![]() DeGlopper, Private Joe Gandara, Private John R. Four men would receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during the war, Private First Class Charles N. Patton, after he reviewed the Paratroopers. It is in Berlin where the Division received its second, and most famous nickname, “America’s Guard of Honor” from General George S. World War II ended in May 1945, and the 82d Airborne Division would receive the honor of Occupation Duty in Berlin. The 82d also received the unconditional surrender of 146,000 men of the 21st German Army at Ludwigstlust. During the drive to end the war, the Division liberated a work camp at Wobbelin, Germany. After being rushed into combat with little food, ammunition, and winter clothing, the 82d held their ground against German tanks and artillery, began to push back, and by February 1945 were pushing into Germany. The All Americans briefly rested after Holland, but the final German offensive in December 1944, the Battle of the Bulge, ended any reprieve. German resistance was fierce, but the All Americans pushed through, secured the bridge, and opened a route to the Rhine River and into Germany. On the next day, 200 men of the 82d performed a daytime crossing of the fast moving Waal River in an attempt to secure the opposite end of the Nijmegen Bridge. Gavin led his men in fighting and secured the approach to the bridge at Nijmegen, the second longest span in Holland and heavily fortified by the enemy. The 82d successfully dropped and assembled at the Maas River Bridge at Grave and secured the structure within an hour. Gavin, the 82d’s objectives were to capture and hold the key bridges at Grave and Nijmegen, as well as some subsidiary bridges over a canal to the east of Grave. Operation MARKET GARDEN would have the All Americans perform a day time jump into Nijmegen. The final airborne assault for the 82d Airborne Division during World War II was into Holland in September 1944. Last Minute Brief before loading C-47s Op MG The original Division shoulder sleeve patch of a red square with a blue circle in the middle would soon have Troopers sewing a double AA in the blue. Vivienne, as she became known, submitted the winning selection, ‘The All American’ Division. Most divisions being organized for the war encompassed men from three to five states. There were men from each of the 48 states in the 82d Division, which was unique for the time. Many were immigrants who spoke little to no English. The Division held a very diverse group of men training to become a fighting unit. Beebe to sift through them all and decide which entry would earn the honor of naming one of Uncle Sam’s fighting divisions. Thousands of suggestions poured into the newspaper, and it was up to the Governor Hugh Dorsey, BG Burnham, and Major R.E. Burnham, held a contest in conjunction with the men of the Division, the citizens of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Georgian Newspaper. The Commanding General, Brigadier General W.
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