The 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, is a United States Army infantry division that specializes in parachute assault operations. With the capacity to respond globally within 18 hours, it stands as the Army's most strategically mobile division and is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps.
Established as the 82nd Division in 1917, it received the nickname "All-American" because its original members hailed from all 48 states. Their "AA" shoulder patch symbolizes this. The division saw significant action on the Western Front. In training and during combat, the 82nd played vital roles in St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Key figures like Colonel Emory Jenison Pike and Sergeant Alvin York stood out for their valor, with both receiving the Medal of Honor. Post-war, the division returned to the U.S. and was deactivated in 1919.
The 82nd Division underwent a redesignation in 1942 during World War II, shortly after the major events at Pearl Harbor and the German declaration of war. Reorganized at Camp Claiborne under Major General Omar Bradley, the division united key officers such as Matthew Ridgway, James M. Gavin, and Maxwell D. Taylor. In August 1942, it became the first airborne division in the U.S. Army's history and underwent various regimental reshufflings.
After intense training, the 82nd Airborne division deployed to the Mediterranean in April 1943. Their first significant actions were in Sicily and Salerno. During the invasion of Italy, Ridgway honored Will Lang Jr., a TIME magazine journalist, as an honorary division member. The 504th earned the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants" after an entry in a German officer's diary. The 82nd then moved to the UK in November 1943 to plan the liberation of Europe.
In Normandy, as part of Operation Neptune, the 82nd played a pivotal role, facing severe combat for 33 days. Casualties were heavy, with 46% of the division either killed, wounded, or missing. After Normandy, the 82nd Airborne division transferred to England to reorganize and subsequently participated in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. Despite facing challenges like the delayed capture of Nijmegen Bridge, the division made significant advancements.
When the Germans initiated the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the 82nd was crucial in defending the northern sector of the bulge, particularly against several SS Panzer divisions. The division faced its first ever forced withdrawal but eventually helped stifle the German advance. In January 1945, the 82nd mounted a successful counterattack.
Towards the war's end, the 82nd secured the Ruhr and then moved past the Elbe River, capturing a vast number of German troops. Following the German surrender, the division occupied Berlin, replacing the 2nd Armored Division in August 1945, and was eventually relieved by the 78th Infantry Division.
During the tumultuous 1960s, the 82nd Airborne Division, colloquially known as the "All-Americans," found themselves increasingly involved in international interventions and conflicts, reflecting the global posture of the U.S. during the Cold War era.
In the spring of 1965, the division was drawn into the civil unrest in the Dominican Republic. The conflict there had escalated to a civil war, prompting U.S. intervention under the auspices of Operation Power Pack. Taking the lead in this operation was the 82nd's 3rd Brigade, which swiftly deployed to the Caribbean nation to restore order and protect U.S. interests.
Yet the division's engagement was not confined to the Western Hemisphere. Just a few years later, in early 1968, the 3rd Brigade would find itself in Southeast Asia, answering the call during one of the most significant events of the Vietnam War: the Tet Offensive. This large-scale and coordinated series of attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces took many by surprise, leading to an urgent U.S. military response.
With remarkable speed, the 3rd Brigade was airborne and en route to Chu Lai within a day of being called upon. Once on the ground, the brigade took on combat responsibilities in the region of Huế and Phu Bai, located in the strategic I Corps sector of South Vietnam. But their involvement didn't stop there. In the ensuing months, they shifted southward to the vicinity of the country's capital, Saigon, and also operated in the Mekong Delta, the Iron Triangle, and along the border with Cambodia. Their deployment was extensive, with the brigade serving for nearly 22 consecutive months in Vietnam.
Due to the prolonged deployment of the 3rd Brigade, the 82nd Airborne Division found it necessary to establish a provisional 4th Brigade back at home. This new brigade comprised several battalions: the 4th Battalion of the 325th Infantry, the 3rd Battalion of the 504th Infantry, and the 3rd Battalion of the 505th Infantry. To ensure they had the firepower and support they needed, an additional battalion, the 3rd Battalion of the 320th Artillery, was activated under the Division Artillery, specifically to provide backing for this provisional brigade.
