy their troops.

Following these operations, the 1-505 and 1-508 Infantry moved to fire support bases along Highway 547 in support of the 2-505 Infantry efforts to secure the route into Hue and block NVA movements through the area. The brigade conducted operations that trapped an NVA K10 Battalion of the 22d Regiment and eliminated the force. Panel note: need map. Counteroffensive, Phase V; 1 July 1968- 1 November 1968

OPERATION NEVADA EAGLE

During this period, a countrywide effort started to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces. The 3d Brigade operated near Hue conducting cordon and search operations in the area. 2-505 and 1-508 Infantry operated near Chau Chu.

During this time, it was Brigade S-2 determination that the 22d NVA Regiment and its commander Colonel Mot was in the area. The 1-508 Infantry was given the assault mission, and on 23 August the assault began. The 1-505 Infantry supported by conducting a combat assault and established Fire Support Base (FSB) Brick to fix the enemy. The 2-505 Infantry secured FSB Panther II to allow the 1-321 to send harassing fire into the operation area. The operations successfully captured the NVA regimental headquarters and provided a treasure trove of documents.

Following OPERATION MOT, the Brigade was moved to an area near Saigon. The Brigade moved to Phuc Vin in the III Corps area, northwest of the Capital. It was reassigned to the Capital Military Assistance Command. The Brigade’s mission was to bolster the defense of Saigon and Tan Son Nhut Airbase. The Brigade now fought a different enemy in this area; they no longer were fighting the NVA but the Viet Cong (VC). General Bolling changed the focus as in North near Phu Bai, “Take the night away from Charlie.” This required different techniques. During the day they conducted, cordon and search mission. At night, they conducted roving patrols and ambushing.

The Brigade headquartered at Camp Red Ball just north of the airbase. The Battalion established fire support bases in their area of operations. The 1-505 Infantry established FSB All-American Northwest of the airbase. The 2-505 Infantry was further way in the same direction at FSB Harrison. The 1-508 Infantry was at FSB Hardcore established in Vinh Loc Village area. The 2-321th Field Artillery was established at FSB Copperhead, which supported the entire Brigade Area with supporting and harassing fires.

The operations in this area were small unit actions, which NCOs and Lieutenants led. They successfully slowed the flow of VC intelligence and weapons around the approaches to Saigon.

Counteroffensive, Phase VI; 2 November 1968 - 22d February 1969

OPERATION TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III Corps’ Tactical Zone. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces. OPERATION SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation.

On 12 November 1968, the 1-508 Infantry moved to area that the 9th Infantry Division had operated; this area required riverine operation in Navy Landing Craft. The mission was a denial mission with combat assaults, reconnaissance in force and cordon and search operations. The battalion also conducted Eagle flights, small infantry air assaults into areas of enemy sightings.

The rest of the Brigade continued pacification operations and gained control of the area. Most successful was the operation to pacify the Vinh Loc village hamlet. Medical assistance proved to be the most successful tactic in providing support to the villages. As this was done, II Field Force used the battalions to reinforce and support operations throughout the III Corps area.

On 6 December, OPERATION GIANT SLINGSHOT started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown. 2-505 Infantry was attached to the 3d Brigade Cavalry Division for OPERATION SHERIDAN-SABER. They moved to an area 25 km north of Phuc Vinh to block an infiltration route that the 5th NVA Division used. Once the battalion patrolled and found no enemy units, it was moved another 20 Kilometers north and on 17 January 1969 it discovered regular NVA units operating in the area. During a four day running battle, the battalion found and tapped a telephone line. They soon learned they infiltrated an area of several NVA base camps. The Battalion continued operations in this area for weeks conducting a cat and mouse game until the NVA left the area and on 5 February, the Battalion returned to the Brigade.

Tet 69/Counteroffensive: 23 February 1969 - 8 June 1969

From Tet 1969 through the month of June, the enemy again tried to sustain an offensive. His inability to do so can be largely attributed to aggressive allied ground operations. Between 23 February and 8 June 1969, 70 significant named ground operations were executed resulting in heavy enemy loss of life and materiel.

The Brigade continued OPERATION TOAN THUNG PHASE III ,conducting its operations to keep the enemy off balance in its area. It was so successful that during the 23 February attack of Saigon no rocket or mortar fire came from the Brigade’s area of operation.

