GRAY William L - 504 PIR 82 AD

 

William L. GRAY

 

gray william l

Source : Historian
NUMBER OF SERVICE14030502
AGE26 yo
DATE OF BIRTH5 may 1918 Charlotte, Comté de Mecklenburg 
ENLISTMENT STATENORTH CAROLINA
FAMILYSingle
RANKPrivate First Class
FONCTIONPathfinder - Parachutiste
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT NE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT 6 november 1940
COMPANYCompany  B
BATTALION1st Bataillon
REGIMENT 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 82nd Airborne Division
DATE OF DEATH6 June 1944

gray william l

Source : 

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH 
DATA PLAN

Serial 13 de Pathfinder

gray william l

Position en vol

gray william l

CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  -- N°--

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

PlotRowGrave
------

 

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
E938
DECORATION

Bronze Star

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

Brevet Parachutiste


bsm

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

combat infantryman badge

 
us army div 82 504 pir
 
STORY

div 82

82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION - ALL AMERICAN

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie
25 Mar 1942  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  422
   Casualties/Victimes  9 073

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

  
9 Jul 1943 at Sicily  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. Omar Bradley (Mar 42 - Jun 42)
Maj. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway (Jun 42 - Aug 44)
Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin (Aug 44 - Mar 48)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Sicily (9 Jul - 17 Aug 43)
Naples-Foggia (9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44)
Rome-Arno (22 Jan 44 - 9 Sep 44)

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)

Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
   

CARTE DE CAMPAGNE DU THÉÂTRE MÉDITERRANÉEN

CAMPAIGN MAP OF THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER
mediterranean theater campaigns

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


The 82d Airborne Division landed at Casablanca, 10 May 1943, and trained. Elements first saw combat in Sicily, when the 505th RCT and part of the 504th dropped behind enemy lines, 9-10 July 1943, at Gela. The remainder of the 504th RCT dropped, 11-12 July 1943, also near Gela, after running friendly naval and ground force fire. Scattered elements formed and fought as ground troops. The elements were flown back to Tunisia for reequipment and returned to Sicily to take off for drop landings on the Salerno beachhead. The 504th Parachute Infantry dropped, 13 September 1943, and the 505th the following night; the 325th landed by boat. These elements bolstered Salerno defenses and fought their way into Naples, 1 October 1943. After a period of occupation duty (and combat for some elements in the Volturno Valley and Anzio beachhead), the Division moved to Ireland, November 1943, and later to England, February 1944, for additional training. Moving in by glider and parachute, troops of the 82d dropped behind enemy lines in Normandy on D-day, 6 June 1944, before ground troops hit the beaches. Cutting off enemy reinforcements, the Division fought its way from Carentan to St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, fighting 33 days without relief. Relieved on 8 July, it returned to England for refitting. On 17 September, it was dropped at Nijmegen, 50 miles behind enemy lines, and captured the Nijmegen bridge, 20 September, permitting relief of British paratroops by the British 2d Army. After heavy fighting in Holland, the Division was relieved 11 November and rested in France. It was returned to combat, 18 December 1944, to stem the von Rundstedt offensive, blunting the northern salient of the Bulge. It punched through the Siegfried Line in early February 1945, and crossed the Roer, 17 February. Training with new equipment in March, the Division returned to combat, 4 April, patrolling along the Rhine, securing the Koln area, later moving across the Elbe, 30 April, into the Mecklenburg Plain, where, 2 May 1945, the German 21st Army surrendered.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


