The 82nd Airborne Division, like the 101st, was an airborne unit during World War Two. However, its roots go back to World War One, when the 82nd Infantry Division was formed at Camp Gordon, GA. Members of the division hailed from all 48 states and so the unit was nicknamed the "All-Americans", signified by the "AA" on the unit patch. The unit was deactivated after World War One.
During World War Two, the 82nd was reactivated. The unit was redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division in 1942, becoming the first airborne division in the U.S. Army. The 82nd first saw action in airborne assaults into Sicily and Italy in 1943. A detachment of the 82nd, The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was sent to assist in fighting in Anzio, Italy. Their tenacious fighting spirit earned them the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants", which they had been described as in a German officer's diary. The remainder of the 82nd were pulled out of Italy in late 1943 and sent to the United Kingdom to prepare for the Allied assault on Normandy, France (D-Day). The 82nd would then partake in Operation NEPTUNE on D-Day (part of Operation OVERLORD) with an airborne assault behind enemy lines around Normandy. After the successful invasion of Normandy, the 82nd was called back to England to refit and became part of the newly formed XVIII Airborne Corps, consisting of the 82nd, 101st, and 17th Airborne Divisions.
In Sept 1944 the 82nd took part in Operation MARKET GARDEN. MARKET GARDEN an ambitious, ill-fated Allied mission using airborne units to capture strategic bridges in Holland that would have enabled the Allies to cross the Rhine River and advance into Northern Germany quickly and shorten the war. Despite the 82nd successfully achieving its objectives, the overall mission was not successful and the 82nd was called back to France.
The 82nd would see action again during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. The 82nd helped Allied forces stop the German counteroffensive, which put Germany on its heels for the remainder of the war.
After the surrender of Germany the 82nd was called up for occupation duty in Berlin. The 82nd returned to the United States on January 3, 1946. Instead of being demobilized, the 82nd made its permanent home at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was designated a regular Army division on November 15, 1948.
During World War Two, the 82nd was reactivated. The unit was redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division in 1942, becoming the first airborne division in the U.S. Army. The 82nd first saw action in airborne assaults into Sicily and Italy in 1943. A detachment of the 82nd, The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was sent to assist in fighting in Anzio, Italy. Their tenacious fighting spirit earned them the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants", which they had been described as in a German officer's diary. The remainder of the 82nd were pulled out of Italy in late 1943 and sent to the United Kingdom to prepare for the Allied assault on Normandy, France (D-Day). The 82nd would then partake in Operation NEPTUNE on D-Day (part of Operation OVERLORD) with an airborne assault behind enemy lines around Normandy. After the successful invasion of Normandy, the 82nd was called back to England to refit and became part of the newly formed XVIII Airborne Corps, consisting of the 82nd, 101st, and 17th Airborne Divisions.
In Sept 1944 the 82nd took part in Operation MARKET GARDEN. MARKET GARDEN an ambitious, ill-fated Allied mission using airborne units to capture strategic bridges in Holland that would have enabled the Allies to cross the Rhine River and advance into Northern Germany quickly and shorten the war. Despite the 82nd successfully achieving its objectives, the overall mission was not successful and the 82nd was called back to France.
The 82nd would see action again during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. The 82nd helped Allied forces stop the German counteroffensive, which put Germany on its heels for the remainder of the war.
After the surrender of Germany the 82nd was called up for occupation duty in Berlin. The 82nd returned to the United States on January 3, 1946. Instead of being demobilized, the 82nd made its permanent home at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was designated a regular Army division on November 15, 1948.