The 82nd Airborne Division is an airborne infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
The 82nd Division was constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917, and was organized on 25 August 1917, at
Camp Gordon, Georgia. Since members of the division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname “All-
American.” This is the basis for its famed “AA” shoulder patch. Famous soldiers of the division include Sergeant
Alvin C. York, General James M. Gavin, former Chief Dave Bald Eagle (grandson of Sitting Bull), Senator Strom
Thurmond (325GIR in World War II), Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Patrick Murphy (the first Iraq War veteran
elected to Congress).
History
The 82nd Division was first constituted on August 5, 1917 in the National Army. It was organized and formally
activated on August 25, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia. As the division was to consist entirely of newly conscripted
soldiers, it was built from the ground up as conscripts arrived at the fort. Once the division was formed,
commanders discovered that it contained draftees from all 48 US states that existed at the time. Because of this, it
was nicknamed the "All American" division.
The division was based around two infantry brigades, each commanding two regiments. Assigned to the division was
the 163rd Infantry Brigade commanding the 325th Infantry Regiment and the 326th Infantry Regiment, and the 164th
Infantry Brigade, commanding the 327th Infantry Regiment and the 328th Infantry Regiment. Also assigned to the
division was the 157th Field Artillery Brigade, a divisional troops contingent, and a division train. It was to sail to
Europe to the front lines, joining the American Expeditionary Force in fighting World War I.
World War I
WWI 82nd Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.
By World War II, all army groups, field armies, corps, and divisions, as well as all major Army commands, had unique
SSI. These SSI (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) would often be created with symbolism alluding to the unit's formation.
Examples include the 82nd Airborne Division, which included an "AA" on its patch alluding to the "All-American"
soldiers from every state that made it up, and the 29th Infantry Division, which included blue and grey to allude to
soldiers that made it up being from states on both sides of the American Civil War.
Most US formations had unique patches which varied greatly in size and makeup, with the exception of US Armored
divisions (as well as I Armored corps and the U.S. Army Armor Center & School), all of which adopted the same
patch (a yellow, red and blue triangle with a symbol for Armor in the middle). Each division and I Armored Corps
then included its number in the upper yellow portion of the patch to distinguish it. The SSI's of those Armored units
which survived into the Cold War became irregular pentagons with the addition of rectangular section at the
bottom, bearing the division's nickname or "U.S. Army Armor Center".
Subdued patches and insignia were introduced during the Vietnam War and were made mandatory for wear on the
field uniform starting July 1, 1970.
SSIs are generally authorised only for units commanded by a general officer. In the early 1960s, separate armor
regiments began creating SSI, and the number of separate brigades increased. Today, most separate brigades have
their own SSI, but those brigades permanently assigned to divisions do not. A handful of smaller units have SSI
(including US Army Ranger battalions [all of which have identical SSIs apart from the number], Trial Defense Service
and Headquarters & Headquarters Company, U.S. Army), but most units battalion level and smaller do not have SSIs
of their own. A hand-full of SSIs are designated for use by units which are not under a unified command wearing that
SSI; these include Special Forces, Department of the Army Staff Support]] and the SSI designated for soldiers
assigned outside of DOD (e.g., military attachés).
In early April, the division was moved to ports in Boston, New York and Brooklyn for departure to Liverpool,
England, where the division was fully assembled by mid-May 1918. From there, the division was moved to mainland
Europe, leaving Southampton and arriving at Le Havre, France, and then moved to the British-held region of Somme
on the front lines, where it began sending small numbers of troops and officers to the lines to gain combat
experience. On June 16 it was moved by rail to Toul, France to take up a position on the Front lines in the French
sector. Its soldiers were issued French weapons and equipment to make resupply easier. The division was briefly
assigned to I Corps before falling under the command of IV Corps until late August. It was then moved to the
Woëvre front, in the Lagney sector, where it operated with the French 154th Infantry Division.
St. Mihiel
The division was assigned to relieve the 26th Division on June 25. Though the Lagney sector was considered a
defensive sector, the 82nd Division actively patrolled and conducted small raids through the region for several
weeks, before being relieved by the 89th Division. From there it moved to the Marbache sector in mid-August,
where it relieved the 2nd Division, and was placed under the command of the newly-formed First United States
Army. There it trained until September 12, when the division was committed to the St. Mihiel offensive.
