‘White Devils’ celebrate National Airborne Day

Over the past 65 years, these commands have signaled the beginning of countless airborne operations. Following these orders, thousands of paratroopers have leapt into the sky, leaving the relative safety of their aircraft to descend on the enemy below.
It is the legacy of these paratroopers, the ones who came before, that the Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, known as the “ White Devils, remembered as they celebrated the 65th anniversary of the redesignation of the 82nd, Aug. 15, and prepared to celebrate National Airborne Day, Aug. 16.
“ It’s for the young paratroopers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Sturdevant, the battalion command sergeant major.
“ It’s a day to let them realize the legacy of paratroopers before them, and their proud service. People look at a person with a maroon beret completely different than a guy who has a black beret or even a tan beret, especially when he is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
They expect him to be a little faster, a lit­tle stronger, a little smarter than a nor­mal infantryman.”
The idea for airborne infantry started in the early 1940’s. Volunteers were formed into a test platoon, and it was the first jump of those pioneers that paved the way for the thousands of paratroopers who came after, said Lt. Col. Mark Stock, the White Devils commanding officer.
As a result of the test platoon’s efforts, the first airborne division, the 82nd Airborne Division, was created Aug. 15, 1942.
“ It started with the legacy of Parachute Test Platoon and their first parachute jump on Aug. 16, 1940,” said Sturdevant, a Raeford, N. C., native. “ But it’s all the parachute jumpers that came before us and the legacy that they built.”
Because of that legacy, President George W. Bush declared in 2002 that Aug. 16 was National Airborne Day.
“ Today is especially special for us because the 82nd is the only airborne division left in the United States Army, and they were the first airborne division when this whole concept started,” said Sturdevant.
During the ceremony, every White Devil wore their beret and jump wings, both items traditionally not worn during deployment. It was to remind the Soldiers about what made them different, what made them special, according to Stock, a Batesville, Ind., native.
“ I would like to remind you that each and every one of you is part of a unique and special brotherhood and part of a proud history,” Stock told his men dur­ing the ceremony. “ You volunteered to be a paratrooper, knowing well the haz­ards of your choice. You will carry that for the rest of your life. You will always wear those silver wings with pride knowing you were a member of America’s best.”

Mayor of Nijmegen thanking the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division

WHERE HEROES DARE TO DREAM

 