The 2-505th Infantry conducted its operations in the Hoc Mon, Phu Hoa, and Cu Chi Districts. They entered an area that was a historic staging arena for the NVA. They conducted Bushmaster operations, combined aerial and riverine operations to deny the NVA the ability to use the area.

The 2-321st Field Artillery conducted pacification operations during this period. The most effective was its agricultural program. This operation was done in the Gia Dinh Province. The Battalion analyzed the farmer’s field soil and helped determine proper crops and fertilizer and lime needed to increase yields.

In March, the Brigade once again lost a maneuver battalion, this time the 1-505 Infantry was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division for operations along the Song Vam Co Doung River. Its areas were between the Angels Wing and Parrot Beak and areas used by the VC as a route to Saigon. The area had a huge number of mines and booby traps and movements were slow and deliberate through the area. The battalion’s command and control changed again when 2d Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division took control of the area from the 1st Cavalry. Summer-Fall 1969: 9 June 1969 - 31 October 1969.

To open this campaign the Brigade’s operational area was extended west into terrain once controlled by the 199th Infantry. The lands west of Saigon to the Vam Go Dong River was a place known for pineapple plantations, nicknaming it the “Pineapple” The area was full off channels and low flooded fields. It was also full of booby traps, because it was a commonly used VC route. The area was so large that the Brigade used PPS -5 radar units to assist monitoring and Navy Patrol Rubber Boats to extend the Brigade’s capability to deny the area to the enemy.

During the summer and fall of 1969, the conduct of operations was increasingly turned over to Vietnamese; US troops withdrew in greater numbers amid reaffirmations of support for the Republic of South Vietnam government. President Nixon announced the reduction of the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam, which would be demonstrated initially by the withdrawal of 25,000 troops by 31 August 1969.

The Brigade’s part of this transition was to train the 5th Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN) Ranger Group and 1st and 3d Airborne in combat operations. They trained the ARVN units in airmobile assaults, cache finding sweeps and night ambushes. They conducted these operations and trained the ARVN in the Brigade’s area of operation from May until they turned the area west of Saigon over to the ARVN on 5 September 1969. The ARVN 1st Airborne received operations in The Pineapple on 15 October.

September 1969 began what was going to be the last combat operation for the Brigade, “Yorktown Victor”. This operation was to help the South Vietnamese win their freedom. . It was launched to get the enemy dislodged from his logistical train, the 83d Rear Service Force. The Brigade deployed to a new area in the southern Phu Ko District and the Iron Triangle starting 10 September 1969. The 1-505th Infantry was sent into the Iron Training and found huge numbers of underground supply depots. The 1-508 Infantry was sent to Phu Hoa in the southern tip of the Iron Triangle, and they conducted daily joint ARVN and US operations. The operations built the capability of the ARVN to function independently. They fought both VC and NVA units up to Company size.

Airborne Alerts In The 1970’s

During the 1970’s the All Americans continued their cycle of training, support and readiness. Division units deployed to the Republic of Korea and Turkey and to Greece for exercises in potential future battlegrounds.

The division was also alerted three times. War in the Middle East in the fall of 1973 brought the 82d to full alert. Then in May of 1978, the division was alerted for a possible drop into Zaire, and again in November of 1979, the division was alerted for a possible operation to rescue the American hostages in Iran. In each case political consideration prevented military intervention.

In 1982, as the Army’s most combat ready fighting division, elements of the 82d were assigned as peacemakers in the volatile Sinai region. The division also participated in the Operation Bright Star in Egypt and other training exercises in Europe.

Grenada

On October 25, 1983, as the Army’s most combat ready fighting division, elements of the 82d were called back to the Caribbean, this time to the tiny island of Grenada. The first 82d unit to deploy in Operation Urgent Fury was a task force of the 2-325th Infantry. The troops were rigged for an airborne insertion, but two hours out of Pope Air Force Base, they would be air landed since the airfield had already been secured.

On October 26th and 27th respectively, the 1-505th Infantry and the 1-508th Infantry, with support units deployed to Grenada. Military operations on Grenada ended in early November.

Operation Urgent Fury tested the division’s ability to deploy as a rapid deployment force. The first aircraft carrying division troopers touched down at Grenada’s Point Salines 17 hours after notification.