Once the First Army jumped off on the offensive, the 82nd Division engaged in a holding mission in order to
prevent German forces from attacking the right flank of the First Army. On September 13, the 163rd Infantry Brigade
and 327th Infantry Regiment raided and patrolled to the northeast of Port-sur-Seille, toward Eply, in the Bois de
Cheminot, Bois de la Voivrotte, Bois do la Tête-d'Or, and Bois Fréhaut. Meanwhile, the 328th Infantry Regiment, in
connection with the attack of the 90th Division against the Bois-le-Prêtre, advanced on the west of the Moselle
River, and, in contact with the 90th Division, entered Norroy, and advanced to the heights just north of that town
where it consolidated its position. On September 15, the 328th Infantry, in order to provide flank protection for the
90th Division, resumed the advance, and reached Vandières, but withdrew on the following day to the high ground
north of Norroy.
On September 17, the St-Mihiel Operation stabilized, and the 90th Division relieved the 82nd Division's troops west
of the Moselle River. On September 20, the 82nd Division was relieved by the French 69th Infantry Division, and
moved to the vicinity of Marbache and Belleville, then to stations near Triaucourt and Rarécourt in the area of the
First Army. During this operation, the division suffered heavy casualties from enemy artillery, and the division lost
over 800 men during the operation. Among them was Colonel Emory Pike, the first member of the 82nd to be
awarded the Medal of Honor. The division was then set into reserve until October 3, when it was assembled near
Varennes-en-Argonne prior to returning to the line. During this time, the division trained and prepared for the
Allies' next major offensive at Meuse-Argonne, which would be the last of the war.
Meuse-Argonne
328th Infantry Regiment of 82nd Division advances in preparation to capture Hill 223 on October 7, 1918.On the
night of October 6/7, the 164th Infantry Brigade relieved troops of the 28th Division, which were holding the front
line from south of Fléville to La Forge, along the eastern bank of the Aire River. The 163rd Infantry Brigade
remained in reserve. On October 7, the division, minus the 163rd Infantry Brigade, attacked the northeastern edge
of the Argonne Forest, making some progress toward Cornay, and occupied Hill 180 and Hill 223. The next day it
resumed the attack. Elements of the division's right flank entered Cornay, but later withdrew to the east and south
of that town. The division's left flank reached the southeastern slope of the high ground northwest of Châtel-
Chéhéry. On Octobet 9 the division continued its attack, and advanced its left flank to a line from south of Pylône
to the Rau de la Louvière.
For the rest of the month, the 82nd Division turned to the north and advanced astride the Aire River to the region
east of St-Juvin. On thre 10th it relieved troops of the 1st Division on the right, north of Fléville, as far as a new
boundary extending north and south through Sommerance. It then attacked and captured Cornay and Marcq, and
established the front just south of the towns. On October 11, the right flank of the division occupied Sommerance
and the high ground north of la Rance Rau while the left advanced to the railroad south of the Aire River. The next
day, the 42nd Division relieved the 82nd's troops in and near Sommerance, allowing it to resume its attacks. The
82nd passed through part of the Hindenburg defensive position, and reached a line just north of the road from St-
Georges to St-Juvin.
On October 18, the division relieved elements of the 78th Division as far to the left as Marcq and Champigneulle.
Three days later it advances to the Ravin aux Pierres. On October 31, the 82nd Division, except the artillery, was
relieved by the 77th Division and the 80th Division, and assembled in the Argonne Forest near Champ-Mahaut. On
November 2, the division concentrated near La Chalade and Les Islettes, and, on November 4, moved to training
areas in Vaucouleurs. On the 10th it moved again to training areas in Bourmont, where it remained until the
November 11 armistice ending the war. During this campaign the division suffered another 7,000 killed and
wounded. A second soldier from the 82nd Division, Alvin C. York, won the Medal of Honor during this campaign.
