1:508th Airborne Infantry

U.S. Army•129 members

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Branch

U.S. Army

Members

129

About 1:508th Airborne Infantry

The 1st Battalion, 508th Airborne Infantry Regiment (1/508th AIR) was originally activated in October 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida, as part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. The battalion distinguished itself during World War II, participating in key operations such as the D-Day landings in Normandy, Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the Battle of the Bulge. After periods of inactivation and reactivation, the 1/508th has served in various capacities during the Cold War, the Global War on Terror, and NATO missions, demonstrating flexibility and readiness as an elite airborne unit. Today, the battalion maintains its proud legacy as part of the 82nd Airborne Division, upholding the motto "Fury from the Sky."

Unit Members

Eric Toruno-Holden

U.S. Army

1:508th Airborne InfantryView Profile

Potter James

U.S. Army

1:508th Airborne InfantryView Profile

Photos

Denmark Coast

U.S. Army • 1967

Dirt Duty

U.S. Army • 1969

Basic Training

U.S. Army • 1969

Friends

U.S. Marine Corps • 1952

About 1:508th Airborne Infantry

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• World War II Origins: The 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (1/508th PIR) was activated on 20 October 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida, as part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division. • Normandy Invasion: The battalion jumped into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, as part of Operation Neptune, suffering heavy casualties but playing a crucial role in securing key objectives behind Utah Beach. • Red Devils Nickname: The 508th earned the nickname "Red Devils" from the Germans, who referred to the battalion's fierce fighting spirit and the red beret flashes worn by the paratroopers. • Operation Market Garden: In September 1944, 1/508th participated in the largest airborne operation of World War II, jumping into Holland to seize bridges over the Maas, Waal, and Rhine rivers. • Medal of Honor Recipient: Private Joe Gandara of 1/508th was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Normandy campaign, single-handedly destroying three enemy machine gun emplacements. • Battle of the Bulge: The unit fought in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, holding defensive positions in the Ardennes forest and helping to repel the German counteroffensive. • Cold War Assignments: After World War II, 1/508th was inactivated and reactivated several times, serving in West Germany as part of NATO forces during the Cold War. • Modern Deployments: The battalion has deployed to hotspots such as Panama (Operation Just Cause), Iraq, and Afghanistan as part of the Global War on Terror. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: The unit’s insignia features a red and blue shield, representing courage and loyalty, with a stylized parachute, symbolizing its airborne heritage. • Legacy of Valor: The 1/508th PIR has been awarded numerous decorations, including Presidential Unit Citations, and continues to uphold a proud legacy of airborne excellence within the 82nd Airborne Division.