La 82ème division aéroportée a atterri à Casablanca le 10 mai 1943 et s'est entraînée. Les éléments ont d'abord été combattus en Sicile, lorsque le 505ème RCT et une partie du 504ème ont été largués derrière les lignes ennemies, du 9 au 10 juillet 1943, à Gela. Le reste de la 504ème RCT est tombé, du 11 au 12 juillet 1943, également près de Gela, après des tirs amicaux contre des forces navales et terrestres. Des éléments épars se sont formés et se sont battus en tant que troupes au sol. Les éléments ont été rapatriés en Tunisie pour le rééquipement et sont retournés en Sicile pour décoller pour atterrir sur la tête de pont de Salerne. Le 504th Infantry Parachute Infantry est tombé le 13 septembre 1943 et le 505ème le lendemain soir; la 325ème atterrit en bateau. Ces éléments ont renforcé les défenses de Salerno et se sont introduits à Naples, le 1er octobre 1943. Après une période d'occupation (et de combat pour certains éléments dans la vallée de Volturno et la tête de pont d'Anzio), la division s'est installée en Irlande en novembre 1943 , Février 1944, pour une formation supplémentaire. Se déplaçant en planeur et en parachute, les troupes du 82d tombèrent derrière les lignes ennemies en Normandie le 6 juin 1944, avant que les troupes terrestres ne frappent les plages. En coupant les renforts ennemis, la Division se fraya un chemin de Carentan à Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, combattant 33 jours sans soulagement. Soulagé le 8 juillet, il est retourné en Angleterre pour y être réaménagé. Le 17 septembre, il a été largué à Nimègue, à 50 milles derrière les lignes ennemies, et a capturé le pont de Nimègue, le 20 septembre, permettant ainsi à la 2 e armée britannique de soulager les parachutistes britanniques. Après de violents combats en Hollande, la division est soulagée le 11 novembre et se repose en France. Il fut remis au combat le 18 décembre 1944 pour endiguer l’offensive de von Rundstedt, assourdissant le saillant septentrional des Ardennes. Il a percuté la ligne Siegfried au début de février 1945 et a traversé la Roer le 17 février. S'entraînant avec de nouveaux équipements en mars, la Division est revenue au combat le 4 avril, patrouillant le long du Rhin, sécurisant la région de Koln, traversant ensuite l'Elbe le 30 avril dans la plaine de Mecklenburg où, le 2 mai 1945 s'est rendu.

 

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com
 

 

STORY

The origin of the 82nd back to World War I, at that time was the 82nd Infantry Division, composed with men from every state in America, where the meaning of double A’s badge , “All American“. The division was sent to France in 1917 and saw action in Lorraine, Meuse, Argonne then, during the offensive of St. Mihiel in 1918. The 82nd was demobilized 27 May 1919 on his return from the front and becomes June 24, 1921, a unit of the Army Reserve.

March 25, 1942, the 82nd DI is reactivated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana under the command of Major General Omar N.Bradley. On 15 August the same year, she became the first American airborne division (82nd Airborne Division) headed by Major-General Matthew B.Ridgway. In October 1942, the new Airborne Division moved to Fort Bragg North Carolina and continued his training around the 504th and 505th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) and the 325th GIR (Glider Infantry Regiment) who become the backbone of the 82nd AB.

In May 1943, the 82nd AB is the first and only airborne division to land by boat to Casablanca in Morocco before receding to the Tunisian border. In July 1943, the 82nd AB participated in the first airborne assault in military history of the United States, during the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky). Back in Tunisia, the 82nd AB is preparing for his second combat operation that starts in September 1943 in Italy (Operation Avalanche). October 1st, the 505th PIR was the first infantry regiment to enter Naples. In December 1943, Colonel James M.Gavin was promoted Brigadier General and became commander of the 82nd AB.

 

In January 1944, the regiments of the 82nd AB remain in Italy (504th PIR, 376th PFAB, 307th AEB) in order to participate in the assault on Anzio (Operation Shingle), the remainder of the division joined the Northern Ireland. In mid-February 1944, the 82nd AB moved to Nottingham in England to take part in the night of 5 to 6 June 1944 to jump into Normandy in France (Operation Neptune) prelude to Operation Overlord. The 82nd AB is reinforced by two new regiments, the 507th PIR and the 508th, the 504th remaining in Italy. After 33 days of fighting, the 82nd AB returned to England, July 13, 1944.

General Gavin took command of the 82nd AB while General Ridgway became head of the XVIII Airborne Corps and became the commander of the 17th, 82nd and 101st AB

In mid-September 1944, the 82nd AB participated in the airborne assault on Holland (Operation Market-Garden) and November 13 will be raised by the Canadians after 56 days of fighting. The division moved near Reims in France as a backup. In December 1944, the Germans launched their last major offensive in the Ardennes, passing through Luxembourg and Belgium. This is the night of December 17, 1944 as the 82nd AB back on the road towards the Ardennes Forest to help out Allied forces. The winter will be announced the roughest and deadliest for the 82nd AB will be raised 19 February 1945 and returned to France in Sissonne.