Panama

On December 20, 1989, the All Americans conducted their first combat since World War II onto Torrijos International Airport, Panama, to oust a ruthless dictator and restore the duly elected government to power. The 1st Brigade comprising the 1st and 2nd Battalion along with the 4-325th Infantry, joined the 3-504th Infantry, already propositioned in Panama.

After the night combat jump and seizure of the international airport, the 82d conducted follow on combat air assault missions in Panama City and in the surrounding areas.

The victorious paratroopers returned to Fort Bragg on January 12, 1990, in style, conducting a mass jump onto Sicily Drop Zone.

Persian Gulf

With the 82d celebrating and congratulations still fresh in the minds of most paratroopers, the 82d Airborne Division was called upon once again to perform a rapid deployment mission ... this time it was to draw a line in the sand.

Six days after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, the 82d became the vanguard of the largest deployment of American troops since Vietnam.

The first unit to deploy to Saudi Arabia on August 8 was a task force comprising of the 2d Brigade. Soon after, the rest of the division followed. Their intense training began in anticipation of paratroopers fighting it out in the desert with the heavily armored Iraqi army.

Their training concentrated on chemical defense, anti-armor tactics and live-fire maneuver exercises. The troopers of the Division were rarely more combat ready. The adage, or battle cry, picked up by the paratroopers was "The road home ... is through Baghdad."

On January 16, 1991, Operation DESERT STORM began when an armada of Allied warplanes pounded Iraqi targets. The ground war began six weeks later, when on February 23, the 82d, as part of the XVIII Airborne Corps, conducted flanking movements deep inside Iraq. A 2d Brigade task force was attached to the 6th French Light Armored Division becoming the far left flank of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The 82d's 1st and 3rd Brigades followed as support and reinforcements.

In the short 100-hour ground war, the vehicle-mounted 82d drove seep into Iraq capturing thousands of Iraqi soldiers and tons of equipment, weapons and ammunition.

After the liberation of Kuwait, the 82d began deployment back to Fort Bragg, with most of division returning by the end of April.

Following the division’s return and victory parades, the troopers began to reestablish some of the systems that had became dormant during their eight months in the desert. On top of the list was the regaining of individual and unit airborne proficiency, the continuation of tough realistic training, and reinstalling the go-to-war mentality in new and old paratroopers.

In July 1993, the 82d Airborne Division began planning for possible operation in Haiti. Early in the evening of September 18, 1994, nearly 3,000 paratroopers, who would form the initial assault force of Operation Restore Democracy, were in rout to Haiti. Aviation elements were already deployed to the nearby inland of Great Inauga. Elements of the 3/73rd Armor were waiting aboard ships. When Haitian leaders heard the 82d was on the way, a peace agreement was reached and the division was recalled. From September 26 to October 25, elements of the 3/73rd Armor supported XVIII Airborne Corps peacekeeping operations in Haiti.

KOSOVO DEFENSE CAMPAIGN

82d Airborne Division Paratroopers were among the first ground troops sent into the war-torn Kosovo region of the Balkans in summer 1999, when the 2-505th Infantry moved in from neighboring Macedonia. The 3-504th Infantry, who would be followed by the 1-325th Infantry in January 2001 as part of regular peacekeeping operation rotations, followed them shortly.

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

Operation Enduring Freedom

“We’re always ready to go out; we know it’s serious every time we leave the wire. It’s our job, I believe our mission (in Afghanistan) is very important, we are not only taking out the terrorist threat to those around the world, we are making the country better, we are sharing our democracy and helping to improve their way of life.”

Specialist Robert Monroe, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Infantry

When America was attacked on 11 September 2001, President George W. Bush called upon the American military to fight global terrorism. Soldiers of the 82d Airborne Division quickly answered this call, when the 49th Public Affairs Detachment deployed to the Afghanistan area to support combat operations as early as November 2001. Other Division units prepared for missions that might come.

Those missions did come, on 27 June 2002 when the Headquarters, 3rd Brigade deployed to Afghanistan to replace the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in July 2002. Task Force Panther as it was called was comprised of 3rd Battalion and 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 1-504th Infantry, and elements from 307th Engineer Battalion, 17th Cavalry Squadron, 1-319th Field Artillery, 82d Aviation Brigade and 82d Support Battalion. All three infantry battalions executed combat operations throughout the country in order to prevent the reemergence of the Taliban and to deny sanctuary to terrorist groups operating in the region. The Task Force carried out a mission in mid-September 2002 called Operation Mountain Sweep and established Forward Operating Base Salerno, located just north of Khowst. While operating out of Forward Operating Base Salerno, Task Force Panther conducted 27 air assaults and more than 30 combat missions. The unit recovered roughly 214 tons of munitions and managed to send 12 detainees to the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay. Fellow All-Americans replaced this task force.

