515th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment was a Regiment of the US Army during the Second World War
. The unit was used to provide replacements for overseas, but was later assigned to the 13th Airborne Division and sent to France
in anticipation of combat with the Germans and was later en-route to the Pacific Theatre when the war came to an end.
, Georgia
, initially the regiment was used as an administrative agency pool for officers and men fresh from the parachute school. It was only on December 1, 1943 that orders came down from Airborne Command placing the 515th in full activation. It is for this reason that the 515th is considered the most junior of the US Army's parachute regiments.
Colonel Julian B. Lindsay was the regiment's first commanding officer of the 'Jumping Wolves', taking command of the 184-man cadre provided by the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. It didn't take long for the 515th to come to full strength.
The unit took its first casualty
in mid-June 1943 when its First Battalion CO Lt. Col. J. C. Hite plunged to his death over the Alabama Area. As a result the Amphitheatre
in that area is now named after him.
Initially only the First Battalion was Jump Qualified, the Second and Third Battalions being composed of unqualified men from Special Units, however by the end of January 1943 the whole regiment was wearing its Jump Wings.
It was during this early period that the regiment lost some men as replacements overseas, famed General John K. Singlaub
returned from an exercise to find his platoon having been sent overseas as replacements, an event which led to his eventual transfer to OSS Jedburgh Team JAMES, beginning his long career in Special Operations.
, North Carolina
, replacing the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which had been reassigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
In April and May 1944 the Regiment was hit hard, again being stripped for replacements overseas, drastically setting back the Regiments training schedule. To replace these losses the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment
was ordered to provide men to fill the holes left by those who went.
The 515th began to train in earnest for an overseas deployment with the 13th Airborne. Indications here for a deployment to the Pacific Theatre, a rumour which was further fuelled when 23 Japanese-Americans were attached to the unit to assist with Regimental training. Half these men would play the enemy, the other half would be interpreters. These men gained great respect from the men of the 515th and later, when it became apparent that the Regiment would not go to the Pacific, these men were missed.
, with the initial assignment of capturing 'enemy' airfields, allowing glider
reinforcements to land.
Not all went according to plan as high winds and Air Corp inexperience resulted in bad scattering of the jumpers, however the 515th recovered and moved out capturing the Camp Mackall Airport. The rest of the maneuvers proceeded somewhat smoothly, with one exception being a trooper
who was in the lead of a creek
crossing falling asleep against a tree resulting in his buddies halting and waiting for him to move out, despite being up to their waists in swamp
.
Upon completion of the exercise the 13th was cleared for deployment overseas. In December 1944 the Battle of the Bulge
was in full swing and the 13th was ordered to move out to the European Theatre of Operations
immediately.
By January 30, the men of the 515th were on their way.
on February 8, 1945 and moved out to Camp Lucky Strike near St. Valery-en-Caux, France. It was here that the 515th acquired its new commanding officer, Colonel Harvey J. Jablonsky
, who was already in Europe awaiting the men's arrival.
Life at Lucky Strike was miserable, the men were tasked with sprucing the area up, creating gravel
paths in mud which simply swallowed up any gravel the men tried to lay down. Moral was low and the rain water high. Mercifully the men moved out to Auxerre
, France nine days later.
Auxerre was a former French Army Garrison, consisting of four story barracks
, surrounding a quadrangle
, which was full of trash, left by the Germans. The men set about fixing the place up.
It was at this time that the men participated in Operation Comet, a training mission in anticipation of jumping the Rhine. The men were not told this was an exercise until they arrived at the marshalling area. The Exercise was a success and the men returned to Auxerre.
The Regiment sent some volunteers to England to participate in the 18th Airborne Corps Pathfinder school, which was held Chalgrove
, Oxford
, England
. One of these men remained with the Corps and eventually was one of the first men to jump into Germany.
The men were called out to marshalling areas again for more operations which would never come off. This being the essence of their role as Strategic Reserve
, to be ready to jump anywhere, anytime, they were 'Troopers of Opportunity'.
Time and again the men kitted up, boarded their aircraft, only to be told that the DZ had been overrun by friendly forces and it was back to the Marshalling Area Blues.
In May the war ended, with the men still sitting behind the barbed wire, the war passed them by.
. The men boarded Liberty Ships
at Le Harve and started for the United States
, a stopover to the Pacific.
While they were at sea, the Atomic Bombs were dropped, ending the war in the Pacific. The men of the 515th were jubilant, the war was over and they were alive. The ships docked at Piermont Pier on 23 August and the men were sent home on leave, or discharged.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The unit was used to provide replacements for overseas, but was later assigned to the 13th Airborne Division and sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in anticipation of combat with the Germans and was later en-route to the Pacific Theatre when the war came to an end.
Activation At Ft. Benning, Georgia
The 515th was activated on May 31, 1943 in the Alabama Area of Fort BenningFort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, initially the regiment was used as an administrative agency pool for officers and men fresh from the parachute school. It was only on December 1, 1943 that orders came down from Airborne Command placing the 515th in full activation. It is for this reason that the 515th is considered the most junior of the US Army's parachute regiments.
Colonel Julian B. Lindsay was the regiment's first commanding officer of the 'Jumping Wolves', taking command of the 184-man cadre provided by the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. It didn't take long for the 515th to come to full strength.
The unit took its first casualty
Casualty (person)
A casualty is a person who is the victim of an accident, injury, or trauma. The word casualties is most often used by the news media to describe deaths and injuries resulting from wars or disasters...
in mid-June 1943 when its First Battalion CO Lt. Col. J. C. Hite plunged to his death over the Alabama Area. As a result the Amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
in that area is now named after him.
Initially only the First Battalion was Jump Qualified, the Second and Third Battalions being composed of unqualified men from Special Units, however by the end of January 1943 the whole regiment was wearing its Jump Wings.
