The 325th Infantry Regiment was created on 25 August 1917 under the command of Colonel Walter M. Whitman at Camp Gordon near Atlanta in Georgia. It was attached to the 82^nd Infantry Division.
He was sent to France in April 1918 to counter the last great German offensive.
During this conflict, he lost 94% of its initial strength.

After the war, the 325th was disbanded.
It was reformed on 25 March 1942 under the command of Colonel Claudius Easley at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. The regiment was still part of the 82nd.
In late July 1942, the regiment received the motorized equipment into a motorized regiment.
But their role changed when General Marshall decided to turn in the 82nd Airborne Division. General Omar Bradley, because of his excellent work was transferred to the head of the 28th Division, who had some trouble with his training. General Matthew Ridgway, the 82nd Assistant Division Commander, would become its Commander.

The 325th Regiment was transformed into a airborne unit gliders. The glider was the answer to the problem of dispersion of paratroopers on the ground.
More men coming out of a glider is a good strike force.
A glider can also carry a small gun, a jeep or any other equipment.

Gliderborne assaults, however, were not without their risks.  Gliders and their tow planes were slow, fat targets.  They had no armor to protect the men inside.  Landing in a glider was also an adventure and little more than a controlled crash.  Even if the pilot had the time and altitude to select a good spot to land, conditions on the ground of which he might be totally ignorant could wreck a landing.  Ditches, wire, fences, tree stumps or a host of other possible ailments could flip, twist, or gut an unfortunate glider.
During his training period, the 325th GIR lost its commander. Colonel Easley was promoted Brigadier General and went to the 96th Division.
He was replaced by Colonel Harry Lewis.

 

Sicily – Italy – July 43 – Operation Husky

 

    The regiment performed its first battle not by air but by sea The regiment was sent to Salerno in Sicily to reinforce units already present.
On 15 September, about 2300 men landed at Paestum approx 30km south of Salerno where they awaited orders.
The 2nd Battalion was to return to sea and landed farther Maiori. There, he was attached to the Rangers of Colonel William O. Darby holding positions at 13,000 meters on Mount St Angelo di Cava.
The battalion was greeted the next morning by a tremendous barrage German. The Germans then attacked the battalion lines tempting to dismiss the men to the sea, but despite their many attempts, the 325th did not gave a meter of land.
It was during these battles that the regiment had its first casualties.

 

 
D-DAY – June 44 – Normandy – France – Operation Neptune

 

Elements of the regiment were chosen to serve as troop assaults sea. They left the regiment to the base camp of Scraptoft. Officers with 73 men are left with heavy equipment in the assembly in Cardiff in Wales on 25 May The next day Captain James M Harney of F Company of the 401st GIR with 2 officers, 2 medics and 90 men went to Kingswear.
The mission of detachment was landed on the beach on D-Day and provide a reserve in the Regiment who landed in Normandy.

3 battalions departed May 29th for various airfield where they took off. 1^st of Ramsbury, the 2nd of Upottery and the 3^rd to. The 3rd Battalion is in fact elements of the 401st GIR, which was attached to the 325th since 11 March 1944. HQ Regiment was at Aldermaston. This period before takeoff was punctuated by briefings, questions of last minute and equipment for the men. The remaining time was quiet for men.

On 7 June 44 (Day+1) at 4:35 am gliders took the air, first those from Aldermaston and Ramsburg, 1 hour later for others. The flight went smoothly. At 7:00 am, the gliders will take off in an area of approximately 2,200 meters southeast of Ste Mère Eglise and to the east of Blosville.
The fields available for the landing were smaller than anticipated and the hedges and trees well above. There have been many accidents on landing and the firing of mortars enemies does not help. The percentage of casualties amounted to 7.5%. In general, the gliders CG4A were stronger than his British counterpart Horsa. Of the 35 deaths during the landing were the most passengers of these gliders there.

At 9:00 am, the Regimental Headquarters was established at 3400 meters east of Chef du Pont to the only road link between the Ste Mère Eglise - Blosville. Around the same time, the 2nd and 3rd battalions disembarked. The company and the Marine reinforcements landed on the beach of Utah also joined the regiment.

At 9:35 am, the 1st battalion moved to the West towards its sector of gathering and received these orders. 2nd and 3rd let us fight sent their first reports at 10:15 am.