Task Force Devil constituted of the 1st Brigade, 82d Airborne Division with 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 504th Infantry and 2-505th Infantry and elements from 307th Engineer Battalion, 17th Cavalry Squadron and 3-319th Field Artillery. This Task Force replaced the 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division in January 2003. Task Force Devil stayed in Afghanistan until August 2003. They conducted several combat missions to eliminate the Taliban and terrorist holdouts from Afghanistan’s mountainous regions. Some of these missions were named Operations Viper and Valiant Strike. These operations pitted soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 504th Infantry against southern Afghanistan’s rough terrain and elements. Their goal was to seek out enemy forces, weapons and tactical intelligence. The missions removed tons of rockets, rifles and launchers. Such stockpiles resulted in a handful of Taliban and terrorists being taken into custody for questioning.

The Division Headquarters and Commanding General John Vines were deployed to Afghanistan to be the controlling headquarters for all conventional units in Afghanistan. The Task Force was known as Task Force All-American and was headquartered in Bagram from September 2002 to April 2003.

This is different than typical combat missions because we’ll get to see the difference we’re making in people’s lives firsthand. I’m hoping the elections go through so that the Afghan people can enjoy the same freedoms that we do.”

1st Lt. Dan Coulter, 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne)

The first 82d Airborne Division units deployed to Afghanistan were Infantry Battalions supporting the Afghan National Elections during unplanned rapid deployments. They were sent when the Central Command (CENTCOM) commander felt additional troops were needed to protect the election process. The 1-505th Infantry (Airborne) was deployed for eight weeks to provide additional security for the 2004 elections. During the 2005 elections, 1st Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne) deployed for five months to provide additional security and distribute election materials to polling places.

Meanwhile, the 82d Airborne Division Brigades conducted planned rotation to Afghanistan. First Brigade supported Operation Enduring Freedom 6 in 2005. It deployed with its supporting slice units, the 3-319th Field Artillery and 307th Support Battalion. During the deployment, the Brigade Task Force supported the Combined Joint Task Force 76. The Brigade conducted counter-insurgency operations against Taliban and Al-Qaeda throughout Afghanistan’s mountainous regions.

Afghanistan: Consolidation II 1 October 2006—30 November 2009

The most significant deployment to Afghanistan was that of Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez and the 82d Airborne Division headquarters in February 2007. Combined Joint Task Force-82 (CJTF-82) was the U.S.-led subordinate command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until 10 April 2008, shortly after the division headquarters arrived. CJTF-82 served as both the National Command Element for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reporting directly to the U.S. Central Command commander, and as International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command – East reporting to former Division Commander General Dan McNeil, ISAF Commander. As ISAF-East Commander Major General Rodriquez supervised 32,000 soldiers in 14 provinces in eastern Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan. CJTF-82 was headquartered at Bagram Airfield; they served in this role until April 10, 2008

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with 1st and 2-508th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan for the first combat tour in its history. Along with the 173d Infantry Brigade, they formed the major infantry units for Combined Joint Task Force 82. The 4th Brigade Combat Team performed most of the infantry mission in their area of operation, including raids, cordon and search and humanitarian assistance. The 4th Brigade Combat Team presented the Silver Star Medal to SPC Monica Brown, the second female since World War II to receive the award, for her actions as a combat medic during an ambush in April 2007. The Brigade Combat Team was deployed for over 15 months, and returned to Fort Bragg on April 13, 2008. .

The 82d Combat Aviation Brigade deployed to support the 82d with its mission in November 2006. It deployed with its organic 2d and 3d Battalions, 82d Aviation. Together, they flew more than 80,000 hours in support of CJTF-82 ground commanders. They transported more than 50,000 passengers throughout Afghanistan, moving more than seven million pounds of cargo and using more than 6 million gallons of fuel while conducting combat operations, medical evacuations, logistical resupply, reconnaissance, and surveillance target acquisition in support of the Combined Joint Task Force 82 ground commanders.

