History Of The 82nd Airborne Division

1816 Words4 Pages

During the World War II there was many different aspects on the Allies side that helped them defeat the Axis Powers. One crucial aspect for the Allies was the well-built airborne divisions. The 82nd Airborne Division, from the United States Army, was considered to be the firmest and most successful division during the Second World War. After being reactivated for World War II, the men of the 82nd Airborne division took on intense training to later on take part in some of the most dangerous missions of World War II. Before the 82nd Airborne division was actually considered an airborne division, this division was strictly an infantry division. The 82nd infantry division was formed at Camp Gordon, Georgia on August 25, 1917. This division soon acquired the nickname “All-Americans” as a result of having men from all 48 States, at the time. In 1918 the All-Americans were sent to France to fight in World War I. With only fighting for five months this division was already apart of three major combat battles against the German Army. Soon after World War I was finished the 82nd Infantry division was then deactivated. The All-Americans were now just memories of the First World War. After America was brought into the Second World War, The 82nd Infantry Division was reactivated back into the United States Army under the command of General Omar N. Bradley. With this division being reactivated meant there was many untrained and unexperienced men in this infantry division. Most of the soldiers volunteered after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. All of the paratroopers were volunteers. Bradley taught these men how to use a gun, conditioned these men to run for long periods of time, and made all these men muscularly stronger. By August 1942 the 82nd... ... middle of paper ... ...he skills of a paratrooper they were then asked to go to a war for the first time. These men of this division showed just how powerful they were just after their first appearance in war. Then this division was asked to be a part of one of the most famous mission in the United States Army’s history, D-Day. This division then took on this challenge of D-Day and were very successful in their mission. If the 82nd had not gone into Normandy the night before D-Day then the whole outcome of D-day would, with any doubt, have a different outcome for both sides. The task that this division took was pure bravery and courage. Training as an unexperienced soldier, then fighting in a war, only several months later, for your country just shows how much fearlessness and guts this whole division had, classifying them as the best division to ever be a part of the United States Army.

More about History Of The 82nd Airborne Division

Open Document