A Brief of History of the 82nd Airborne Division
The origins of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army go back to the time of World War I when the 82nd was Infantry and use of paratroopers in battle was 25 years and another world war in the future. The 82nd Infantry Division was activated in August 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia. During World War I, the division was employed in three major World War I campaigns. The division counted among its troops representatives from every state in the Union and became known as “All Americans”. The insignia of the 82nd Division is a dark blue circle on a square red field. On the blue circle, two white A’s appear side by side.
On March 25, 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division was activated to fight under the commandership of General Omar Bradley in World War II. On August 15, 1942, the 82nd was restructured to form the 82nd Airborne, the first airborne division in the United States Army. Their superb training had prepared them to be chosen for this honor. The day after this activation, the paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne were divided up between the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions. A blue crest with the word “Airborne” in white letters was added above the 82nd Division insignia.
In October 1942, the base home of the 82nd Airborne Division changed to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The first mission the division was assigned was the invasion of Sicily. On July 9, 1943, paratroopers dropped onto the island but were scattered over a wide area by an evening storm. Despite this, the Division gained 150 miles in five days. As the Division took the island of Sicily, 23,000 enemy soldiers were captured.
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