2:508th Infantry Brigade, 82ABN

• Origins in World War II: The 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (2/508 PIR) was activated on 20 October 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida, and became part of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division. • D-Day Paratroopers: The battalion parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, suffering heavy casualties but playing a key role in securing causeways and disrupting German defenses. • Battle of the Bulge: 2/508th was involved in the defense of the town of Trois-Ponts and other critical positions during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, helping to blunt the German offensive. • Operation Market Garden: The battalion participated in the daring airborne assault in the Netherlands in September 1944, tasked with securing bridges and facilitating the advance of Allied ground forces. • Nickname: “Red Devils”: The 508th earned the nickname “Red Devils” from German adversaries during WWII, a name that endures with pride among its members today. • Decorations: The battalion and regiment have received numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, and the Netherlands Military Order of William. • Cold War Service: After WWII, the 508th was inactivated and reactivated multiple times, serving in various forms during the Cold War, and was eventually reflagged under the 82nd Airborne Division. • Global War on Terror: Since 2001, 2/508th has deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq, participating in major combat and counterinsurgency operations. • Operation Just Cause: Elements of the 508th participated in the 1989 invasion of Panama, aiding in the removal of Manuel Noriega and restoring order. • Paratrooper Legacy: The battalion is renowned for its esprit de corps, airborne tradition, and demanding training, embodying the 82nd Airborne motto: “All The Way!”