Editing 82nd Airborne Division (section)

==World War II==

===Initial training and conversion===

Before Organized Reserve infantry divisions were ordered into active military service, they were reorganized on paper as "triangular" divisions under the 1940 tables of organization. The headquarters companies of the two infantry brigades were consolidated into the division's cavalry reconnaissance troop, and one infantry regiment was removed by inactivation. The field artillery brigade headquarters and headquarters battery became the headquarters and headquarters battery of the division artillery, and its three field artillery regiments were reorganized into four battalions. The engineer, medical, and quartermaster regiments were reorganized into battalions. In 1942, divisional quartermaster battalions were split into ordnance light maintenance companies and quartermaster companies, and the division's headquarters and military police company, which had previously been a combined unit, was split.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John B.|date=1998|title=Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Center of Military History, U.S. Army|pages=161, 169–70}}</ref>

The 82nd Division was redesignated on 13 February 1942 as Division Headquarters, 82nd Division, and ordered into active service on 25 March 1942, at [[Camp Claiborne]], [[Louisiana]], under the command of [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Omar Bradley|Omar N. Bradley]]. The officer and enlisted cadre mostly came from the [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]], while the enlisted fillers came from reception centers in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], [[Southern United States|South]], and [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]].<ref>{{cite news|date=April 10, 1942|title=82nd Division at Full Strength Begins Training|work=Town Talk |location=Alexandria, Louisiana |access-date=}}</ref> During this period, the division brought together three officers who would ultimately steer the U.S. Army during the following two decades: [[Matthew Ridgway]], [[James M. Gavin]], and [[Maxwell D. Taylor]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Blair|first=Clay|title=Ridgeway's Paratroopers The American Airborne in World War II|year=1985|publisher=Naval Institute Press|pages=Plate 11}}</ref> Under Major General Bradley, the 82nd Division's [[Chief of staff|Chief of Staff]] was [[George Van Pope]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Doyle|first=Charles H.|title=Stand in the Door!|year=1988|publisher=Phillips Publications|location=Williamstown, New Jersey|page=104|author2=Terrell Stewart}}</ref>

On 15 August 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division, now commanded by Major General Ridgway, became the first airborne division in the history of the U.S. Army, and was redesignated as the '''82nd Airborne Division'''. The 82nd was selected after deliberations by the U.S. Army General Staff because of a number of factors; it was not a Regular Army or National Guard unit (historian John B. Wilson wrote that "many traditionalists in those components wanted nothing to do with such an experimental force," while James M. Gavin wrote that many states would refuse the conversion of their National Guard units, likely because of the additional expenses needed to maintain facilities for airborne units), its personnel had all completed basic training, and it was stationed in an area that had good weather and flying facilities.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson|first=John B. |date=1998|title=Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army|page=165}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Gavin|first=James M.|date=1979|title=On to Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander, 1943-1946|location=London, England|publisher=Leo Cooper Ltd|page=3}}</ref> The division initially consisted of the [[325th Infantry Regiment (United States)|325th]], [[326th Infantry Regiment (United States)|326th]] and [[327th Infantry Regiment (United States)|327th Infantry Regiment]]s, and supporting units. The 327th was soon transferred to help form the [[101st Airborne Division]] and was replaced by the [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)|504th Parachute Infantry Regiment]], leaving the division with two regiments of [[glider infantry]] and one of [[Paratrooper|parachute infantry]]. In February 1943 the division received another change when the 326th was transferred to the [[13th Airborne Division (United States)|13th Airborne Division]], being replaced by the [[505th Infantry Regiment (United States)|505th Parachute Infantry Regiment]], under James M. Gavin, then a [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]], who was later to command the division.

===North Africa and Italy===
In April 1943, [[paratrooper]]s from the 82nd, under the command of Major General Ridgway, sailed into the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] and landed in North Africa as part of the Allied plan to [[Allied invasion of Sicily|invade Sicily]]. The division's first two combat operations were [[Paratrooper|parachute assault]]s into Sicily on July 9 and [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|Salerno]] on 13 September 1943.<ref name="divhist">{{cite web |url=http://www.bragg.army.mil/82nd/Pages/History.aspx |title=82nd Airborne Division History |publisher=82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office |access-date=1 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225125033/http://www.bragg.army.mil/82dv/History.htm |archive-date=25 December 2009}}</ref> The initial assault on Sicily, by the 505th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, under Colonel Gavin, was the first regimental-sized combat parachute assault conducted by the United States Army.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} The first glider assault did not occur until [[Normandy landings|Operation Neptune]] as part of the [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings of 6 June 1944]]. Troopers arrived in Italy by [[landing craft]] at Maiori, Naples, and Salerno.<ref name=":0" />

During the [[Allied invasion of Italy|invasion of Italy]], Ridgway considered [[Will Lang Jr.]] of [[Time (magazine)|''TIME'' magazine]] an honorary member of the division.

