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FIRST WORLD WAR

The history of the "All American" Division begins during the First World War. The 82nd Infantry Division was formed on August 25, 1917 at Camp Gordon in Georgia near Atlanta, with men from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. In November 1917, approximately 28,000 men were quartered at Camp Gordon. The 82nd Infantry Division was born, in a time of war, austerity and scarcity.

The 82nd Infantry Division was organized into two infantry brigades and an artillery brigade containing three artillery regiments. The Division was supported by an engineer regiment, three machine gun battalions and a transport company made up of logistics and a medical and medical corps.

The 82nd Division was the second division of the national army to be sent to France and the eighth US Infantry Division to go overseas.

In April 1918, the Regiment was ordered to leave Camp Gordon and move to Camp Upton, New York to then arrive around May 07, 1918 in England where the 325th Infantry Regiment was chosen to march through London in front of the King. of England and the people. This 325th parade is a historic milestone, as it gives the British people a glimpse into the all-new US Army.

The first soldiers of the 82nd arrived in France on May 16, 1918 on the front at Escarbotin in the Somme near Friville. They were immediately trained west of Abbeville by the 66th British Division and received new equipment - Lewis LMGS machine guns, Vickers, Stokes mortars as well as Lee-Enfield rifles replacing their American model 1917 rifle supplied - by this same army. .

In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

SECOND WORLD WAR

On October 20, 1942, at Camp Blanding, Florida, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated with Major Roy E. Lindquist (left) in command. The regiment came mainly from the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 26th Infantry Division. In mid-December, the 508th PIR reached full power. The following month, the 508th was transferred to Camp Mackall, North Carolina, where they trained until December.

On December 28, 1943, the regiment boarded the US Army transport James Parker and set out to join the convoy across the Atlantic for war in Europe. Twelve days later, on January 9, 1944, the James Parker docked in Belfast, Ireland and the 508th began training throughout Great Britain.

  Operation Neptune - D-Day

Operation "Neptune" was a very important air phase of Overlord, the name given to the massive D-Day invasion plan of Europe. The 82nd Airborne was an integral part of Operation Neptune. Because the ranks of the 504th PIR had been exhausted due to the Italian campaigns, the 507th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments were attached to the 82nd for this operation.

The 82nd's mission was to destroy vital German supply bridges and capture the causeways leading inland through the flooded areas behind the beaches of Normandy where maritime forces would land to take control of the roads and communications. More than 10,000 All-Americans landed by parachute and glider on June 6, 1944 - D-Day - in the largest air assault in history.

The 508th was responsible for the southwest part of the 82d Airborne Division sector in Normandy. Their main targets were the bridges over the Douve, located in Brienville and Beuzeville-la-Bastille. Clouds and intense anti-aircraft fire dislocated the formations and many planes moved out of their way. The confusion was also compounded by the presence of the Wehrmarcht in the planned drop zones. This prevented the scouts from marking them and consequently delayed many pilots from flashing the jump lights until they had passed the drop zones as they frantically searched for the markers. As a result, the 507th and 508th soldiers were widely dispersed throughout the Normandy countryside.

Landing in the swampy lands along the river, the heavily loaded soldiers rushed to assemble into combat units. Due to the confusion, they were unable to muster their forces in force to occupy the west bank of the Douve River in force. Instead, the soldiers gathered along the embankment of the main railway line from Cherbourg to Carentan, both because it was high ground and because it was a recognizable terrain feature. After regrouping into small units, the 508th began to carry out its arduous task of seizing the bridge over the Douve at Pont L 'Abbe.

Lt Colonel Thomas JBShanley (See photo) However, a unit under the command of Lt. Col. Thomas JBShanley, (right photo [Photo is a still image) still from an 8mm film shot by Capt William Nation, commander of the 2nd Battalion, Rgt S-1 508th PIR]), encountered a large contingent of German infantry (battalion force) before reaching the city. The Germans were pushing east into this area most of the day under orders to counterattack and annihilate the American insertion west of Merderet. Lieutenant-Colonel Shanley immediately realized that they were largely under-numbered and retreated to Hill 30. He ordered his unit to dig into it. For two days, he and his men fought repeated German attempts to invade the main parachute landings and contributed significantly to the creation of the Merderet beachhead. This action was deemed decisive in helping the airport to achieve its objectives in Normandy.

CPL Ernest T. Roberts, PVT Otto K. Zwingman and PVT John A. Lockwood were cited for their courage during this action. They observed the formation of a German counterattack by an esteemed infantry battalion with tank support while serving as an outpost in a building in Haut Gueutteville. Remaining at their post, these soldiers withstood the enemy attack for two hours, allowing the main body of Lt. Col. Shanley's force to establish a full defense at Hill 30.