Afghanistan: Consolidation III - 1 December 2009—30 June 2011

On 2 March 2009, the 82nd Airborne Division received orders from U.S. Army Forces Command to prepare for deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. They departed in May 2009 for Regional Command East (RC East) and accepted the transition of authority from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on 3 June.

The 82d’s 4th Brigade Combat Team with 1st and 2-508th Infantry, along with 700 additional training and support personnel, arrived in August, taking up positions in RC West and RC South. Its mission was to neutralize the insurgency in order to support the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in rebuilding security forces and social institutions while enhancing governance, the economy, and infrastructure. This task was not easy because RC East’s operational area was 124,675 square kilometers and included 570 miles of the porous border with Pakistan.

Afghanistan: Transition I - 1 July 2011–31 December 2014

The 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) took the leading role in the last major clearing operation of the war in the eastern province of Ghazni. In a six-month deployment along the main thoroughfare between Kabul and Kandahar, the1st Brigade conducted nearly 3,500 patrols, killed or captured 400 enemy combatants, found nearly 200 roadside bombs and weapons caches, and engaged the enemy more than 170 times.

In February 2012, the 4th BCT with 1st and 2-508th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan for a third time—to Kandahar Province, birthplace of the Taliban—to combat the core of Afghan insurgency and to aid Afghan security forces to gain a stronghold as part of Operation RIGHTEOUS ENDEAVOR. The 4th BCT redeployed to Fort Bragg that September.

The division headquarters returned from its yearlong deployment to Afghanistan in October 2012. It served as the Regional Command South headquarters with nearly 10,000 paratroopers throughout Afghanistan, from Kandahar in the south to Afghanistan’s eastern border.

RELIEF EFFORTS FOR HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA  

Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive hurricane ever to strike the United States. It first struck southern Florida on 25 August 2005 as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It quickly reintensified once it moved west into the warm Gulf waters. Katrina continued to strengthen as it turned toward the northwest and eventually north toward Louisiana and Mississippi.

Katrina's sustained winds reached 175 mph. The storm's intensity diminished slightly as it approached the central Gulf Coast, but Katrina remained a strong Category 4 storm until landfall along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts on August 29. Although its intensity at landfall was less than that of Hurricane Camille, which devastated coastal Mississippi in August 1969, the size of Katrina, with hurricane force winds extending 120 miles from its center, was much larger and the destruction more widespread than Camille.

The associated storm surge reached as far east as Mobile, Alabama. The combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge led to breaks in the earthen levee system that separates New Orleans from surrounding lakes and canals, leaving large parts of New Orleans under 20 feet of water

Following less than a month after Hurricane Katrina devastated large parts of the central Gulf Coast region; Hurricane Rita was the second hurricane of the season to reach Category 5 status in the Gulf of Mexico. This marked the first time on record that two hurricanes reached Category 5 strength in the Gulf of Mexico in the same season.

Weakening occurred during the 36 hours prior to landfall Hurricane Rita made landfall with wind speeds of 120 mph along the Texas and Louisiana border early on 24 September 2005. Although the region was well prepared for the storm, the devastation across the Louisiana and Texas border region was widespread. There were few reports of injuries or deaths as a direct result of the storm, unlike the large loss of life from, a massive evacuation effort likely saved much loss of life.

"The 82d has been like a godsend. They have been able to get us whatever we need to complete our mission."
Melissa Bowers, a civilian volunteer from Bremerton, Wash

The 82d Airborne Division deployed on 3 September 2005 to provide search and rescue, evacuation, humanitarian assistance and presence patrols in New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana.  Within six hours of notification, the Division was en route to New Orleans. Shortly upon arrival, the Division’s units secured the New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome. They began rescue missions and evacuated the displaced.

The Division was the core element of Task Force All American, which later became Joint Task Force All American.  This Joint and Interagency Task Force was made up of more than 6,900 soldiers that included 3,600 Paratroopers from Fort Bragg. Other elements came from the National Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Air Force, Drug Enforcement Agency, EMS, state, and local police. Additionally, two Military Police companies from the California and Puerto Rico National Guard were placed under the Division’s operational direction so that they always had “embedded” National Guard troops in all of the patrols and movements to perform police functions if required.