In January 1944, the 504th, commanded by [[Reuben Henry Tucker III|Colonel Reuben Tucker]], which was temporarily detached to [[Battle of Anzio|fight at Anzio]], adopted the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants", taken from an entry in a German officer's diary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Drew |title=Retired Lt. Col. Guy LoFaro to sign books at Airborne & Special Operations Museum |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/military/2014/02/08/retired-lt-col-guy-lofaro/22213329007/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=The Fayetteville Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Normandy===
[[File:SC 320906 - Members of the 82nd Airborne Division, 508th Regiment, check their equipment before taking off from an airfield in Saltby, England, to participate in the invasion of Europe. (50068102941).jpg|thumb|left|Members of the 508th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, check their equipment before taking off from an airfield in [[Saltby]], [[Leicestershire]], England, to participate in the invasion of Europe, 1944.]]

With two air drops under its belt, the 82nd Airborne was ready for the second "D-Day" operation in the division's history; [[Normandy landings|Operation Neptune]], or the amphibious assault portion of Allied [[invasion of Normandy]]. The division conducted [[Mission Boston]], a component of the [[Operation Overlord]] plan.

In preparation for the operation, the division was significantly reorganized. To ease the integration of replacement troops, rest, and refitting following the fighting in Italy, the 504th PIR did not rejoin the division for the invasion. Two new parachute infantry regiments (PIRs), the [[507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)|507th]] and the [[508th Infantry Regiment (United States)|508th]], provided it, along with the veteran 505th, a three-parachute infantry regiment punch. The 325th was also reinforced by the addition of the 3rd Battalion of the [[401st Infantry Regiment (United States)|401st GIR]], bringing it up to a strength of three battalions.

On 5 and 6 June these paratroopers, parachute artillery elements, and the 319th and 320th, boarded hundreds of transport planes and [[Military glider|gliders]] to begin history's largest airborne assault at the time (only [[Operation Market Garden]] later that year would be larger). During the June 6th assault, a 508th platoon leader, [[First lieutenant|First Lieutenant]] [[Robert P. Mathias]], would be the first U.S. Army officer killed by German fire during the invasion.<ref>{{cite book |title=D-Day |publisher=Pocket Books |author=Ambrose, S. E. |year=2002 |page=24}}</ref> On 7{{nbsp}}June, after this first wave of attack, the 325th GIR would arrive by glider to provide a division reserve.

In Normandy, the 82nd gained its first [[Medal of Honor]] of the war, belonging to [[Private first class|Private First Class]] [[Charles N. DeGlopper]] of the 325th GIR.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.lonesentry.com/usdivisions/medal-of-honor/airborne/division/82nd_airborne_division.html| title = 82nd Airborne Division WWII Medal of Honor Recipients|website=LoneSentry.com}}</ref> When the division was relieved in early July, the 82nd had seen a month straight of severe combat. Casualties had been heavy. Losses included 5,245 troopers killed, wounded, or missing- a 46% casualty rate. Major General Ridgway's post-battle report stated in part, "...&nbsp;33 days of action without relief, without replacements. Every mission accomplished. No ground gained was ever relinquished."<ref name="divhist"/>

Following Normandy, the 82nd Airborne Division returned to England to rest and refit for future airborne operations. The 82nd became part of the newly organized [[XVIII Airborne Corps]], which consisted of the [[17th Airborne Division (United States)|17th]], 82nd, and [[101st Airborne Division]]s. Ridgway was given command of the corps but was not officially promoted to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] until 1945. His recommendation for succession as division commander was [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[James M. Gavin]], previously the 82nd's assistant division commander. Upon being promoted to Major General in October 1944 at the age of 37, Gavin became the youngest general since the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] to command a U.S. Army division.<ref name="Ruggero2007">{{cite book|last=Ruggero|first=Ed|title=The First Men In: US Paratroopers and the Fight to Save D-Day|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DQHQMGknDB0C&pg=PA307|date=29 May 2007|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-0-06-073129-8|page=307}}</ref>

