Activated March 25, 1942 at Cp. Claiborne, Louisiana as the 82d Division - redesignated there as the 82d Infantry Division May 24, 1942 . The unit received its new designation i.e. 82d Airborne Division August 15, 1942 and moved to Ft. Bragg, N. Carolina October 3, 1942 . It then staged at Cp. Edwards, Massachusetts April 18, 1943 until it departed New York P/E April 28, destination North Africa . The "All Americans" arrived in N. Africa May 10, 1943 and air-assaulted Sicily (first combat jump) July 9, 1943 . They also landed in Italy September 13, 1943, and briefly returned to N. Africa from November 22 to 30, 1943 . The 82d Airborne Division reached N. Ireland December 9, and arrived in England February 14, 1944 . The Division air-assaulted Normandy June 6, 1944, and Holland September 17, 1944, and moved back to France November 14, 1944 .
Following the German counter-offensive in the Bulge, the All Americans crossed into Belgium December 18, where they helped subdue the enemy advance . They went into Germany  January 30, 1945, briefly returned to France February 19, and re-entered Germany April 2, 1945 . The Division returned to New York P/E January 3, 1946 and moved to Ft. Bragg January 16, where it remained active through 1946 . Campaigns: Sicily - Naples-Foggia - Normandy - Rhineland - Ardennes-Alsace - Central Europe . Organic units: 325th Gli Inf Regt - 504th Prcht Inf Regt - 505th Prcht Inf Regt - 319th Gli Fld Arty Bn - 320th Gli Fld Arty Bn - 376th Prcht Fld Arty - 456th Prcht Fld Arty Bn - 80th Abn AA Bn - 82d Abn Sig Co - 307th Abn Engr Bn - 307th Abn Med Co - 82d CIC Det - MP Pltn - Rcn Pltn - 782d Abn Ord Maint Co - 407th Prcht Maint Co . Attached units: 507th Prcht Inf Regt - 508th Prcht Inf Regt - 517th Prcht Inf Regt - 551st Prcht Inf Bn - 740th Tk Bn - 605th TD Bn - 628th TD Bn - 629th TD Bn - 643d TD Bn - 580th AAA  Auto-Wpns Bn - 634th AAA Auto-Wpns Bn . Commanders: MG Matthew Bunker Ridgway Jun 42 > Aug 44 + BG James Maurice Gavin Aug 44 > Mar 48 .

"Sgt. A.S. Vilinsky"