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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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My research shows that the 82nd Airborne's 504th PIR was in Holland as part of Operation Market Garden from September 17, 1944 to November 13, 1944.
Does anyone know if any replacement troops were sent to the 504th during that period?
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DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
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Posts: 1366
Joined: 2005
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote: My research shows that the 82nd Airborne's 504th PIR was in Holland as part of Operation Market Garden from September 17, 1944 to November 13, 1944.
Does anyone know if any replacement troops were sent to the 504th during that period?
While I do not have conclusive proof they did, the replacement of casualty's was in place via the replacement depots. The 504th after returning from Italy was rebuilt with equipment and men. While General Gavin knew having the 504th available for the Normandy invasion would be valuable, he also knew the troops & unit needed more time and were thus left in England while the 508th took over the role at Normandy.
The 504th's duration of time in Holland and the replacement system would indicate that they did receive replacements during that time you inquiry of. Author John McManus in his book; The Deadly Brotherhood: The American Combat Soldier in World War II, noted that in Italy, in 1943, “only 34 percent of the infantrymen in line companies came overseas with their units” (p. 308)..,"
Once the allies established themselves in France, the depots came along providing readily available replacements until October/November as the strain of replacements, especially for Airborne units was then at a critical point. Increased casualties in the attrition battles along the Siegfried line began to have telling effects on replacement needs. Then December came along with more units arriving in France, the Battle of the Bulge hit and would last into January further straining replacement availabilities.
Dan
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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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Dan -
It seems logical that reinforcements were sent during the time the 504th was in Holland as it would make little sense to let a unit engaged in combat be depleted of many troops when reserves were available in England.
I think that if I can secure the October and November morning reports for the 504th I might be able to find out if they received replacements while they were in Holland.
My father served with the 82nd Airborne during World War 2 (B Co. 504th PIR) and on his 1945 discharge paperwork it states that he served in three campaigns; Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. As I understand it, Operation Market Garden was part of the Rhineland campaign. My father didn't make the combat jump at Market Garden as he is listed on the 504th Service Company morning report on September 29, 1944 and the Market Garden jump was on September 17. I think a Service Company is where new arrivals in England were assigned before being sent to combat.
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DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
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Posts: 1366
Joined: 2005
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote: Dan -
It seems logical that reinforcements were sent during the time the 504th was in Holland as it would make little sense to let a unit engaged in combat be depleted of many troops when reserves were available in England.
I think that if I can secure the October and November morning reports for the 504th I might be able to find out if they received replacements while they were in Holland.
My father served with the 82nd Airborne during World War 2 (B Co. 504th PIR) and on his 1945 discharge paperwork it states that he served in three campaigns; Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. As I understand it, Operation Market Garden was part of the Rhineland campaign. My father didn't make the combat jump at Market Garden as he is listed on the 504th Service Company morning report on September 29, 1944 and the Market Garden jump was on September 17. I think a Service Company is where new arrivals in England were assigned before being sent to combat.
It could be he was a replacement through the Service Forces which included technical specialities such as surgeons, chaplains, military training and specialized training units, maintenance, chemical units, etc. Any documentation of when his service began, where, areas of assignment, etc?
In honor of your dad, "Airborne"!!
Dan
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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote:Quote: Dan -
It seems logical that reinforcements were sent during the time the 504th was in Holland as it would make little sense to let a unit engaged in combat be depleted of many troops when reserves were available in England.
I think that if I can secure the October and November morning reports for the 504th I might be able to find out if they received replacements while they were in Holland.
My father served with the 82nd Airborne during World War 2 (B Co. 504th PIR) and on his 1945 discharge paperwork it states that he served in three campaigns; Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. As I understand it, Operation Market Garden was part of the Rhineland campaign. My father didn't make the combat jump at Market Garden as he is listed on the 504th Service Company morning report on September 29, 1944 and the Market Garden jump was on September 17. I think a Service Company is where new arrivals in England were assigned before being sent to combat. It could be he was a replacement through the Service Forces which included technical specialities such as surgeons, chaplains, military training and specialized training units, maintenance, chemical units, etc. Any documentation of when his service began, where, areas of assignment, etc? In honor of your dad, "Airborne"!! Dan
No technical specialty other than being a paratrooper. The 504th Service Company morning reports for September 1944 lists him as a T/Sgt.