Post-war
The division suffered 995 killed and 7,082 wounded, for a total of 8,077 casualties in World War I. Following the end
of the war, the division was moved to training areas near Prauthoy, where it remained until the end of February,
1919. It returned to the United States throughout April of that year and completed its return by the end of May, and
was demobilized and deactivated at Camp Mills, New York on May 27.
For the next 20 years the Division would not be an active formation, however it would exist as a reserve unit. The
82nd Division was reconstituted on June 24, 1921. Its headquarters was organized at Columbia, South Carolina, in
January 1922. The 82nd formed part of the new Organized Reserves, and elements of the Division were located in
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
World War II
Louisiana to Italy
The 82nd Division was re designated 13 February 1942 as Division Headquarters, 82nd Division. After the outbreak of
World War II, it was recalled to active service on 25 March 1942, and reorganized at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana,
under the command of Major General Omar N. Bradley. During this time spent in training, the division brought
together three officers who would ultimately steer the US Army during the next two decades: Matthew B. Ridgway,
Matthew D. Query, James M. Gavin, and Maxwell D. Taylor.
On 15 August 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division became the first airborne division in the U.S. Army, and was
redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division. In April 1943, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to
North Africa under the command of Major General Matthew B. Ridgway to participate in the campaign to invade
Italy. The Division's first two combat operations were parachute assaults into Sicily on 9 July and Salerno on 13
September 1943. The initial assault on Sicily, by the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was the first regimental sized
combat parachute assault conducted by the United States Army. The first glider assault did not occur until
Operation Neptune as part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944. Glider troopers of the 319th Glider
Field Artillery, the 320th Glider Field Artillery and the 325th Glider Infantry did participate in the Italian campaign but
came in by landing craft at Maiori (319th) and Salerno (320th, 325th).
In January 1944, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was temporarily detached from the division to fight at
Anzio, adopted the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants," taken from an entry in a German officer's diary. While the
504th was detached, the remainder of the 82nd was pulled out of Italy in November 1943 and moved to the United
Kingdom to prepare for the liberation of Europe.
History Of The 82nd Airborne Division
Click On Link For More Information
All Information Contained On This Page Is From WikipediA , The Free Encyclopedia
Carolina. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
The 82nd Division was constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917, and was organized on 25 August 1917, at
Camp Gordon, Georgia. Since members of the division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname “All-
American.” This is the basis for its famed “AA” shoulder patch. Famous soldiers of the division include Sergeant
Alvin C. York, General James M. Gavin, former Chief Dave Bald Eagle (grandson of Sitting Bull), Senator Strom
Thurmond (325GIR in World War II), Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Patrick Murphy (the first Iraq War veteran
elected to Congress).
History
The 82nd Division was first constituted on August 5, 1917 in the National Army. It was organized and formally
activated on August 25, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia. As the division was to consist entirely of newly conscripted
soldiers, it was built from the ground up as conscripts arrived at the fort. Once the division was formed,
commanders discovered that it contained draftees from all 48 US states that existed at the time. Because of this, it
was nicknamed the "All American" division.
The division was based around two infantry brigades, each commanding two regiments. Assigned to the division was
the 163rd Infantry Brigade commanding the 325th Infantry Regiment and the 326th Infantry Regiment, and the 164th
Infantry Brigade, commanding the 327th Infantry Regiment and the 328th Infantry Regiment. Also assigned to the
division was the 157th Field Artillery Brigade, a divisional troops contingent, and a division train. It was to sail to
Europe to the front lines, joining the American Expeditionary Force in fighting World War I.
World War I
WWI 82nd Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.
By World War II, all army groups, field armies, corps, and divisions, as well as all major Army commands, had unique
SSI. These SSI (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia) would often be created with symbolism alluding to the unit's formation.
Examples include the 82nd Airborne Division, which included an "AA" on its patch alluding to the "All-American"
soldiers from every state that made it up, and the 29th Infantry Division, which included blue and grey to allude to
soldiers that made it up being from states on both sides of the American Civil War.