March 30, 1945, the 82nd AB is headed in the Bonn region and of the Rhine river in Germany. May 4, 1945, a patrol comes into contact with the Russians after the surrender of Germany, becomes the 82nd AB occupation force in Berlin, or she will get the nickname “America’s Guard of Honor“.

casualties

  • Total battle casualties: 9,073
  • Killed in action: 1,619
  • Wounded in action: 6,560
  • Missing in action: 279
  • Prisoner of war: 615

 

medal of honor recipients

  • Pvt. John R. Towle
  • Pfc. Charles N. Deglopper
  • 1st Sgt. Leonard A. Funk, Jr.
  • Pvt. Joe Gandara 

 

decorations

 

  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Sainte-Mère-Église.
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Operation Market Garden.
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for Chiunzi Pass/Naples/Foggia awarded to the following units of the 82nd Airborne: 319th Glider Field Arty Bn,307th Engineer Bn (2nd), 80th Anti-aircraft Bn and Company H, 504 PIR
  • Valorous Unit Citation (Army) for Operation Iraqi Freedom (3rd Brigade Combat Team, OIF 1)
  • Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SouthWest Asia.
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for Sainte-Mère-Église.
  • French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War II for Cotentin.
  • French Croix de Guerre, World War II, Fourragère
  • Belgian Fourragere 1940
  • Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
  • Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium And Germany.
  • Military William Order, for bravery and valiant service in battle at Nijmegen 1944 during Market Garden (worn as an Orange Lanyard) 8 October 1945.

 

 

ORDRE DE BATAILLE

Commanding General :

Major General Matthew B. Ridgway

div 82 

Assistant Commanding :

Brigadier General James Maurice Gavin

Assistant Commanding :

Brigadier General George P. Howell

 

Chief of staff :

Colonel Ralph P. Eaton (WIA 6 June)

Colonel Edson D. Raff (8-15 June)

Lt Col. Robert N. Wienecke (15 June - 11 July)

 

 

AC of S, G-1

Lt Col. Frederick M. Schellhammer

 

AC of S, G-2

Lt Col. Whitfield Jack

AC of S, G-3

Lt Col. Robert H. Wienecke

Lt Col. Walter F. Winton (15-19 June & 5-11 July)

Lt Col. Henry E. Adams (19 June-5 July)

 

AC of S, G-4

Lt Col. Bennie A. Zinn (WIA 7June)

Lt Col. Frank W. Moorman (From 7 June)

 

Inspector General :

Lt Col. Charles M. Barrett

Signal Officer :

Lt Col. Frank W. Moorman

Captain Robert E. Furman (From 7 June)

Adjutant General :

Lt Col. Raymond M. Britton

Judge Avocate :

Lt Col. Casimir D. Moss

Surgeon :

Lt Col. Wolcott L. Etienne (WIA 6 June)

Major William C. Lindstrom (From 6 June)

Finance Officer :

Lt Col. William E. Johnson

Chaplain :

Lt Col. George L. Riddle

Ordnance Officer :

Lt Col. Joshua A. Finkle (WIA 7 June)

Captain William B. McGuire (From 7 June)

Quartermaster Officer :

Lt Col. John N. Rohrman

Headquarters Commandant :

Major Don C. Faith

Provost Marshall :

Major Frederick G. McCollum

Special Service Officer :

Captain Rudrick R. Otto

Military Governement Officer :

Captain Peter Shouvaloff

Pathfinders Group :

Major Neal L. Roberts

505th Parachute Infantry Rgt :

Colonel William E. Ekman

RHQ Co :

Captain Talton "Woody" Long

1/505th :

Major Frederick C.A. Kellam (KIA 6 June)

Lt Col. Mark Alexander (From 7 June)

Second : Major James E. McGinity (KIA 6 June)

Hq Co :

Lt Robert D. Keeler

A Co :

1st/Lt John J. "Red Dog" Dolan

B Co :

Lt. James M. Irvin

C Co :

Captain Arthur Stephanich

2/505th :

Lt Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort

Hq Co :

Lt. James Gray

D Co :

Captain Taylor G. Smith

E Co :

Captain Clyde Russell

F Co :

Captain Hubert Bass Lt. Joseph Holcomb (From 7 June)

3/505th :

Lt Col. Edward C. Krause

G Co :

Captain Robert Follmer (WIA 6 June) 1st/Lt. Ivan Woods

H Co :

Captain Walter C.DeLong

I Co :

Captain Harold H. Swingler

507th Parachute Infantry Rgt :

Colonel George V. Millet (POW 8 June)

Lt Col. Arthur A. Maloney (8-15 June)

Colonel Edson D. Raff (From 15 June)

1/507th :

Lt Col. Edwin J.Ostberg

A Co :

Captain J. R. Nunn

C Co :

Captain Sanford M. Frank

2/507th :

Lt Col. Charles Timmes

D Co :

Captain Clarence A. Tolle

E Co :

