i know that the 82nd was involved with D-Day. i just dont know how, or where for that matter. can anyone help me? thanks.
The 82nd airborne were inserted by parachute and glider to the Sainte-Mère-Église area. There objective was to hold the west of Utah beach against any possible counter atttack. They also were ment to hold Sainte-Mère-Église which was a vital cross road town.
On June 5-6, the paratroopers of the 82nd's three parachute infantry regiments and reinforced glider infantry regiment boarded hundreds of transport planes and gliders and, began the largest airborne assault in history. They were among the first soldiers to fight in Normandy, France. The division dropped behind Utah Beach, Normandy, France between Ste Mere-Eglise and Carentan on June 6th, 1944. They were reinforced by the 325th GIR the next day. The division remained under strong German pressure along the Merderit River. Eventually, the 325th GIR crossed the river to secure a bridgehead at La Fiere on June 9th. It was during this action that Pfc Charles N. DeGlopper single-handedly defended his platoon's position and subsequently was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. The next day the 505th PIR captured Montebourg Station and on June 12th the 508th PIR crossed the Douve at Beuzeville-la-Bastille and reached Baupt. They established a bridgehead at Pont l'Abbe on June 19th. The division then attacked down the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula and captured Hill 131 on July 3rd. The following day the 82nd seized Hill 95 overlooking La Haye-du-Puits. By the time the All-American Division was pulled back to England on July 13, 1944, it had seen 33 days of bloody combat and suffered 5,245 paratroopers killed, wounded or missing. The Division's post battle report read, "...33 days of action without relief, without replacements. Every mission accomplished. No ground gained was ever relinquished." Future commander of the division, then Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin, jumped with the parachute assault section. JT
thanks guys!!! that really helped me... i had no idea they played such a vital role.. It was a huge role. "All American All the Way," by Phil Nordyke, will give the full story of the 82nd in Normandy. They had an incredible war...Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, The Netherlands, the Bulge, the Ruhr, and the drive into north Germany.
