The largest
parachute force in the free world, the 82d Airborne Division is trained to deploy anywhere, at any time, to fight upon arrival and to win. Almost every piece of divisional
combat equipment can be dropped by parachute onto the field of
battle.
The 82nd Infantry Division was formed August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon,
Georgia. Since members of the Division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname "
All-Americans," hence its famed "AA" shoulder patch. The 82nd was demobilized after its service in
World War I. With the outbreak of
World War II, the 82nd was reactivated in 1942 and redesignated the 82nd
Airborne Division. During their service in
Sicily and Salerno,
Italy, they earned the
nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants." (The nickname was taken from an entry made in a
German officer's
diary.)
On June 5-6, 1944 (D-Day), the
paratroopers of the 82nd's three parachute
infantry regiments and reinforced
glider infantry regiment boarded hundreds of transport planes and gliders and began the
largest airborne assault in history (along with the
101st Airborne Division, whose expoits are shown in the
Band of Brothers mini-series shown on
HBO and
BBC). They were among the first soldiers to fight in
Normandy,
France. After the war, the 82nd made its permanent home at
Fort Bragg,
North Carolina
The 82nd Airborn Division has been involved in most major military conflicts since
WWII, including the conflics in
Vietnam,
Korea, and
Iraq. They have 3
infantry brigades, an
aviation brigade, plus attached
battalions to take care of administration, military
intelligence,
engineering, and
soldier support.
Sources: http://www.bragg.army.mil/www-82DV/, http://www.fayettevillenc.com/airborne82dassn/, and http://www.grunts.net/army/82abn.html.