Captain Roy E. Creek

F Co :

Captain Paul F. Smith

3/507th :

Lt Col. Arthur A. Maloney

G Co :

Captain Floyd B. Schwarzwalder

I Co :

Captain Gordon S. Allyn

508th Parachute Infantry Rgt :

Colonel Roy E. Lindquist

1/508th :

Lt Col. Batcheller (KIA 6 June)

Major Shields Warren

Hq Co :

Captain Gerard A. Ruddy (KIA 6 June)

A Co :

Captain Jonathan E. Adams

B Co :

Captain Royal R. Taylor

C Co :

Captain Walter Silvers

2/508th :

Lt Col. Thomas J.B. Shanley

Hq Co :

Captain Chester E. Graham

3/508th :

Lt Col. Louis G. Mendez

Hq Co :

1st/Lt. Malcom D. Brannen

G Co :

Captain Frank J. Novak

H Co :

Captain Hillman C. Dress

325th Glider Infantry Rgt :

Colonel Harry L. Lewis

1/325th :

Lt Col. Klemm R. Boyd (Injured 7 June)

Major Teddy H. Sanford (From 7 June)

Hq Co :

Captain Alex Bishop (KIA 9 June)

A Co :

1st/Lt. James Gayley (KIA 7 June)

1st/Lt. Wilbur Heckman (From 7 June)

B Co :

Captain Richard M. Gibson

C Co :

Captain Dave E. Stokley (WIA 9 June)

1st/Lt. Wayne Pierce (From 9 June)

2/325th :

Lt. Col. John H. "Swede" Swenson (WIA 11 June)

Major Osmond Leahy (11-14 June)

Major Roscoe Roy (From 14 June - KIA 15 June)

Major Charles "Tad" Major (From 15 June)

Hq Co :

Capt. Herbert Slaughter

E Co :

Capt. Robert Dickerson (WIA 11 June)

1st/Lt. John Pardue (From 11 June - KIA 11 June)

1st/Lt. Frederick R. Jones (From 11 June)

F Co :

1st/Lt Joe B. Gault

G Co :

Captain Irvin Bloom (KIA 11 June)

1st/Lt. George M. Cockle (From 11 June)

3/325th (2/401st) :

Lt Col. Charles A. Carrell (Relieved 9 June)

Major Arthur W. Gardner (From 9 June - KIA 14 June)

Major Osmond Leahy (From 14 June)

Hq Co :

Capt. Lewis S. Mentlik (KIA 14 June)

Capt. James Fogle (From 14 June)

I Co (E-401) :

Major Charles Murphy (WIA 9 June)

1st/Lt. James White (From 9 June)

K Co (F-401) :

Captain James M. Harney

L Co (G-401) :

Captain John B. Sauls (WIA 9 June)

Lt Thomas E. Goodson

 

 

82nd Airborne Div. Artillery :

Colonel Francis A. March

319th Glider FA Bton :

Lt Col. C. James C. Todd

320th Glider FA Bton :

Lt Col. Paul E. Wright

376th Parachute FA Bton :

Lt Col. Wilbur N. Griffith

456th Parachute FA Bton :

Lt Col. Wagner J. d'Alessio

80th Airborne AA Bton :

Lt Col. Raymond E. Singleton

A Btry :

Captain Norman Nelson

B Btry :

Captain Nock Russell

C Btry :

Captain William Pratt

D Btry :

Captain Norman Connell

E Btry :

Captain James Sherman

F Btry :

Captain Choice Rucker

307th Airborne Engineer Bton :

Lt Col. Robert S. Palmer (POW 6 June)

Major Edwin A. Bedell (From 8 June)

B Co :

Captain William Connally

307th Airborne Medical Co :

Major William H. Houston (KIA 6 June)

Major Jerry J. Belden (From 6 June)

407th Airborne Quartermaster Co :

Captain Samuel H. Mays

782nd Airborne Ordnance Main. Co :

Captain Jeff Davis, Jr

82nd Airborne Headquarters Co :

Captain George J. Claussen

82nd Airborne Signal Co :

1st/Lt Robert B. Nerf

82nd Airborne Reco Platoon :

1st/Lt Joseph V. Demasi

82nd Airborne Military Police :

Major Frederick G. McCollum

82nd Parachute Maintenance Co :

Captain James E. Griffin

 

SOURCES INFORMATIONS & PHOTOSUsairborne.be/82 

SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO Abmc.gov - Findagrave.com- Bruno Cadeville
PROGRAMMERHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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