508th Parachute Infantry Regiment HeadQuarters - HeadQuarters Company
82nd Airborne Division
Living History Group
World War II
"Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane and I'll show you a man who will fight."
-Gen. Jim "Jumpin" Gavin
Welcome to the
" DIABLOS "
"I Charge you
Put us down in Holland,
or put us down hell,but put
us all in one place or I
will hound you to your graves."
-LCol. Lou G Mendez
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History of the 508th
P.I.R.
UNDER Construction
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Brief History
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The date was October 20, 1942. The US Army called for the organization of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Blanding, Florida. It consisted of a small cadre of officers and men who were qualified jumpers and then there were the rest of us. The 508th was one of the first regiments to be organized, take basic training, and then go through jump school as a unit. It was then that Colonel Lindquist made one of the few tactical errors in his career. They finished their stay at Blanding with the 30 Mile speed march with full field equipment and everyone passed with record setting times to Fort Benning, Georgia.
Camp Mackall
March - December 1943
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After jump school it was on to Camp Mack all, North Carolina, a desolate spot between Pinehurst and Rockingham. Their mission was to conduct Advanced Individual Training. From May 21-28 they headed down to Camp Croft, SC for maneuvers training. After more training at Camp Mackall they yet again set out for more maneuvers training this time to Tennessee to meet up with the 2nd Army. As they say they got their chance to compete against the "leg soldiers" in the Tennessee.
Overseas Movement December 1943-June 1944
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On the 20th of December 1943 the regiment moved to Camp Shanks, New York in preparation for overseas shipment. Passes were issued for two nights and then the 508 was alerted Christmas day. They loaded onto the USAT James Parker on the 27th and early on the morning of the 28th we started drawing overseas pay. 508th arrived in Belfast, North Ireland on January 8, 1944, and ended up in the little town of Pt. Stewart. A lot of night training was conducted. On March 10th we arrived in Nottingham, England. The “Red Devils” all knew that something big was about to happen and that we would be part of it. England was coming apart at the seams with men and equipment. Suddenly they got our orders to move to Folkingham airport and we were sealed in and continue to have practice jumps for the unknown.
Combat
05 June 1944 – 15 July 1944
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The 82nd Airborne was an integral part of Operation Neptune. Because the 504th PIR ranks had been depleted due to the Italian Campaigns the 507th and the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments were attached to the 82nd for this operation. The 508th was responsible for the Southwest portion of the 82nd Airborne Division sector in Normandy. Their primary targets were bridges over the Douve River, located at Brienville and Beuzeville-la-Bastille. After regrouping into small units, the 508th began executing their daunting task to seize the bridge over the Douve River, at Pont L' Abbe.
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For two days, the 508th fought off repeated German attempts to overrun the main paratrooper landings and contributed substantially to establishing the Merderet bridgehead. They went on for thirty three days after the Normandy landings to fight in the combat battles of Hill 30and 95, St Mere Eglise,Chef du Pont,Point l’ Abbe and Picauville. The Red Devils returned to Nottingham England on July 15, 1944 after suffering 1,061 casualties out of 2,056 paratroopers of which 307 were Killed-In-Action. Only 918 returned to the Wollatan Park Camp.
16 July 1944-
11 November 1944
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After returning Nottingham, the men of the 508th at a week of leave to venture around town. When they returned there was a whole bunch of replacements waiting for them to prepare for the next combat mission. The 508th was supposed to jump into Belgium but last-minute change of plans. On 9 September 1944 Field-Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan, called Operation Market Garden, to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine. The operation called for a combined armor and airborne assault to seize and hold key bridges and roads deep behind German lines in Holland. At approximately 1330 hours on 17 September 1944, the Red Devils jumped into Holland. The regiment then seized Bridge ten and prevented its destruction by destroying the apparatus for the demolition of the Nijmegen Bridge across the Waal River. Meanwhile, the regiment also seized, occupied, and defended the Berg EN Dalkamp Hill mass terrain which controlled the Groesbeek-Nijmegen area. Finally, the regiment withstood and repulsed the major enemy efforts at Wyler and Beek to penetrate the Division position and assault units to the north. During M.G. the 508th captured 483 prisoners. During this period of combat the regiment suffered 139 KIA, 479 WIA, and 178 MIA. No Red Devils were captured by the enemy. On November 10, the 508th was relieved by a British Brigade. They immediately returned to Nijmegen and eventually to Camp Sissone, France on November 14th.
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14 NoveMBER 1944-
20 February 1945
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While the Diablo's were enjoying their rest & relaxation period at Camp Sissone, they were awaked in mass a confusion & told to get the gear ready to move out as soon as possible. Once again they were headed to the unknown.
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Meanwhile, the regiment also seized, occupied, and defended the Berg EN Dalkamp Hill mass terrain which controlled the Groesbeek-Nijmegen area. Finally, the regiment withstood and repulsed the major enemy efforts at Wyler and Beek to penetrate the Division position and assault units to the north. During M.G. the 508th captured 483 prisoners. During this period of combat the regiment suffered 139 KIA, 479 WIA, and 178 MIA. No Red Devils were captured by the enemy. On November 10, the 508th was relieved by a British Brigade. They immediately returned to Nijmegen and eventually to Camp Sissone, France on November 14th.
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