Jumpmaster Dance

504th PIR Paratrooper earns Silver Star

Major Sean Ryan 2BCT2ID
No paratrooper leaves a forward operating base think­ing they will become a hero that day. They are considering the route they will be on, doing ammunition checks, going over rules of engagement, and thinking of Family and friends before rolling “out­side the wire” for duty in the hazardous streets of Iraq.
April 10 started off the same as other days for the para­troopers from 1st Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, “Red Devils.” But that quickly changed, and Staff Sgt.Brandon Zylstra and his pla­toon, part of the quick reaction force, found themselves responsible for hauling a supply trailer to their fellow paratroopers, who were in contact with the enemy in the Al Fadhl neighborhood of east­ern Baghdad.
Zylstra, a native of Sully, Iowa, and his platoon found their route blocked by a jackknifed vehicle and immedi­ately started taking enemy fire. With nowhere to go, he dismounted the vehicle and quickly positioned himself and his paratroopers to start moving forward.
The following events would change Zylstra’s quiet professional demeanor into a an Audie Murphy type, some­thing only Hollywood writers could script and his actions led to him earn­ing the Silver Star.
Despite being completely exposed, Zylstra stood in the street and posi­tioned his paratroopers, while exchanging fire with the enemy for over a minute, which seems like a lifetime in a hot combat zone. The platoon quickly took their first casu­alty and Zylstra ran to administer first aid, with two other paratroopers following his lead to provide securi­ty.
Enemy fire soon struck both of the paratroopers pulling security, and then Zylstra provided medical care to all of them and tried to keep them in a safe location, but the present location was still under heavy attack. Zylstra, who has only known Fort Bragg as his home station and the 504th PIR as his unit, knew he had to assess which of the three casualties was the most serious and get them to better cover.
After dragging the most serious casualty to safety, Zylstra disregarded the hail of bullets around him and ran back to the original site to retrieve the weapon of the original casualty. With enemy fire still erupting around him, he again sprinted back to his fellow injured Paratroopers, this time firing both weapons at the enemy at the same time. As for all the bullets piercing the ground around him, Zylstra said, “The enemy fire didn’t really concern me, I was worried about the lives of my paratroopers.”
Spc. Dennis Howard, a native of Chicago and driver of one of the vehicles that day, explained why his squad leader would risk his life to retrieve the weapon of the first casu­alty that was left behind, “Staff Sgt. Zylstra continually does the right thing and always tells us that your weapon is your best friend and never leave it behind,” Howard said. Zylstra’s day was far from over and again he crossed the bullet-pocked street to check on a casualty, while directing fire from a crew served weapon to position his Paratroopers for the fastest exit when possible. His command team believes this action not only saved the two lives of the wounded paratroopers, but that directing the gunners opened up an avenue of approach to get them out of the area as well.
“Zylstra’s life revolves around the Army and he never asks what the Army can do for him, but what more can he do for the Army,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher Bauman. Bauman, a native of Muncie, Ind., said, “Zylstra is a quiet and humble guy, but is adventurous and you would never see him run from a fight.”
Finally, after opening up an escape route, Zylstra couldn’t find a seat in one of the vehicles.
“I knew my vehicle had casualties in it so I jumped on the hood of my platoon sergeant’s humvee, grabbed the sling load ring to hold on to and started firing my weapon so the enemy would keep their heads down,” he said.
Spc. James Bossio, the driver of Zylstra’s vehicle and native of Modesto, Calif., said, “Staff Sergeant Z is everything I want to be as a para­trooper,” but added, “there was no way I thought he would survive after witnessing some of the things he was doing. Then, jumping on the hood all the while firing at the enemy while I was driving in reverse, it was pretty incredible to witness.”
“Loyalty to his Soldiers and his military bearing are what Zylstra is all about”, said platoon leader, 1st Lt. Daniel Capozza, from Cooperstown, N.Y. “He is not really into much fan­fare, but leaving the area while firing a weapon with one hand is some­thing out of the movies, and he did what he had to do to take care of his guys.”
For his disregard for his personal safety and willingness to risk his life to save his paratroopers, Zylstra was awarded the Silver Star, pinned on by Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, command­er of Multi-National Corps — Iraq, on Aug. 5. The event was held in a crowded theater in eastern Baghdad with Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr., the Multi-National Division command­ing general–Baghdad, standing next to him. Both generals spent time speaking with the paratroopers of the “Red Devil” battalion and other visitors praising Zylstra and the unit for their dedication and work ethic.
In 1942, the 504th Parachute Infantry became the first parachute infantry regiment in the newly desig­nated 82nd Airborne Division under the command of Maj. Gen. Omar Bradley. The nickname ‘the Devils in Baggy Pants,’ was taken from an entry found in the diary of a German officer killed at Anzio during World War II after their eight-week stay on the beachhead. Few units are more highly decorated or have a prouder heritage than Soldiers of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Zylstra has upheld that standard.

Today Is National Airborne Day!!!!!!!!

Airborne Creed

I volunteered as a parachutist, fully realizing the hazard of my chosen service and by my thoughts and actions will always uphold the prestige, honor and high esprit-de-corps of parachute troops.

I realize that a parachutist is not merely a soldier who arrives by parachute to fight, but is an elite shock trooper and that his country expects him to march farther and faster, to fight harder, and to be more self-reliant than any other soldier. Parachutists of all allied armies belong to this great brotherhood.

I shall never fail my fellow comrades by shirking any duty or training, but will always keep myself mentally and physically fit and shoulder my full share of the task, whatever it may be.

I shall always accord my superiors fullest loyalty and I will always bear in mind the sacred trust I have in the lives of the men I will accompany into battle.

I shall show other soldiers by my military courtesy, neatness of dress and care of my weapons and equipment that I am a picked and well trained soldier.

I shall endeavor always to reflect the high standards of training and morale of parachute troops.

I shall respect the abilities of my enemies, I will fight fairly and with all my might. Surrender is not in my creed.

I shall display a high degree of initiative and will fight on to my objective and mission, though I be the lone survivor.

I shall prove my ability as a fighting man against the enemy on the field of battle, not by quarreling with my comrades in arms or by bragging about my deeds.

I shall always realize that battles are won by an army fighting as a team, that I fight first and blaze the path into battle for others to follow and to carry the battle on.

I belong to the finest unit in the world. By my actions and deeds alone, I speak for my fighting ability. I will strive to uphold the honor and prestige of my outfit, making my country proud of me and of the unit to which I belong.

AIRBORNE LEADS THE WAY!