Once organized and attended the 3rd Battalion was ordered to attack Carquebut. He went to Carquebut and continued to the port without resistance. The 1st and 2nd battalions were placed in reserve for the division. They were sent along the road near Ste Mère Eglise. At 13:00 pm, it was reported that the 505th took Chef du Pont. The C Company occupied the city at 16:15 pm. At 17:00 pm the entire 1st Battalion, which moves to the city.

HQ Regiment was drawn up for the night about 800 meters northeast of Chef du Pont. The 2nd Battalion was attached to the 505th PIR in anticipation of heavy fighting the next few days.
On 8 June 44 was a quiet prelude to 9 June for the troops of the 325th GIR. The 3rd Battalion was in position to the south and west of the Regimental HQ. The 1st Battalion remained in its position to the east of La Fiere to 23:00 pm.

In the morning, 5 men of Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon was attached to the Division Reconnaissance Platoon. This day was marked by the interrogation of prisoners and the different document to the enemy. A small group of 7 men had even captured 42 Germans and 13 also took Kettenkrads that would prove their use in fighting for the bridgehead of Merderet. During this 8 day of June, Colonel Lewis was instructed to send a battalion of the other side of Mederet approximately 140 meters from La Fiere and take the city of Amfreville and establish contact with a group of 120 men of the 507th PIR but information indicating a strong enemy concentration change fit the mission. The bridgehead was deviated from 1400 meters to the west of La Fiere. The only route to reach the area, since the entire area was flooded was the railway line. In addition, the entire area was under enemy observation. It was decided to cross the regiment during the night.

At 23:30, the 1st Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. Teddy Sanford (replacing Lt. Col. Boyd injured in the landing of his glider), began crossing the river via the railway bridge. The river crossing, the battalion continued to shift westward, still floundering over 450 meters. Colonel Lewis remained in contact with the battalion. The first sign of activity of the enemy from a group of farm (designated by the 507th PIR by The Gray Castle ") at around 640 meters North-East Amfreville. During a half hour, there was an exchange of gunfire, then, the battalion resumed its progress.

To 4h00 am, June 9, the battalion moved to the positions held by the 507th PIR to attack the Germans defending the bridge over the Merderet to the west of La Fiere. Near Cauquigny, the battalion faced a strong German resistance. The enemy forces were composed of a regiment and an artillery battalion. The fight turned into a small fight alone. Lt. Col. Sanford had to be folded his men on the other position. They retreated to an orchard previously occupied by the 507th PIR. The battalion had to reorganize in the firing of guns and mortars Germans. The battalion suffered many casualties. In addition to the fire of the Germans holding the bridgehead, they had the Germans shot of "The Gray Castle" and the Germans in Amfreville.

In view of the situation of the 1st battalion, the division’s commander commanded the rest of the Regiment (less 2nd Battalion) to attack the bridgehead through the pavement to the west of La Fiere. A concentration of artillery fire of 15 minutes was scheduled for 10:45 am.
Col. Lewis commanded the regiment to be ready to shift to 8:00 am. During this period, Major Arthur W Gardner replaced the Lt. Col. Carrell as commander of the 3rd battalion. Col. Carrell was evacuated following the injuries he received on 7 June. At 8.30 am, the 3rd battalion and regimental headquarters were movements. The artillery barrage was fired well as scheduled but there was no smoke. Then, Company G (401st GIR) crossed at a run. Despite the open and shooting Germans, it does not suffer losses. The last elements of the 3rd Battalion were not so lucky. Colonel Lewis himself went on deck to launch his men forward. After crossing the river, the G Company deployed to the left and E Company (401st GIR) to the right. The F Company, to be maintained in reserve took off quite straight ahead to establish a base of fire on heights with neighborhood 2,000 metres of the river near Amfreville. But because of the strong resistance enemy, her of withdraw of neighborhood 200 metres.
At 13:00 pm, the 3rd Battalion had secured the village of Cauquigny. During the combat, Pfc Charles N. DeGlopper received the Medal of Honor for his courage for having kept to himself the position of his platoon while the other crosses the river to form an initial bridgehead. Originally from Grand Island in New York, he was wounded several times, killed many Germans before being killed in turn.