===Market Garden===

On August 2, 1944, the division became part of the [[First Allied Airborne Army]]. In September, planning for [[Operation Market Garden]] (the Allied invasion of the [[Netherlands]]) began in earnest. The operation called for three (at minimum) airborne divisions to seize and hold key bridges and roads deep behind German lines. The 504th PIR, now back at full strength, was reassigned to the 82nd, while the 507th was assigned to the [[17th Airborne Division (United States)|17th Airborne Division]], at the time training in England.
[[File:82nd Grave.jpg|thumb|Men of the 82nd Airborne Division drop near Grave in the Netherlands during [[Operation Market Garden]].]]

On 17 September, the "All American" Division conducted its fourth (and final) combat jump of World War II. Fighting off German counterattacks, the division captured its objectives between [[Grave, Netherlands|Grave]], and [[Nijmegen]]. The division failed to initially capture Nijmegen Bridge when the opportunity presented itself early in the battle. When the [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|British XXX Corps]] arrived in Nijmegen, six hours ahead of schedule, they found themselves having to fight to take a bridge that should have already been in allied hands. In the afternoon of Wednesday 20 September 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division successfully conducted an opposed assault crossing of the [[Waal (river)|Waal]] river. War correspondent [[Bill Downs]], who witnessed the assault, described it as "a single, isolated battle that ranks in magnificence and courage with [[Battle of Guam (1941)|Guam]], [[Battle of Tarawa|Tarawa]], [[Omaha Beach]]. A story that should be told to the blowing of bugles and the beating of drums for the men whose bravery made the capture of this crossing over the Waal possible."<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last1=Megellas|first1=James|title=All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe|date=2007|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-307-41448-9|page=165|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gmHcQPxrfT4C&pg=PA165}}</ref>

The Market Garden salient was held in a defensive operation for several weeks until the 82nd was relieved by Canadian troops, and sent into reserve in France. During the operation, 19-year-old [[Private (rank)|Private]] [[John R. Towle]] of the 504th PIR was posthumously awarded the 82nd Airborne Division's second [[Medal of Honor]] of World War II.

===The Bulge===
[[File:Tanks and Infantrymen on the way.jpg|thumb|Men of the [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)|504th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] advancing through a snow-covered forest during the [[Battle of the Bulge]], December 1944]]

On 16 December 1944, the Germans launched a surprise offensive through the [[Ardennes|Ardennes Forest]], which became known as the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. In [[SHAEF]] reserve, the 82nd was committed on the northern face of the bulge near [[Battle of Elsenborn Ridge|Elsenborn Ridge]].

On 20 December 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division was assigned to take Cheneux which had been captured by [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|Kampfgruppe Peiper]]. On 21–22 December 1944, the 82nd Airborne faced counterattacks from two [[Waffen-SS|Waffen SS]] divisions which included the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]] (''lit. translation'' "The SS Bodyguard Division of Adolf Hitler") and the [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen]]. The [[Waffen SS]] efforts to relieve the Kampfgruppe Peiper failed due to the stubborn defense of the 82nd Airborne, the [[30th Infantry Division (United States)|30th ID]], [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd ID]], and other units.<ref>"Four Stars of Valor: The Combat history of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II" Nordyke, P., 2006 p. 329–331.</ref>

On 23 December, the Germans attacked from the south and overran the [[325th Infantry Regiment (United States)|325th GIR]] holding the Baraque- Fraiture crossroads on the 82nd's southern flank, endangering the entire 82nd Airborne division. The [[2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich|2nd SS Panzers]] objective was to outflank the 82nd Airborne. It was not an attack designed to reach Peiper, but it was his last chance, nonetheless. If it did outflank the 82nd, it could have opened a corridor and reached the stranded yet still powerful Kampfgruppe. But the attack came too late.{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}

