Our Honored Dead
(West Face):
Dedicated to Lt. Gen. James Maurice Gavin, USA March 22, 1907 ~ February 23, 1990 And Our Honored Dead *** 1st Commander 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Commanding General 82nd Airborne Division Ambassador to France *** A Courageous Leader A Trooper's Soldier *** Erected by Veterans of the 505th Parachute RCT Association World War II June 14, 1991
(South Face):
Commemoration On this site on March 29, 1943 the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment made the first regimental mass parachute jump in the history of the United States Army *** The success of this exercise established the feasibility of and the foundation for the conduct of large - scale parachute operations in World War II *** United States Army Air Corps Troop Carrier Units Provided the C-47 Aircraft for this historic parachute jump
(East Face):
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment "Ready" Activated 6 July 1942 Remains active today *** Thirty months overseas six campaigns seven river crossings four combat jumps 325 days in combat 654 killed in action *** Presidential Unit Citations French and Belgium Fourrageres Netherland Orange Lanyard World War II Commanders Col. James M. Gavin July 1942 - Oct 1943 Lt. Col. Herbert Batcheller Nov 1943 - Mar 1944 Col. William E. Ekman Apr 1944 - Sept 1947
(North Face):
82nd Airborne Division "All American" "America's Guard of Honor" 82nd Infantry Division Activated 25 August 1917 Reactivated 25 March 1942 Reorganized and Redesignated an Airborne Division 5 August 1942 *** World War II Campaigns Sicily Naples - Foggia Normandy Holland Ardennes Central Europe
Marker is on U.S. 1 near Longtown Road, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