 

<- Pfc Charles N. DeGlopper

 

HQ Regiment was established at the junction of roads Cauquigny. Losses during the operation was 40 killed and 180 wounded. In 15:30 pm, the 1st Battalion take position front several against attack until 11 June
That day at around 19:00 pm, the Germans counterattacked the positions of the 3rd battalion. The battalion withdrew. Given this disarray, Captain Samuel L Odgen, commander of HQ and Captain Berkut, S-2 of the regiment went on the front line to take things in hand.
At 20:00 pm, Colonel Lewis was evacuated and replaced by Lt. Col. Herbert G Sitler, Executive Officer. All staff from HQ was alerted and most were sent to the frontline.
At 21.00 pm, the A Company, 307th Airborne Engineers was also first in line. 350 men from the 507th PIR arrived reinforcements. Finally the German attack was repulsed.
At 21:30 pm, a message arrived saying that the 357th IR of the 90th Infantry Division went through the lines of the 325th early in the morning. The first elements arrived at 3:00 am June 10 at 4:40 am, the HQ of the 357th had crossed the line 1st and 3rd battalions.
On 1 July, the 325th was ordered to gather in another area. He had to wait until the 359th IR position took. At 9:00 am, Colonel Lewis is back in his regiment. At 10:00, the 359th IR was in position. At 13:20 pm, the regiment traveled to Guetteville, sector assembly. HQ Regiment was established in 17:00 pm. The 325th's 2nd Battalion without lost 60 men, 283 wounded and 246 missing.
The regiment was ordered to defend a line along the Douve River.

 

The second battalion played its part in the capture of Ham. On the night of June 7th, the battalion moved into the division reserve near St. Mere and Chef du Pont to Neuville-au-Plain. On the morning of 9 June, the battalion was on its moved starting line near Grainville at 6:30 am and started its advance on the right flank of the 4th "Ivy". At 7:30 am, the battalion met strong resistance blocking his advance. She remained in these positions until the right flank of the 8th Infantry crossed lines. On 10 June he held the left flank of the 505th PIR in the passing attack. The 11 June, Ham for the attack reached its peak, the 3 companies go on the attack supported by artillery and mortars. The fighting was very tough, Lt. Col. Swenson was injured while leading a charge by an enemy grenade. But at 23:00 pm, the city was crossed and the battalion established a defense position to the northwest. The unit remains in this position until 12 June when she was discovered by the 359th IR, 90th ID. The 2nd Battalion was returned to the regiment almost Guetteville June 13. Lt. Col. John H Swenson who was seriously injured was evacuated, he was replaced by Major Roscoe A Roy who was 1^st battalion’s executive officer.

The 325th GIR was given a new mission to 12:30 pm, June 13 He had to attack St Sauveur le Vicomte. The regiment gathered near Etienville, near the Douve River. At 6:30 am, June 14, the men of the 325th GIR gave the assault. The 3rd Battalion in the lead followed by the 1st and 2nd battalion. The 3rd Battalion arrived at the target at 10:00 am. The regiment to fight a strong resistance. During the fighting, 3rd Battalion’s commander, Major Gardner was killed. He was replaced by Major Charles E Moore. At 13:40 pm, the 3rd Battalion had pushed up the eastern Renouf.
At 15:10 pm, the 1st battalion beyond the 3rd to continue the assault. The 1st battalion was moved south of the road. At 18:30 pm, the area was secure. The attack brought to 360 meters before stopping for the night. Company F is moved between the 1st Battalion and the Douve River. Major Roy, 2nd Battalion’s Commander was seriously injured, he was replaced by Major Charles W Major. Shortly after midnight, artillery fire made themselves heard from Crosville. It will last all night. At 5:00 am, the 1st Battalion restart its offensive, followed by the 2nd Battalion and then the 3rd. At 7:00, the 1st Battalion arrived at 1,600 meters Etienville. The right flank along the road Etienville-St Sauveur le Vicomte.
At 9:50 am, the Shermans came to lend a hand in advance of the 325th GIR. The advance continued despite strong German resistance. At 12:00 pm, artillery fire from again Crosville started. At 13:00 pm, the advance bogged down. The contacts between different units are lost. At 17:15 pm, the 3rd Battalion was relieved by the 1st. At 19:25 pm, the 3rd battalion, which is proved to Crosville evacuated by the enemy.

At 7:00 am, the morning of 16 June 44, the regiment took position near Rauville. the finale, he occupied the heights in front of St Sauveur le Vicomte. Two battalions of the 505th finally took the city at 17:15 pm.