It was during this early period that the regiment lost some men as replacements overseas, famed General John K. Singlaub
John K. Singlaub
John Kirk Singlaub is a highly-decorated former OSS officer and a retired Major General in the United States Army, and a founding member of the Central Intelligence Agency . He was a joint founder, with Congressman Larry McDonald, of the Western Goals Foundation, a conservative private...
returned from an exercise to find his platoon having been sent overseas as replacements, an event which led to his eventual transfer to OSS Jedburgh Team JAMES, beginning his long career in Special Operations.
Assignment To The 13th Airborne
On March 7, 1944 the 515th joined the 13th Airborne Division at Camp MackallCamp Mackall
Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located in eastern Richmond County and northern Scotland County, North Carolina, south of the town of Southern Pines. The facility is in close proximity to and is a sub-installation of Fort Bragg Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, replacing the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which had been reassigned to the 17th Airborne Division.
In April and May 1944 the Regiment was hit hard, again being stripped for replacements overseas, drastically setting back the Regiments training schedule. To replace these losses the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment
541st Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment was a regiment in the United States Army during World War II. While never to see combat the unit, was composed of highly trained and highly educated troopers...
was ordered to provide men to fill the holes left by those who went.
The 515th began to train in earnest for an overseas deployment with the 13th Airborne. Indications here for a deployment to the Pacific Theatre, a rumour which was further fuelled when 23 Japanese-Americans were attached to the unit to assist with Regimental training. Half these men would play the enemy, the other half would be interpreters. These men gained great respect from the men of the 515th and later, when it became apparent that the Regiment would not go to the Pacific, these men were missed.
Maneuvers
By mid September 1944 the 13th Airborne was ready for its final exams for movement overseas, taking the form of a large Airborne Maneuver. The 515th was based out of Laurinburg-Maxton Army AirbaseLaurinburg-Maxton Airport
Laurinburg-Maxton Airport is a public airport located three miles north of the central business district of Maxton and east of Laurinburg. Maxton is located primarily in Robeson County, North Carolina, USA while Laurinburg is in Scotland County, North Carolina, USA as is the airport proper. This...
, with the initial assignment of capturing 'enemy' airfields, allowing glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
reinforcements to land.
Not all went according to plan as high winds and Air Corp inexperience resulted in bad scattering of the jumpers, however the 515th recovered and moved out capturing the Camp Mackall Airport. The rest of the maneuvers proceeded somewhat smoothly, with one exception being a trooper
Trooper (rank)
Trooper from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Today, most cavalry units operate in the armoured role, equipped...
who was in the lead of a creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
crossing falling asleep against a tree resulting in his buddies halting and waiting for him to move out, despite being up to their waists in swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
.
Upon completion of the exercise the 13th was cleared for deployment overseas. In December 1944 the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
was in full swing and the 13th was ordered to move out to the European Theatre of Operations
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
immediately.
By January 30, the men of the 515th were on their way.
Strategic Reserve ETO
The 13th Airborne Division docked at Le HavreLe Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
on February 8, 1945 and moved out to Camp Lucky Strike near St. Valery-en-Caux, France. It was here that the 515th acquired its new commanding officer, Colonel Harvey J. Jablonsky
Harvey Jablonsky
Harvey Jablonsky was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978....
, who was already in Europe awaiting the men's arrival.
Life at Lucky Strike was miserable, the men were tasked with sprucing the area up, creating gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
paths in mud which simply swallowed up any gravel the men tried to lay down. Moral was low and the rain water high. Mercifully the men moved out to Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
, France nine days later.
Auxerre was a former French Army Garrison, consisting of four story barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
, surrounding a quadrangle
Quadrilateral
In Euclidean plane geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices or corners. Sometimes, the term quadrangle is used, by analogy with triangle, and sometimes tetragon for consistency with pentagon , hexagon and so on...
, which was full of trash, left by the Germans. The men set about fixing the place up.
It was at this time that the men participated in Operation Comet, a training mission in anticipation of jumping the Rhine. The men were not told this was an exercise until they arrived at the marshalling area. The Exercise was a success and the men returned to Auxerre.
The Regiment sent some volunteers to England to participate in the 18th Airborne Corps Pathfinder school, which was held Chalgrove
Chalgrove
Chalgrove is a village and civil parish of some . It is in South Oxfordshire about southeast of Oxford. The parish includes the hamlet of Rofford and the former parish of Warpsgrove with which it merged in 1932....
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. One of these men remained with the Corps and eventually was one of the first men to jump into Germany.
The men were called out to marshalling areas again for more operations which would never come off. This being the essence of their role as Strategic Reserve
Strategic reserve
For the military term see: Military reserveA strategic reserve is a term used to describe a reserve of a commodity or items, held back from normal use by governments, organisations or business in pursuance of a particular strategy or to cope with unexpected events.A strategic reserve can be:*...
, to be ready to jump anywhere, anytime, they were 'Troopers of Opportunity'.
Time and again the men kitted up, boarded their aircraft, only to be told that the DZ had been overrun by friendly forces and it was back to the Marshalling Area Blues.
In May the war ended, with the men still sitting behind the barbed wire, the war passed them by.
Redeployment To The Pacific
After a period of celebration, sports and training, the 13th Airborne was the second division earmarked for deployment to the Pacific Theatre of Operations. In July 1945 the men left Auxere for Camp Pittsburgh near ReimsReims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
. The men boarded Liberty Ships
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
at Le Harve and started for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a stopover to the Pacific.
While they were at sea, the Atomic Bombs were dropped, ending the war in the Pacific. The men of the 515th were jubilant, the war was over and they were alive. The ships docked at Piermont Pier on 23 August and the men were sent home on leave, or discharged.