This period underscores the adaptability and readiness of the 82nd Airborne Division, a unit that has consistently demonstrated its ability to respond rapidly to crises across the globe.
The 1980s were a pivotal decade for the 82nd Airborne Division, marking its re-engagement in direct combat actions for the first time since World War II and emphasizing its role as a rapid deployment force.
Grenada: Operation Urgent Fury
In October 1983, the Caribbean island of Grenada became a flashpoint of geopolitical tension. The U.S., fearing a pro-Soviet regime bolstered by Cuban military engineers, launched Operation Urgent Fury. Following an initial airfield seizure by the 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions, the 82nd Airborne Division was tasked with securing Point Salines Airport, expanding its missions to eliminate Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces and Grenadan People's Revolutionary Army soldiers. Multiple battalions were deployed, with most pushing only a single company forward. The operation had its challenges; for instance, the newly issued Battledress Uniforms (BDUs) weren't suited for tropical climates, and inter-service communication faced severe interoperability issues. Nevertheless, despite these flaws, Operation Urgent Fury reaffirmed the 82nd's capability for rapid deployment.
Honduras: Operation Golden Pheasant
Five years later, in March 1988, the division saw action in Central America. Amidst escalating tensions between Honduras and Nicaragua, a brigade task force from the 82nd, comprising of battalions from the 504th and 505th Infantry, landed in Honduras under Operation Golden Pheasant. Officially, it was a training exercise. In reality, they were poised for combat. The presence of these airborne forces prompted the Sandinista forces in Honduras to retreat back into Nicaragua, demonstrating the deterrent power of a rapid-response force.
Panama: Operation Just Cause
Then, in December 1989, the 82nd was thrust into action in Panama in Operation Just Cause. Their mission? Depose the nation's dictator, Manuel Noriega. The "All-American" Division carried out its first combat jump since WWII onto Torrijos International Airport, Panama. Their objective was multifaceted, involving a night combat jump, seizing key installations, and carrying out combat air assault missions. They secured multiple key objectives, including the Punta Paitilla Airport, a Panamanian Defense Forces (PDF) garrison, and Rio Hato, where Noriega had a residence.
One notable incident during the operation was the attack on the PDF Headquarters, which inadvertently set the densely populated El Chorrillo neighborhood in Panama City ablaze. The operation showcased a vast array of U.S. military hardware, marking the combat debut for several advanced systems such as the AH-64 Apache helicopter, the F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter, and the HMMWV.
Operation Just Cause served as a testament to the progress made by the U.S. Armed Forces since the hiccups in Grenada. The swift and decisive victory in Panama demonstrated significant improvements in inter-service cooperation and equipment interoperability. The 82nd's role in the operation, though crucial, was not without sacrifice; six paratroopers lost their lives. By the end of January 1990, just over a month after the invasion began, Operation Just Cause concluded, and the paratroopers of the 82nd started their return to Fort Bragg.
In August 1990, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the 4th Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division was deployed as part of President Bush's "Line in the Sand" in Operation Desert Shield. The unit moved to Saudi Arabia to protect the royal family and later joined the ground offensive against the Iraqi Army. The division played a crucial role in the swift 100-hour ground war and took thousands of prisoners.
In August 1992, after Hurricane Andrew, the division provided humanitarian assistance in Florida, delivering food, shelter, and medical aid and ensuring security against criminals.
In September 1994, the division was integral to Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, aiming to oust dictator Raoul Cédras and restore Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The division's impending presence persuaded Cédras to step down, preventing conflict.
In December 1994, they intervened in Panama during Operations Safe Haven and Safe Passage to restore order amongst Cuban refugees.
The division prepared for a possible operation in Bosnia in 1995 but stood down after peace was achieved.
In 1997, they participated in CENTRAZBAT '97, a NATO peacekeeping training in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The division also saw deployments to Kosovo in 1999, and after the 9/11 attacks, they were active in Afghanistan and Iraq, fighting against Taliban and insurgent forces. They helped ensure free elections in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom amidst these conflicts.
In addition to the Middle East, the 82nd Airborne Division had ongoing rapid deployment operations with the United States Army, maintaining their status as America's guard against emerging global threats.