Most US formations had unique patches which varied greatly in size and makeup, with the exception of US Armored
divisions (as well as I Armored corps and the U.S. Army Armor Center & School), all of which adopted the same
patch (a yellow, red and blue triangle with a symbol for Armor in the middle). Each division and I Armored Corps
then included its number in the upper yellow portion of the patch to distinguish it. The SSI's of those Armored units
which survived into the Cold War became irregular pentagons with the addition of rectangular section at the
bottom, bearing the division's nickname or "U.S. Army Armor Center".
Subdued patches and insignia were introduced during the Vietnam War and were made mandatory for wear on the
field uniform starting July 1, 1970.
SSIs are generally authorised only for units commanded by a general officer. In the early 1960s, separate armor
regiments began creating SSI, and the number of separate brigades increased. Today, most separate brigades have
their own SSI, but those brigades permanently assigned to divisions do not. A handful of smaller units have SSI
(including US Army Ranger battalions [all of which have identical SSIs apart from the number], Trial Defense Service
and Headquarters & Headquarters Company, U.S. Army), but most units battalion level and smaller do not have SSIs
of their own. A hand-full of SSIs are designated for use by units which are not under a unified command wearing that
SSI; these include Special Forces, Department of the Army Staff Support]] and the SSI designated for soldiers
assigned outside of DOD (e.g., military attachés).
In early April, the division was moved to ports in Boston, New York and Brooklyn for departure to Liverpool,
England, where the division was fully assembled by mid-May 1918. From there, the division was moved to mainland
Europe, leaving Southampton and arriving at Le Havre, France, and then moved to the British-held region of Somme
on the front lines, where it began sending small numbers of troops and officers to the lines to gain combat
experience. On June 16 it was moved by rail to Toul, France to take up a position on the Front lines in the French
sector. Its soldiers were issued French weapons and equipment to make resupply easier. The division was briefly
assigned to I Corps before falling under the command of IV Corps until late August. It was then moved to the
Woëvre front, in the Lagney sector, where it operated with the French 154th Infantry Division.
St. Mihiel
The division was assigned to relieve the 26th Division on June 25. Though the Lagney sector was considered a
defensive sector, the 82nd Division actively patrolled and conducted small raids through the region for several
weeks, before being relieved by the 89th Division. From there it moved to the Marbache sector in mid-August,
where it relieved the 2nd Division, and was placed under the command of the newly-formed First United States
Army. There it trained until September 12, when the division was committed to the St. Mihiel offensive.
Once the First Army jumped off on the offensive, the 82nd Division engaged in a holding mission in order to
prevent German forces from attacking the right flank of the First Army. On September 13, the 163rd Infantry Brigade
and 327th Infantry Regiment raided and patrolled to the northeast of Port-sur-Seille, toward Eply, in the Bois de
Cheminot, Bois de la Voivrotte, Bois do la Tête-d'Or, and Bois Fréhaut. Meanwhile, the 328th Infantry Regiment, in
connection with the attack of the 90th Division against the Bois-le-Prêtre, advanced on the west of the Moselle
River, and, in contact with the 90th Division, entered Norroy, and advanced to the heights just north of that town
where it consolidated its position. On September 15, the 328th Infantry, in order to provide flank protection for the
90th Division, resumed the advance, and reached Vandières, but withdrew on the following day to the high ground
north of Norroy.
On September 17, the St-Mihiel Operation stabilized, and the 90th Division relieved the 82nd Division's troops west
of the Moselle River. On September 20, the 82nd Division was relieved by the French 69th Infantry Division, and
moved to the vicinity of Marbache and Belleville, then to stations near Triaucourt and Rarécourt in the area of the
First Army. During this operation, the division suffered heavy casualties from enemy artillery, and the division lost
over 800 men during the operation. Among them was Colonel Emory Pike, the first member of the 82nd to be
awarded the Medal of Honor. The division was then set into reserve until October 3, when it was assembled near
Varennes-en-Argonne prior to returning to the line. During this time, the division trained and prepared for the
Allies' next major offensive at Meuse-Argonne, which would be the last of the war.