As Hurricane Rita made landfall, the Division moved units to areas outside of New Orleans. After landfall, Joint Task Force All American forces rapidly deployed back into city and deployed to South West Louisiana to Cameron, Calcasieu, Iberia and Vermilion Parishes. The Task Force then conducted search and rescue missions and rescued 30 people, 47 pets and 1 dolphin from the flooded areas. After the conclusion of the operation, the Division redeployed back to Fort Bragg with the last ground convoys back at Fort Bragg on 8 October 2005.   

Task Organization

HHC, 82d Airborne Division 82d Signal Battalion 313th Military Intelligence Battalion

3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division 2-505th Infantry 3-505th Infantry 307th Engineer Battalion 82d Military Police Company

82d Airborne Division Divisional Artillery 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion 2d Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion

82d Aviation Brigade 2-82d Aviation

82d Airborne Division Support Command 782d Support Battalion

1st Corps Support Command

REFERENCES

GENERAL

Covington, H.L. A Fighting Heart: An Unofficial History of the 82d Airborne Division. Fayetteville, NC: Davis, 1949.

U.S. Army War College. Hist Sect. Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War: American Expeditionary Forces, Divisions. Wash, DC: CMH, 1988. pp. 346-357.

Waddell, L.S. The Airborne Story. Reprint from Pegasus, a corporate magazine, June August 1954. 48 p.

Wilson, John B., comp. Armies, Corps, Divisions and Separate Brigades. In the official Army Lineage Series. Wash, DC: CMH, 1987. pp. 453-464

WORLD WAR I

American Battle Monuments Comm. 82d Division Summary of Operations in the World War. Wash, DC: GPO, 1944.

Mitchell, Gary A., Ed. 82d Division, AEF: WWI Battle Citation General Orders, 1918‑1919. US: Planchet Pr, 1984.

Service Record: Home‑Coming Souvenir Edition. Special issue periodical, Atlanta, GA, 5 Jun 1919.

U.S. Army. 82d Div. Official Camp Gordon Song Book. Augusta, GA: 82d Div, Nat’l Army, no date M1628O34RareBook.

Official History of the 82d Division, American Expeditionary Forces: "All American" Division. Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs‑Merrill, 1919.

WORLD WAR II

-GENERAL

Blair, Clay. Ridgway's Paratroopers: The American Airborne in World War II. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1985.

Dawson, W. Forrest. Saga of the All American. Nashville, TN: Battery Pr, 1978 Eaton, Ralph. Memoirs. Arch.

Gavin, James M. "Airborne Army's First Test." Inf Journal 62 (Jan 1948): pp. 22-30 & (Feb 1948): pp. 39-46. Per.

Memorandum for General Farrell. Typescript, 21 Sep 54.

On To Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander, 1943‑1946. NY: Viking, 1978.

Jacobs, Bruce. Soldiers: The Fighting Divisions of the Regular Army. NY: Norton, 1958. pp. 251-263.

Lindquist, Roy. Papers. Five Boxes. Arch.

Linton, Leonard. Kilroy Was Here. n.p., 1997.

Kilroy Was Here Too. n.p., 1999.

McNally, John V. As Ever, John: The Letters of Col. John V. McNally to his Sister, Margaret McNally Bierbaum, 1941‑1946. Fairfield, CT: Roberts Pr, 1985.

Members of the 82d Airborne Division. n.p., n.d. List of members & awards, 1944‑1945.

Mrozek, Steven J. The 82d Airborne Division: America's Guard of Honor. Dallas, TX: Taylor, 1987.

Ridgway, Matthew B. Papers and Oral History Transcript. Arch.

Stanton, Shelby L. Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II. Notato, CA: Presidio, 1984. pp. 151-153.

Stars and Stripes. All American. Paris: Defosses‑Neogravure, 1945.

Thompson, Leroy. The All Americans: The 82d Airborne. NY: Sterling, 1988.

U.S. Army. 82d Abn Div. 82d Airborne Division. n.p., 1972?

U.S. Army. ETO. Order of Battle of the United States Army, World War II: European Theater Of Operations, Divisions. Paris: 1945. pp. 278-288. D767U52.

U.S. Dept of Army. Hist Div. Combat Chronicle: An Outline History of U.S. Army Divisions.Wash, DC: 1948. p. 67.

U.S. War Dept. AGO. "Historical Documents World War II." ca 130 reels.

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER

Breuer, William. They Jumped At Midnight: The "Crash" Parachute Missions That Turned the Tide At Salerno. St. Louis, MO: Zeus, 1983.