On 24 December 1944, the 82nd Airborne Division with an official strength of 8,520 men was facing off against a vastly superior combined force of 43,000 men and over 1,200 armored fighting and artillery vehicles and pieces.<ref>Timothy J. "The Ardennes on Fire: The First Day of the German Assault" 2010 pp. 56–58.</ref> Due to these circumstances, the 82nd Airborne Division was forced to withdrawal for the first time in its combat history.<ref>Gavin, J. "On To Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander 1943–1946", 1978 p. 239.</ref> The Germans pursued their retreat with the 2nd and 9th SS Panzer Divisions. The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich engaged the 82nd until 28 December when it and what was left of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte were ordered to move south to meet General [[George S. Patton|George Patton]]'s forces attacking in the area of Bastogne.<ref>Nordyke, P., "All American All the Way: The Combat History of the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II" 2005, p. 655</ref> Some units of the 9th SS Panzer including the 19th Panzer Grenadier Regiment stayed and fought the 82nd. They were joined by the [[62nd Volksgrenadier Division (Wehrmacht)|62nd Volksgrenadier Division]]. The 9th SS Panzer tried to breakthrough by attacking the [[508th Infantry Regiment (United States)|508]] and [[504th Infantry Regiment (United States)|504 PIR]] positions, but ultimately failed.<ref>LoFaro G., "The Sword of St. Michael: The 82nd Airborne Division in World War II" 2011, p. 481</ref> The failure of the 9th and 2nd SS Panzer Divisions to break through the 82nd lines marked the end of the German offensive in the northern shoulder of the Bulge. The German objective now became one of defense.

On 3 January 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division conducted a counterattack. On the first day's fighting the 82nd Airborne overran the [[62nd Volksgrenadier Division (Wehrmacht)|62nd Volksgrenadiers]] and the 9th SS Panzer's positions capturing 2,400 prisoners.<ref>Gavin, J. "On To Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander 1943–1946", 1978 p. 249.</ref> The 82nd Airborne suffered high casualties in the process. The attached [[551st Parachute Infantry Battalion (United States)|551st Parachute Infantry Battalion]] was all but destroyed during these attacks. Of the 826 men who went into the Ardennes, only 110 came out. Having lost its charismatic leader Lt. Colonel Joerg, and almost all its men either wounded, killed, or frostbitten, the 551 was never reconstituted. The few soldiers who remained were later absorbed into units of the 82nd Airborne.<ref>"The Last Battle" published in the Journal "Army" April 2001 pp. 38–39</ref>

After several days of fighting, the destruction of the 62nd Volksgrenadiers, and what had been left of the 9th SS Panzer Division was complete. For the 82nd Airborne Division the first part of the Battle of the Bulge had ended.<ref>82nd Airborne After Action Report</ref>

===Into Germany===

After helping to secure the [[Ruhr]], the 82nd Airborne Division took over [[Ludwigslust]] past the [[Elbe|Elbe River]], accepting the surrender of over 150,000 men of Lieutenant General [[Kurt von Tippelskirch]]'s [[21st Army (Wehrmacht)|21st Army]] on 2 May 1945. [[General (United States)|General]] [[Omar Bradley]], commanding the [[Twelfth United States Army Group|U.S. 12th Army Group]], stated in a 1975 interview with Gavin that Field Marshal [[Bernard Montgomery|Sir Bernard Montgomery]], commanding the Anglo-Canadian [[21st Army Group]], had told him that German opposition was too great to cross the Elbe. When Gavin's 82nd crossed the river, in company with the [[6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|British 6th Airborne Division]], the 82nd Airborne Division moved 36 miles in one day and captured over 100,000 troops, causing great laughter in Bradley's [[Twelfth United States Army Group|12th Army Group]] headquarters.<ref name="Ellis1990">{{cite book|last=Ellis|first=John|title=Brute force: allied strategy and tactics in the Second World War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mddmAAAAMAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Deutsch|isbn=978-0-233-97958-8|page=440}}</ref>

