The 508th Infantry Regiment (IR), famously nicknamed the "Red Devils," is a renowned and decorated airborne unit with a lineage deeply intertwined with the 82nd Airborne Division, the "All-Americans." Activated in 1942, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) made its combat debut on D-Day, June 6, 1944, parachuting into Normandy to secure the critical western flank and river crossings of the Merderet River, earning a Presidential Unit Citation. The regiment continued to distinguish itself in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands and played a major role in the Battle of the Bulge, where Medal of Honor recipient First Sergeant Leonard Funk Jr. performed his legendary feat. Post-WWII, the 508th participated in contingency operations from the Dominican Republic and Panama to multiple combat deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Today, the lineage is maintained by the 1st Battalion (1-508th PIR) and the 2nd Battalion (2-508th PIR), both ACTIVE Parachute Infantry battalions assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team ("Falcon Brigade") and 3rd Brigade Combat Team ("Panther Brigade") at Fort Bragg, NC, upholding their mission as elite paratroopers of the nation's Immediate Response Force.
The 508th Infantry Regiment was constituted on October 6, 1942, and activated as the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) on October 20, 1942, at Camp Blanding, Florida. The regiment adopted its striking insignia and nickname, the "Red Devils" (with the battle cry "Diablo!"), while training at Fort Benning, GA, before shipping overseas. In March 1944, the 508th was attached to the veteran 82nd Airborne Division in England in preparation for the invasion of Europe.
World War II: Normandy, Market Garden, and the Bulge
The 508th PIR participated in three of the European Theater's most critical operations:
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D-Day (Normandy): The 508th made its combat jump in the predawn hours of June 6, 1944, as part of the Operation Overlord/Neptune airborne assault. Mis-drops due to heavy anti-aircraft fire scattered the regiment widely, particularly into the flooded areas of the Merderet River valley. Despite the chaos, small groups of "Red Devils" fought fiercely for 33 continuous days to disrupt German communications and secure key river crossings, particularly along the Douve River, successfully preventing German forces from reinforcing the beachhead. The unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic action on the Cotentin Peninsula.
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Operation Market Garden: In September 1944, the 508th jumped into the Netherlands as part of the largest airborne assault in history. The regiment secured its objectives east of Groesbeek, maintained a defensive line over 12,000 yards long against heavy counter-attacks, and played a crucial role in capturing the key Nijmegen Bridge over the Waal River by securing the ground approach for the forces conducting the famous Waal River crossing.
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Battle of the Bulge: In late December 1944, the 508th was rushed into the Ardennes to counter the German offensive. The regiment fought in the grueling, frigid winter battles, notably screening the withdrawal of thousands of troops from St. Vith and repelling attacks by German Panzer divisions. During this period, First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk Jr. earned the Medal of Honor for single-handedly recapturing over 80 German prisoners who had disarmed their American guards in Holzheim, Belgium, by feigning surrender and then firing his submachine gun into the enemy group.
Cold War and Modern Combat
After being inactivated and reactivated in the post-war years, the 508th was permanently returned to the lineage of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. The regiment's units were consistently at the forefront of rapid-deployment missions:
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Operation Power Pack (1965): Elements of the 508th deployed to the Dominican Republic to restore order.
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Vietnam War (1968-1969): The 1st Battalion (1-508th IN) deployed with the 3rd Brigade to Vietnam, participating in the heavy fighting during the Tet Offensive around Hue and Saigon, earning a Valorous Unit Award.
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Operation Urgent Fury (1983): The regiment was a key part of the parachute assault into Grenada.
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Operation Just Cause (1989): The 508th executed a combat jump and ground combat operations during the invasion of Panama.
Global War on Terror and Current Status (Active)
In the 21st century, the 508th has been at the center of the nation's combat operations:
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Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): The 2nd Battalion (2-508th PIR) was the spearhead of the initial combat jump into Iraq in March 2003 during Operation Northern Delay, seizing the Bashur Airfield in a large-scale airborne insertion.
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Afghanistan and Iraq: The regiment’s battalions deployed repeatedly in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn in Iraq, conducting intense counter-insurgency and partnership missions in places like Ghazni, Wardak, and Kandahar Provinces, earning multiple Valorous Unit Awards and Meritorious Unit Commendations. The units have continued to maintain a high state of readiness as part of the Immediate Response Force.
The lineage of the 508th Infantry Regiment remains ACTIVE today, with its component battalions maintaining their full Parachute Infantry status:
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1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (1-508th PIR): This battalion is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team ("Panther Brigade"), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.
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2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (2-508th PIR): This battalion is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team ("Falcon Brigade"), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.
The "Red Devils" continue their long and fierce heritage as highly trained paratroopers, ready for global deployment on short notice.
Airborne Apparel Company is proud to offer reproductions and unique designs that celebrate the 508th Infantry Regiment ("Red Devils") legacy.