The 504th Infantry Regiment (IR), famously known by its legendary World War II nickname, the "Devils in Baggy Pants," is one of the most highly decorated airborne units of the U.S. Army. Activated in 1942, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) was a spearhead of the 82nd Airborne Division, the "All-Americans," making combat jumps in Sicily and reinforcing the critical Salerno beachhead in Italy. The regiment earned its enduring name during the brutal fighting at Anzio, Italy, a campaign that resulted in a Presidential Unit Citation. The 504th also fought in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge's counter-offensive. Today, the regiment's lineage is maintained by the 1st Battalion (1-504th PIR) and the 2nd Battalion (2-504th PIR), both of which are ACTIVE Parachute Infantry battalions assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team ("Devil Brigade"), 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, upholding their mission as an elite, global Immediate Response Force (IRF).
The 504th Infantry Regiment was constituted on February 24, 1942, and formally activated as the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) on May 1, 1942, at Fort Benning, GA. It was assigned to the newly designated 82nd Airborne Division on August 15, 1942, and quickly became a core component of the "All-Americans." Under the command of Colonel Reuben Henry "Rube" Tucker, the 504th PIR established a reputation for tenacity and aggressive action early in its history.
World War II: Sicily, Italy, Anzio, and the Famed Nickname
The 504th PIR was the most engaged of the 82nd Airborne regiments in the Mediterranean and European theaters during World War II:
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Operation Husky (Sicily): In July 1943, the 504th participated in the airborne invasion of Sicily, making a night combat jump to disrupt enemy communications and secure airfields.
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Operation Avalanche (Salerno): In September 1943, the 504th executed a critical combat jump to reinforce the precarious Allied beachhead at Salerno, Italy. The unit’s arrival helped turn the tide against fierce German counterattacks. It was here, at the height of the fighting for the high ground at Altavilla, that Colonel Tucker issued his legendary, defiant response to a suggested withdrawal: "Retreat, Hell! — Send me my other battalion!"
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Operation Shingle (Anzio): In January 1944, the 504th, fighting as part of the 504th Parachute Combat Team, made an amphibious landing at the Anzio beachhead south of Rome. For nearly two months, the regiment endured grinding, trench-like warfare against relentless German attacks designed to crush the beachhead. It was during this brutal campaign that a German officer's diary was recovered, containing the description: "American parachutists – devils in baggy pants – are less than 100 meters from my outpost line." The name "Devils in Baggy Pants" was immediately adopted and proudly worn by the regiment. The 504th was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for its steadfast defense of the beachhead.
The regiment was subsequently pulled out of the line to rejoin the 82nd Airborne in England, where it was temporarily sidelined for the D-Day jump due to heavy casualties sustained in Italy. The 504th returned to combat in September 1944 for Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, capturing key bridges and, most notably, fighting in the area of Nijmegen. The 504th later saw heavy action during the Battle of the Bulge counter-offensive in the Ardennes, earning another Presidential Unit Citation for its combat around Cheneux, Belgium, before participating in the final drive into Germany.
Post-War, Cold War, and Contingency Operations
Following World War II, the 504th PIR remained a component of the 82nd Airborne, undergoing post-war redesignations to the 504th Airborne Infantry and later the 504th Infantry. The regiment remained the cornerstone of the 82nd’s rapid-response mission.
Post-WWII combat and contingency operations include:
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Dominican Republic (1965): The 504th deployed as part of Operation Power Pack to restore stability during the Dominican Civil War.
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Honduras (1988): Deployed for Operation Golden Pheasant as a show of force against Sandinista incursions.
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Panama (1989): The 504th was one of the first units committed to combat in Operation Just Cause, conducting rapid air and sea assaults to secure vital objectives.
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Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): The regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and participated in the air assault into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
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Haiti (1994): The 504th was on aircraft for a massive combat jump into Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy that was called off in mid-air when a peaceful transition of power was negotiated.
Global War on Terror and Current Status (Active)
The 504th maintained its status as a vital part of the Immediate Response Force (IRF), deploying extensively throughout the Global War on Terror (GWOT):
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Afghanistan: The regiment has completed multiple combat tours in Operation Enduring Freedom, fighting counter-insurgency battles and conducting stability operations.
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Iraq: The 504th deployed multiple times for Operation Iraqi Freedom, including during the 2007-2008 Iraqi Surge in and around Baghdad, earning several Valorous Unit Awards for its actions.
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Recent IRF Deployments: The regiment's units were among the first U.S. combat troops to deploy globally in response to recent crises, showcasing the 82nd Airborne's ability to project power anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
The lineage of the 504th Infantry Regiment remains ACTIVE today, with its component battalions assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division:
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1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (1-504th PIR)
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2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (2-504th PIR)
Both battalions form the core of the 1st Brigade Combat Team ("Devil Brigade"), 82nd Airborne Division, home-stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, standing perpetually ready as one of the nation's most elite, rapidly deployable airborne forces.
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