Meuse-Argonne
328th Infantry Regiment of 82nd Division advances in preparation to capture Hill 223 on October 7, 1918.On the
night of October 6/7, the 164th Infantry Brigade relieved troops of the 28th Division, which were holding the front
line from south of Fléville to La Forge, along the eastern bank of the Aire River. The 163rd Infantry Brigade
remained in reserve. On October 7, the division, minus the 163rd Infantry Brigade, attacked the northeastern edge
of the Argonne Forest, making some progress toward Cornay, and occupied Hill 180 and Hill 223. The next day it
resumed the attack. Elements of the division's right flank entered Cornay, but later withdrew to the east and south
of that town. The division's left flank reached the southeastern slope of the high ground northwest of Châtel-
Chéhéry. On Octobet 9 the division continued its attack, and advanced its left flank to a line from south of Pylône
to the Rau de la Louvière.
For the rest of the month, the 82nd Division turned to the north and advanced astride the Aire River to the region
east of St-Juvin. On thre 10th it relieved troops of the 1st Division on the right, north of Fléville, as far as a new
boundary extending north and south through Sommerance. It then attacked and captured Cornay and Marcq, and
established the front just south of the towns. On October 11, the right flank of the division occupied Sommerance
and the high ground north of la Rance Rau while the left advanced to the railroad south of the Aire River. The next
day, the 42nd Division relieved the 82nd's troops in and near Sommerance, allowing it to resume its attacks. The
82nd passed through part of the Hindenburg defensive position, and reached a line just north of the road from St-
Georges to St-Juvin.
On October 18, the division relieved elements of the 78th Division as far to the left as Marcq and Champigneulle.
Three days later it advances to the Ravin aux Pierres. On October 31, the 82nd Division, except the artillery, was
relieved by the 77th Division and the 80th Division, and assembled in the Argonne Forest near Champ-Mahaut. On
November 2, the division concentrated near La Chalade and Les Islettes, and, on November 4, moved to training
areas in Vaucouleurs. On the 10th it moved again to training areas in Bourmont, where it remained until the
November 11 armistice ending the war. During this campaign the division suffered another 7,000 killed and
wounded. A second soldier from the 82nd Division, Alvin C. York, won the Medal of Honor during this campaign.
Post-war
The division suffered 995 killed and 7,082 wounded, for a total of 8,077 casualties in World War I. Following the end
of the war, the division was moved to training areas near Prauthoy, where it remained until the end of February,
1919. It returned to the United States throughout April of that year and completed its return by the end of May, and
was demobilized and deactivated at Camp Mills, New York on May 27.
For the next 20 years the Division would not be an active formation, however it would exist as a reserve unit. The
82nd Division was reconstituted on June 24, 1921. Its headquarters was organized at Columbia, South Carolina, in
January 1922. The 82nd formed part of the new Organized Reserves, and elements of the Division were located in
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
World War II
Louisiana to Italy
The 82nd Division was re designated 13 February 1942 as Division Headquarters, 82nd Division. After the outbreak of
World War II, it was recalled to active service on 25 March 1942, and reorganized at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana,
under the command of Major General Omar N. Bradley. During this time spent in training, the division brought
together three officers who would ultimately steer the US Army during the next two decades: Matthew B. Ridgway,
Matthew D. Query, James M. Gavin, and Maxwell D. Taylor.
On 15 August 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division became the first airborne division in the U.S. Army, and was
redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division. In April 1943, paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to
North Africa under the command of Major General Matthew B. Ridgway to participate in the campaign to invade
Italy. The Division's first two combat operations were parachute assaults into Sicily on 9 July and Salerno on 13
September 1943. The initial assault on Sicily, by the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was the first regimental sized
combat parachute assault conducted by the United States Army. The first glider assault did not occur until
Operation Neptune as part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944. Glider troopers of the 319th Glider
Field Artillery, the 320th Glider Field Artillery and the 325th Glider Infantry did participate in the Italian campaign but
came in by landing craft at Maiori (319th) and Salerno (320th, 325th).
In January 1944, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was temporarily detached from the division to fight at
Anzio, adopted the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants," taken from an entry in a German officer's diary. While the
504th was detached, the remainder of the 82nd was pulled out of Italy in November 1943 and moved to the United
Kingdom to prepare for the liberation of Europe.
History Of The 82nd Airborne Division
Click On Link For More Information
All Information Contained On This Page Is From WikipediA , The Free Encyclopedia