Following Germany's surrender, the 82nd Airborne Division entered Berlin for [[Allied-occupied Germany|occupation duty]], replacing the [[2nd Armored Division (United States)|2nd Armored Division]] in August 1945.<ref name=Stivers>{{cite book|last1=Stivers|first1=William|last2=Carter|first2=Donald|title=The City becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the occupation of Berlin 1945–1949|publisher=US Army Center of Military History|year=2017|isbn=978-0-16-093973-0|url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/045/45-4/cmhPub_45-4-1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113085629/https://history.army.mil/html/books/045/45-4/cmhPub_45-4-1.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2020}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>{{rp|94}} The division was relieved by the [[78th Infantry Division (United States)|78th Infantry Division]] early in November 1945.<ref name=Stivers/>{{rp|131}} While in Berlin, General [[George S. Patton]] was so impressed with the 82nd's "honor guard" that he said, "In all my years in the Army and all the honor guards I have ever seen, the 82nd's honor guard is undoubtedly the best." Hence the "All-American" became also known as "America's Guard of Honor".<ref name="Reynolds1998">{{cite book|last=Reynolds|first=David|title=Paras: An Illustrated History of Britain's Airborne Forces|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uY7fAAAAMAAJ|date=1 September 1998|publisher=Sutton|isbn=978-0-7509-1723-0|page=220}}</ref> The war ended before their scheduled participation in the Allied [[invasion of Japan]], [[Operation Downfall]].

=== Composition ===
During WWII the division was composed of the following units:<ref>{{cite web |title=Order of Battle of the US Army – WWII – ETO – 82nd Airborne Division |url=https://history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/82ABD-ETO.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109033752/http://www.history.army.mil/documents/eto-ob/82ABD-ETO.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 January 2008 |publisher=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[325th Glider Infantry Regiment]] (received the 2nd Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment [[101st Airborne Division]] 1 March 1945, which became the 3rd Battalion, 325th GIR)
* [[504th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] (assigned 15 August 1942; replaced the 327th Infantry Regiment which departed on same date)
* [[505th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] (assigned 10 February 1943; replaced 326th Infantry Regiment which departed 4 February 1943)
* 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
* 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
* 82nd Parachute Maintenance Company (provisional unit made permanent on 1 March 1945)
* 307th Airborne Medical Company
* 82nd Airborne Division Artillery
** [[319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion]] (75&nbsp;mm)
** [[320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion]] (105&nbsp;mm)
** [[376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion]] (75&nbsp;mm)
** 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (75&nbsp;mm)
* Special Troops (headquarters activated 1 March 1945)
** Headquarters Company, 82nd Airborne Division
** 82nd Airborne Signal Company
** [[407th Forward Support Battalion|407th Airborne Quartermaster Company]]
** 782nd Airborne Ordnance Company
** Reconnaissance Platoon (assigned 1 March 1945)
** Military Police Platoon
** Band (assigned 1 March 45)

Attached paratrooper units:
* [[507th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] (attached 14 June 1944 – 27 August 1944)
* [[508th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] (attached 14 June 1944 – 21 June 1944; 23 January 1945 through 9 May 1945)
* [[517th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] (attached 1–11 January 1945; 23–26 January 1945; 3–5 February 1945; 9–10 February 1945)
* [[551st Parachute Infantry Battalion (United States)|551st Parachute Infantry Battalion]] (attached 26 December 1944&nbsp;– 13 January 1945; 21–27 January 1945)

===Casualties===
* '''Total battle casualties:''' 9,073<ref name="War II 1953">Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths in World War II, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch Office of the Adjutant General, 1{{nbsp}}June 1953)</ref>
* '''Killed in action:''' 1,619<ref name="War II 1953"/>
* '''Wounded in action:''' 6,560<ref name="War II 1953"/>
* '''Missing in action:''' 279<ref name="War II 1953"/>
* '''Prisoner of war:''' 615<ref name="War II 1953"/>

=== Awards ===
During World War II the division and its members were awarded the following awards:<ref>{{cite web |title=82nd Airborne Division |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/082abd.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608081248/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/082abd.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |publisher=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Distinguished Unit Citation]]s: 15
* [[Medal of Honor]]: 4
** Private [[John R. Towle]]<sup>([[Killed in action|KIA]])</sup>
** Private First Class [[Charles N. Deglopper]]<sup>(KIA)</sup>
** First Sergeant [[Leonard A. Funk Jr.]]
** Private [[Joe Gandara]]<sup>(KIA)</sup> (issued 18 March 2014)
* [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]: 37
* [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]: 2
* [[Silver Star]]: 898
* [[Legion of Merit]]: 29
* [[Soldier's Medal]]: 49
* [[Bronze Star Medal]]: 1,894
* [[Air Medal]]: 15