My father was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge (at the battle for Cheneaux) as listed on the December 1944 morning reports for Co. B of the 504th PIR. He rejoined this unit after recovering from surgery in Paris and was with that unit when the war ended.
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DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
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Posts: 1366
Joined: 2005
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote:Quote: Quote: Dan -
It seems logical that reinforcements were sent during the time the 504th was in Holland as it would make little sense to let a unit engaged in combat be depleted of many troops when reserves were available in England.
I think that if I can secure the October and November morning reports for the 504th I might be able to find out if they received replacements while they were in Holland.
My father served with the 82nd Airborne during World War 2 (B Co. 504th PIR) and on his 1945 discharge paperwork it states that he served in three campaigns; Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. As I understand it, Operation Market Garden was part of the Rhineland campaign. My father didn't make the combat jump at Market Garden as he is listed on the 504th Service Company morning report on September 29, 1944 and the Market Garden jump was on September 17. I think a Service Company is where new arrivals in England were assigned before being sent to combat. It could be he was a replacement through the Service Forces which included technical specialities such as surgeons, chaplains, military training and specialized training units, maintenance, chemical units, etc. Any documentation of when his service began, where, areas of assignment, etc? In honor of your dad, "Airborne"!! Dan No technical specialty other than being a paratrooper. The 504th Service Company morning reports for September 1944 lists him as a T/Sgt. My father was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge (at the battle for Cheneaux) as listed on the December 1944 morning reports for Co. B of the 504th PIR. He rejoined this unit after recovering from surgery in Paris and was with that unit when the war ended.
As a Technical Sergeant he was technically trained in either heavy weapons, was a medic, radio operator, repairmen, mail clerk, mechanic, cook, etc. , but did not retain a leadership role such as Platoon Sgt. Eventually the Tech would be dropped, then replaced with "Specialist" as in Spec4, Spec5, etc. Again, specific "technical" roles encompassed these ranks of which I was a Spec4 TOW crewman.
Dan
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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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My father joined the Army in 1940 (he was 19 years old) , and was a 1st Sgt at Ft Jackson, SC training troops when he went to Army Air Corps screening in Miami Beach.
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DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
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Posts: 1366
Joined: 2005
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote: My father joined the Army in 1940 (he was 19 years old) , and was a 1st Sgt at Ft Jackson, SC training troops when he went to Army Air Corps screening in Miami Beach.
Have you visited the Facebook page for the 504th? If you have pictures of your dad and his time with the 504th & other Paratrooper units, we would love to see them if you care to share.
[Read More]
Dan
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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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Thanks, I'll have a look.
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Notch
Marietta
GA USA
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Posts: 11
Joined: 2023
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote:Quote: My father joined the Army in 1940 (he was 19 years old) , and was a 1st Sgt at Ft Jackson, SC training troops when he went to Army Air Corps screening in Miami Beach.
Have you visited the Facebook page for the 504th? If you have pictures of your dad and his time with the 504th & other Paratrooper units, we would love to see them if you care to share. [Read More]Dan
I applied to join that FB group but I'm not sure my answers to their questions will qualify me.
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DT509er
Santa Rosa
CA USA
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Posts: 1366
Joined: 2005
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Market Garden replacements
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Quote:Quote: Quote: My father joined the Army in 1940 (he was 19 years old) , and was a 1st Sgt at Ft Jackson, SC training troops when he went to Army Air Corps screening in Miami Beach.
Have you visited the Facebook page for the 504th? If you have pictures of your dad and his time with the 504th & other Paratrooper units, we would love to see them if you care to share. [Read More]Dan I applied to join that FB group but I'm not sure my answers to their questions will qualify me.
Ah, I see that, only serving or past serving members, bummer.
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"American parachutists-devils in baggy pants..." German officer, Italy 1944.
“If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.” Lord Ernest Rutherford
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