The new mission entrusted to the 325th GIR was to establish a bridgehead on the other side of Douve River to Etienville. This was probably the easiest mission that had run since the beginning regiment in Normandy. While a reconnaissance team attacked the Germans, the 2nd Battalion crossed the river to take the Germans to reverse. The rest of the regiment cross to the east of the city and attacked the German bridgehead. A company of tanks and tank destroyer was assigned to the regiment. the 307th Airborne Engineers provided the boats for the assault and had to repair the bridge.
June 18 at 23:30 pm, the HQ regimental was Etienville. Engineering take mines from the roadway. The reconnaissance platoon began to move and the 2nd battalion to cross the River. At 00:55 am, the 2nd battalion was in place would be located.
The 2nd Battalion began to clean the machine gun nests. The 1st battalion began to cross the bridge was repaired. Once on the other hand, it moves to the right direction in the Motier en Bauptois which had been cleaned by the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion met with little or no resistance. While the 2nd Battalion continued to clean the positions, the 3rd Battalion across the river. He went to the left of the 1st battalion. He met more resistance than the latter.
At 7:30 am, the 1st Battalion had reached its target, a sector forming an arc to the east of the creek and Hau du Haut in south and east along the Bois de Limor. At 10.30 am, it was the turn of the 3rd battalion reached its objective on the right flank of the 508th PIR in a few hundred meters north of the Dranguerie.
Behind the lines, engineering eventually consolidate the bridge. Colonel Lewis was waiting to pass the anti-tank guns. The column of vehicles began moving at 17:40 pm. During the night, the HQ was moved to 2 km at south of the bridge to Etienville. At 20:00 pm, the 2nd Battalion raise the 507th PIR to Vindefontaine and establish a roadblock.
The situation was stable on the line. The regiment remained in line with very little activity until 2 July 44. The Germans launched against any attack. Only fire and mortar guns by it which is met by the American artillery.

The last mission of the Normandy campaign was set July 3. The 82nd was to take the heights near the Haye du Puits. The objective of the 325th GIR was to take the Hill 95 near the village of St. Catherine at about 1900 meters from Haye du Puits. On the left flank was the 90th Infantry Division, right, the 507th PIR. The attack was preceded by a barrage of artillery and mortar at 5:15 am. The air support initially scheduled was canceled due to poor weather conditions. At 6:30 am, the regiment was attacked, the 1st Battalion on the left, the 2nd and 3rd right back. The 1st Battalion, after a slow start across the creek near the Dranguerie eventually move without encountering strong resistance.
The 2nd Battalion had more difficulty. The 3rd Battalion was therefore ordered to fill the space between them. However, information came to disturb the regiment's HQ. The troops of the 90th have not followed suit. The regiment had therefore these highly exposed flanks. At 16:00 pm, the 2nd Battalion was north of Faudemer, west of the city. At 17:00 pm, the HQ of the regiment was notified that his objective had changed. He had taken the city of Pottery to 3400 meters from its main objective. The 505th had took the Hill 131 to 4000 meters from the Haye du Puits. The 507th and 508th were targets in the south-east of the hill. This change in the program of the division was that the slopes to the west and east should be protected for the night while the 90th to join the lines. The 325th was therefore ordered to occupy an area north-east of Pottery including Faudemer. The 1st and 2nd Battalion continued their advance towards however Pottery at 22:00 pm the attack was blocked at 550 meters from the city. Companies were out of breath. The 3rd Battalion was sent in first line.

In the early morning of July 4, the attack resumed on 1st and 3rd Battalion forward, the 2nd kept in reserve. At 12:00 PM, the Pottery is taken.
On 5 July, the enemy conterattack. It pierced the lines of the 325th in the E Company. But 12:40 pm, the lines were restored. At 16:00 pm, the objective was achieved.
On 6 July was a day of reorganization and retooling, the enemy had been sighted in retirement. The number of accounting Regiment 41 officers and 956 men. The G Company had only 12 men. At 401st GIR, G Company was the highest with 57 men.
On 7 July, the 2nd Battalion was ordered to fill the space between the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 507th PIR. He was found some hours later. That day, the regiment in its entirety was sent in the Comterie.
The regiment was placed in reserve on 10 July. On 11 July he was posted to the beaches of Utah Beach. 12 and 13 July, he embarked aboard LST, back in England. At 12:30 pm, July 14, the regiment reaches base Scraptoft England. His training takes from 1 August
The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment lost 280 men in Normandy.