Lt Colonel Herbert F Batcheller The 508th continued their fierce combat as infantry for 33 days after landing in Normandy. They had stifled the reinforcements of the Axis forces defending the French coast. On July 13, 1944, the Red Devils returned to England after suffering 1,061 losses on 2,056 paratroopers, including 307 killed in action (KIA). Among the KIAs was Lieutenant-Colonel Batcheller, (see photo) commander of the 1st battalion. For the remainder of World War II, the 508th will remain attached to the 82nd Airborne Division.

  Operation Market Garden

On September 9, 1944, Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan, called Operation Market Garden, to secure a bridgehead on the Rhine. The operation called for combined armor plating and an airborne assault to seize and hold key bridges and roads deep behind German lines in Holland. The airborne phase of the operation consisted of capturing five bridges in front of the armored force. The 504th now back at full power joined the 82nd, while the 507th went to the 17th Airborne Division.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on September 17, 1944, the Red Devils jumped into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. Although initial resistance was slight, heavy fighting ensued for days.

On September 18, 1SG Leonard A. Funk, Jr., led elements of C Coy in a fierce counterattack to clear the LZ from attacking Wehrmacht infantry and anti-aircraft artillery to allow landing. of troops of gliders and reinforcement artillery of the 319th 320th and 456th battalions of the FA. For its actions, 1SG Funk received the Distinguished Service Cross.

The 508th establishes and maintains a defensive position along the main line of resistance which is over twelve thousand meters long against the strong German resistance. The regiment then seized bridge No. 10 and prevented its destruction by destroying the demolition apparatus of the Nijmegen bridge over the river Waal. This action contributed to the success of the 82nd Airborne mission.

During this time, the regiment also seized, occupied and defended the mass terrain of Berg EN Dalkamp Hill which controlled the Groesbeek-Nijmegen region. They cut off the K route, preventing the movement of enemy reserves, or the enemy's flight along this important international route.

NCOs of the 508th PIR take a break at Camp Sissones NCO Club.Finally, the regiment resisted and repelled the main enemy efforts at Wyler and Beek to penetrate the division's position and assault the units to the north . In carrying out these missions, the regiment captured 483 prisoners. During this period of combat, the regiment suffered 139 KIA, 479 WIA and 178 MIA. No Red Devil has been captured by the enemy.
(photo above right: men from the 508th PIR socialize at the NCO Club at Camp Sissone, France. (left to right): (3) unidentified soldiers, (fourth from left) M / Sgt James B Smylie, Hq Co., (2) additional unidentified soldiers.
On November 10, the 508th was relieved by a British brigade. They immediately returned to Nijmegen and finally to Camp Sissone, France on November 14.

  Battle of the Bulge - The Offensive of the Bulge

On December 16, 1944, the entire 82nd Airborne was thrown into the Ardennes Forest during the biggest battle of WWII - Battle of the Bulge

The Germans smashed the thin American screen in the Ardennes. The SHAEF reserve forces have been alerted. The 101st Airborne is sent to Bastogne to try to hold the southern shoulder of the penetration while the 82d receives the order from Werbomont to pinch the northern shoulder.

On December 18, the 508th moved and the 19th had established positions in the vicinity of Chevron. The regiment held positions against the Germans until the 24th, when they were ordered to withdraw to establish a new line of resistance. The regiment held its position until January 3, 1945 when the 82nd Airborne Division counterattacked.

On January 7, the Red Devil's launched an attack with the 504th around Thier-du-Mont where it suffered heavy losses. Once again, the regiment was withdrawn from the line and put in reserve until January 21 when it replaced elements of the 2d Infantry Division.

On January 24, the regiment was placed in Corp reserve, but quickly returned to action on January 26.

On January 29, 1945, First Sergeant Leonard Funk, Jr., (pictured right receiving CMH from President Truman) of Braddock Township, Pa., Company C, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment received the Medal of Honor (CMH) for the action in Holzheim, Belgium. After leading his unit and capturing 80 Germans, the enemy, by means of a ruse, captured the four American guards, freed the prisoners and prepared to attack the understaffed Americans. Funk, walking through a building among them, had a submachine gun thrust into his stomach by a German officer. Pretending to comply with a demand for surrender, he slowly released his Thompson submachine gun and with a lightning-fast movement, riddled the officer and led his men to resist the enemy, killing 21 in the process.

On February 22, the regiment returned to Camp Sissonne where it became part of the SHAEF reserve. The regiment carried out maintenance, trained and refitted.

On April 5, the regiment was relieved of its attachment to the 82d Airborne Division and placed under the direct control of the First Allied Airborne Army. The regiment moved to Chartres with an emergency mission to liberate the POW camps in Germany by airborne assault if the situation required it. The 508th remained in Chartres until the end of May 1945. After a brief stay in Sissonne, the 508th was moved to Frankfurt am Main for the duty of occupation and served as a guard at the SHAEF headquarters of General Eisenhower. In December 1945, LTC Otho E. Holmes took command of the regiment.