‘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.”