   

 

 

Holland – September 1944 – operation Market-Garden 

 

On 9 September 1944, British Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan called Market Garden designed to establish a bridgehead to the Rhine River.
The operation was a combination of an airborne assault to take and hold key bridges and roads of Holland and a motorized advance.
It was an assault following the Glidermen. The 325th GIR landed among German positions surrounding elements of the 82nd. The attack changed the course of the battle. 
From 19 to 22 September 44, the weather had prevented any take-off for gliders. The gliders off the 400 was scheduled to D+2. The landing was to be near Groesbeek. However, the 19 September in the morning, General Gavin changed plans and decided that the gliders landed on the LZ "O": Overasselt near the northern shores of the Maas River. 
September 23, 1944, 194 men of C Company have left Fulbeck. They landed at night near the forest of Groesbeek. On 24 September the 325th was the men of 2nd Battalion, 505th PIR along the Maas-Waal Canal. He locked the bridge of Heumen.
Between 27 and September 30, the 325th was involved in the battle for the forest Kiekberg. On 30, the forest was cleared. However, men had to retreat. Indeed, the Dutch resistance to General Gavin meant that the Germans were preparing a against attack during the night. The 325th had to fight against the 190th Division of German. It was hell during the night. 
On 2 October, the 325th attacked in the plains of Mook until to reached the hamlet of Katerbosh. At that time, the fog that had covered rose revealing the positions and advance men. The Germans opened fire, to severe loss are followed. The men had to dig their fox-holes and rest in this area for several days.
Thereafter, the regiment moved up the road Wylerbaan northeast of Groesbeek. Then he was placed in reserve. During that time, men had to endure rain, wind, fog, mud, artillery shelling, mortar and attacks of enemy. 
On 11 November, the 325th GIR left Holland for Camp Sisson, France, the regiment left the ground in Holland on 217 men.  

 

 

Belgium – December 1944 –  Battle of the Bulge :

 

December 16th, 1944, Germans launched an offensive by the Belgian Ardennes surprising the Allies.

Two days later, the 82nd was sent to Werbomont to block the German advance.
On 18 December 44, the 325th arrived near Bastogne. But it re-embarkation in trailers and trucks to be taken to Werbomont. It reached the city early on the morning of 19 December.
The 82nd has generally faced with great difficulty, taking positions along the north edge of the salient.
Between December 20 and 22, men have made the shuttle in truck between Grand Sart and Fraiture. The 1st Battalion was headed to Grand Sart with a tank's unit.
On 23 December, the Germans took the town of Regne. The 325th GIR against attack and recaptured the town until it was ordered to withdraw at 2:00 am on Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, the 1st battalion moved in Vaux Chavanne. C Company was placed as rear guard troops and to cover the retirement. They have not folded prior to the destruction of the bridge. At first light of day, the 325th had established a new line. The 1st Battalion pushed panzer attack on 26 December. During this action, they were captured regimental commander of the 2nd SS Panzer Division had orders on him for several days.

 

<- Colonel Billingslea

 

 

 

End of War – 1945

 

On 1 February 1945, the 1st Battalion, 325th GIR attacked Germany for taking Neuhof and Undenbreth. Men took bunkers of the Siegfried Line.
The 325th GIR was moved to Schmidthof with the mission to cross the Roer River. But the positions were taken, the mission canceled. The regiment remained in line until March 45 when he was back at Camp Sisson.
On 2 April, the 325th was again in Germany. It was around 18:00 when the men come in Cologne. The regiment took position along the Rhine River. Life on the forehead was marked by artillery fire and patrols.
On 30 April the 325th was in position along the Elbe near Bleckede. On 2 May, the 1st battalion advance Lubtheen up to 30km to the west of Ludwigslust. In this period, the Concentration Camp of Wobblin was discovered.
The war was officially ended in Europe on 5 May 1945. Since Belgium, the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment lost 218 men.
The 82nd was invited to serve as occupation forces in the American sector of Berlin. There she won is name of Honor Guarde.
The 325th GIR remained in Berlin until 1946. Then he returned to the United States to be dissolved on 15 December 1947. They paraded during the Victory Parade in New York along the 5th Avenue.
The regiment was disbanded on 15 December 1945 to be reformed as the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment on 15 December 1948.

 

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Awards & Decorations

 

United States :

1 Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations for this action in Ste Mere Eglise.

France :

2 Croix de guerre with palm for this action in Normandy (Ste Mère / Cotentin)

Belgium :

2 Croix de guerre and one Fourragere for this action in Ardennes.

Holland :

Lanyard Oranje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden

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