Infantry Regiment

The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army is an elite airborne infantry division and was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on March 5, 1917. It was organized on March 25, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Since members of the division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname “All-American.” This is the basis for its famed “AA” shoulder patch. Famous soldiers of the division include Sergeant Alvin C. York, General James M. Gavin, and former Chief Dave Bald Eagle (Sitting Bull grandson).

Operation Enduring Freedom: Afghanistan

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the 82nd’s 49th Public Affairs Detachment deployed to Afghanistan in October 2001 along with several individual 82nd soldiers who deployed to the Central Command Area of Responsibility to support combat operations.

In June 2002, elements of the Division Headquarters and 3rd Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In January, 2003 1st Brigade relieved 3rd Brigade, and continued the Division’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During 1st Brigade’s tour in Afghanistan, 70 soldiers from B Company, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in conjunction with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducted a combat jump into western Afghanistan. This was the first combat jump for the division since the United States invasion of Panama in 1989, but was uncelebrated as it remained classified for over a year.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: Iraq

The 2nd brigade of the Division took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom in early 2003. The brigade returned to the US by mid-February, 2004. The 3rd brigade of the division deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2003, redeploying to the US in Spring, 2004. The 1st brigade deployed to Iraq in January, 2004. The last units of the division left Iraq by the end of April, 2004. The 2nd brigade returned to Iraq in mid December 2004, and returned again on Easter 2005. During this initial deployment thirty-six soldiers from the division were killed and about 400 were wounded, out of about 12,000 deployed in total. On July 21st, 2006, the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment along with a platoon from A Battery 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment and a troop from 1st Squardon, 73rd Cavalry Regiment deployed to Tikrit, Iraq & returned in December of 2006. Just days after returning home, the battalion was called up to join the rest of the 2nd Brigade in another deployment scheduled for the beginning of January 2007. On January 4th, 2007, 2nd BCT deployed once again to Iraq in support of OIF. Since the deployment began, the Division has lost 37 paratroopers. Since September 11, 2001, the division has lost 20 paratroopers in Afghanistan & 101 paratroopers in Iraq, but the death toll for the division is still growing.

The early days of the 82nd Airborne’s participation in the deployment were chronicled by embedded journalist Karl Zinsmeister in his 2003 book Boots on the Ground: A Month with the 82nd Airborne in the Battle for Iraq.

Support of 2004 Elections: Afghanistan

In late September 2004 The National Command Authority alerted and deployed 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment for an emergency deployment to Afghanistan in support of the first free elections held in October of that year.

Two infantry battalions from the 82nd Airborne deployed to Iraq before the scheduled October 15 referendum on the proposed constitution, and are expected to remain through the December national elections. The battalions involved are the 2nd Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment.

First Brigade of the 82nd Airborne deployed to Afghanstan in April of 2005 in support of OEF 6, and returned in April of 2006.

Hurricane Katrina:

The 82nd Airborne’s 3rd Brigade Panthers and DIVARTY along with supporting units were also deployed to support search-and-rescue and security operations in New Orleans, Louisiana after the city was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. About 5,000 paratroopers commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, operated out of New Orleans International Airport.

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