502 Parachute Regiment History

On 1 July 1941, The 502nd Parachute Infantry Battalion was activated at Fort Benning, Ga. In July of 42 the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions were activated and the 502nd was assigned to the 101st. The regiment then moved from Ft. Benning to Ft. Bragg NC to take part in rigorous training excersizes. After completing training in NC, the regiment sailed for England to participate in the upcoming Normandy Invasion. The Five-Oh-Deuce dropped in the first wave over Normandy. Cloud cover and heavy German anti-aircraft fire caused the regiment to be widely scattered. Some sticks dropped as far as five miles from there intended drop zones. Undaunted, the troopers of the 502nd set about immediately taking their assigned objectives. To secure the two northern causeways leading inland from Utah Beach and to destroy the German artillery battery at Ste Martin-de-Varreville.

Despite the initial landings being scattered, the Five-Oh-Deuce secured all of its original D-Day objectives. After the 101st division regrouped, they were assigned the task of taking the city of Carentan. Lt. Col. Robert Cole received the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge during this action. The city of Carentan fell after bitter fighting and the 101st was relieved by the VIII Corps. After resting in Cherbourg, the 502nd returned to England to rest and receive additional training. In September of 1944, the 502nd dropped into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. The mission of the 101st was to secure the stretch of Hell’s Highway between Eindhoven and Veghel. After securing their objectives, the 502nd joined the rest of the 101st in defensive positions on “The Island” south of Arnhem. After the failure of the Market Garden operation, the Five-Oh-Deuce was sent to Bastogne to help repel the German Ardennes offensive. Throughout the cold bitter winter battle, the 502nd held its positions in and around Bastogne until the siege was lifted by Patton's 4th armoured division. The entire 101st airborne division was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its stand at Bastogne. As the war neared its end,the 502nd was moved to the Ruhr Pocket to help in mop-up operations. On the 4th of May, the 502nd carried out its last mission by capturing The Eagles Nest.

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