The 82nd Airborne Division was originally formed as the 82nd Infantry Division on March 5, 1917. Since members came from all 48 states, the Division was nicknamed "All-American," and it's insignia, the Double A, represents that. Famous soldiers of the division include Sergeant Alvin York, and General James Gavin. Throughout World War 1, the Division participated in 3 major campaigns and served with a level of distinction.
With the outbreak of the second World War, the division was re-organized into the United State's first Airborne Division on August 15, 1942. The following year, paratroopers deployed to North Africa under General Ridgway with the goal of invading Italy. The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment conducted the first regimental sized airborne operation for the fledgeling division. During the same campaign, the 504th PIR also saw action in Anzio while the rest of the division re-deployed to the United Kingdom to await the invasion of Europe.
As part of Operation Neptune, the 82nd became part of the Airborne element for the invasion of Normandy. The Airborne operation began with a complete disaster as a combination of poor cloud coverage, enemy weapons fire, and pilot inexperience scattered Airborne units all across the countryside, missing their drop-zones in almost every case. After 33 days of combat with no relief, the division was pulled back to England for rest and reconstitution after suffering 5,245 troopers either killed, wounded, or missing.
Following the Normandy invasion, the 82nd Airborne was organized under the newly formed 18th Airborne Corps, where it remains to this day. Next, the Division deployed for Operation Market-Garden and took their objectives between Grave and Nijmegen. Following the Allied defeat at Market Garden, the division was again re-deployed to France where it was caught up in the defense against the German's Ardennes Offensive, specifically on the northern front. After securing the Ruhr, the division accepted the surrender of over 150,000 German soldiers. After the Battle of the Bulge, the division performed occupation duty in Berlin until the close of the war in Europe. Following this period, the division was slated to invade Japan until the Pacific War also ended.
After World War 2, the 82nd Airborne Division has maintained a strategic response readiness and the ability to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours. The Division participated in the Tet Offensive in 1968, a combat jump into Grenada in 1983, a jump into Honduras, and a jump into Panama to oust Manuel Noriega.
Seven months later the paratroopers were again called to war. Six days after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2,1990, the 82nd became the vanguard of the largest deployment of American troops since Vietnam as part of Operation Desert Shield. The first unit to deploy to Saudi Arabia was a task force including the division's 2nd Brigade. Soon after, the rest of the division followed. There, intensive training began in anticipation of fighting in the desert with the heavily armored Iraqi Army.
On January 16th, 1993, Operation Desert Storm began when Allied war planes attacked Iraqi targets. The ground war began almost six weeks later. On February 23, the vehicle-mounted 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers protected the XVIII Airborne Corps flank as fast-moving armor and mechanized units moved deep inside Iraq. A 2nd Brigade task force was attached to the 6th French Light Armored Division becoming the far left flank of the Corps. In the short 100-hour ground war, the 82nd drove deep into Iraq and captured thousands of Iraqi soldiers and tons of equipment, weapons, and ammunition. After the liberation of Kuwait, the 82nd began its redeployment back to Fort Bragg with most of the Division returning by the end of April.
After Operation Desert Storm, elements of the division were on-route to Haiti with the threat of ousting Raoul Cedras when the dictator capitulated when he learned of the 82nd's deployment. Elements of the Division also deployed to Kosovo along the Albania/Kosovo border until being replaced by the 101st Airborne Division.
In recent history, the division conducted a small combat jump into Afghanistan with a company from the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as participation in the invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as maintaining a constant deployment rotation between OEF and OIF. During this time, the Division has gone through a period of re-structuring to adhere to the new Brigade Combat Team doctrine, and is now split into 4 BCTs, an Aviation Brigade, and the 82nd Sustainment Brigade.