Gavin, James M. "Airborne Plans and Operations in the Mediterranean Theater." Inf Journal 59 (Aug 1946): pp. 22-29. Per.

"Paratroopers over Sicily." Infantry Journal 57 9Nov 1945): pp. 25-33. Per.

Huston, James A. "The 82d Airborne Division in Sicily." Infantry (Jul/Aug 1985): pp. 28-34. Per.

U.S. Army. 82d Abn Div. 82d Airborne Division in Sicily and Italy. European Theater, 1945.

EUROPEAN THEATER

Anzuoni, Robert P. “I’m the 82d Airborne Division!” A History of the All-American Division in World War II after Action Reports. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2005.

Cornett, Jack G. "Airborne Invasion--Normandy." Mil Rev 24 (Nov 1944): pp. 21-24. Per.

Gavin, James M. "Back Door to Normandy." Inf Journal 59 (Nov 1946): pp. 8-19. Per.

Marshall, S. L. A. Night Drop: The American Airborne Invasion of Normandy. Nashville, TN: Battery Pr, 1982.

U.S. Army. 82d Abn Div. After Action Report, 82d Airborne Division, April 1945. European Theater, 1945.

82d Airborne Division Action in Central Europe, April May 1945; Based on Official After Action Reports. European Theater, 1945.

82d Airborne Division Action in Normandy, France in Four Sections. European Theater, 1944.

82d Airborne Division Operation Market Historical Data. European Theater, 1944.

The Story of the 82d Airborne Division in the Battle of the Belgian Bulge in the Siegfried Line And on the Roer River. European Theater, 1945. SINCE 1945

GENERAL

U.S. Army. 82d Abn Div. 82d Airborne Division, 1952. n.p., 1952

Exercise Assembly: The 82d Airborne Division Staff Report, 1948. Four vols. Ft. Bragg, NC: 1948. #05-82.1948.

Book I: Pre‑Operational Planning.

Book II: Phase I.

Book III: Phase II.

Book IV: [no title].

The Story of the 82d Airborne Division in the Year 1948, Fort Bragg, North Carolina: Division Artillery. Phila, PA: Dorville, 1949

The Story of the 82d Airborne Division in the Year 1948, Fort Bragg, North Carolina: Special Troops. Phila: Doraville, 1949.

Support Group, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Baton Rouge, LA: Army & Navy Pub, 1958.

Summary of Activities, 1963. Ft. Bragg, NC: 1964.

Summary of Activities, 1964. Ft. Bragg, NC: 1965.

Summary of Activities, 1965. Ft. Bragg, NC: 1966.

Summary of Activities, 1966. Ft. Bragg, NC: 1967.

TRAINING EXERCISE REPORTS

Arctic Night: Final Report (1956).

Snow Chute: After Action, Report (1961) U253.2S62U54.1961.

Snow Storm: Final Report (Jan/Mar 1953).

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Barry, Robert F. Power Pack, Dominican Republic, 1965-1966. Portsmouth, VA: Messenger, 1965.

Clingham, James H. "'All American' Teamwork (Role of the 82d Airborne Division in the Dominican Republic from Apr 30, 1965‑ Sep 22, 1966). Army Dig 22 (Jan 1967): pp. 19‑23. Per.

VIETNAM

Pohlman, Stephen K., Ed. Vietnam II: 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division, January 1969 to December 1969. n.p., 1970?

Porter, William R. and Fairfaull, Thomas M. The History of the 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division: February 1968 to March 1969. Toronto: Image, 1969?

Stanton, Shelby L. Vietnam Order of Battle. Milwood, NY: Kraus, 1981. p. 83.

U.S. Army Command Info Unit. Scrapbook for Fighting Men Too Busy To Keep Their Own. Wash, DC: 1969?

SINCE 1969

Blanchard, George S. Papers.

Elton, Robert M. "New Tactics, Training in the 82d: The Airborne Division in the '70s." Army 22 (Sep 1972): pp. 16-20. Per.

Frost, Malcolm B., Jackson, John C. & Valdez, Michael A. “Merging Technology and Training:

The 82d Airborne Division’s Master Gunner Program.” Infantry (Spring 2002): pp. 32-35. Per.

U.S. Army. 82d Abn Div. “82d Airborne Division G2/S2 Handbook.” By the Division, 1994.

Wildman, John Bennett. 1982: Year of the 82d. Charlotte, NC: Delmar, 1982.