US AIRBORNE

The 307th Engineer Battalion was created August 5, 1917 at Fort Gordon, Georgia. It was attached to the 82nd Infantry Division. During the War, the battalion participated in the first U.S. offensive War at St. Mihiel. Later, he participated in campaigns of Lorraine and Meuse-Argonne. It is during these battles that the 307th earned the nickname "I Maintain the Right" because it protected the right flank of the 82nd pushing German attacks, however superior in numbers. 
After the war, the 307th was placed as a unit Reserve at Fort Dix, New Jersey, May 17, 1919. 
 On March 25, 1942, the battalion was reactivated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana as part of the 82nd Division. 
Later, August 15, the battalion was re-appointed as the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion belonging to the 82nd Airborne Division. 
The 307th AEB consist initially of a company medical, two engineer companies, the B and C. A company will be created after the Battle of Normandy to support the 508th PIR until the end of the war. Another company will also be created to support the 325th GIR. On April 29, 1943, the unit shipped to New York for a journey that will lead to Germany.

The 505th RCT with the 505th PIR, the 456th PFAB and B Company 307th AEB jumped over Sicily July 10 is the operation HUSKY I. On 11 July a group of engineers would be sent on line Biazza. But they too were parachuted behind enemy lines. After days of hard fighting, Patton decided to reinforce its center with more than 2,000 paratroopers of the 504th PIR, 376th PFAB and C Company, 307th AEB. They are grouped under the 504th RCT is Operation HUSKY II. The drop was scheduled for the night of July 11 near Gela. Throughout the day, German activity was very intense, anti-aircraft gunners were on the nerves. The officers of the Navy and Army have yet been keen to prevent anyone from crossing C-47. But despite that, they opened fire on the aircraft. It was devastating, 37 of 144 aircraft were destroyed, 23 were affected. The airborne forces have had 10% casualties.

At 3:30, September 9, 1943, the amphibious operation at Salerno began conducting. The bridgehead was extensive when there came against the German attack September 12. The situation was so critical that General Mark Clark ordered the 82nd to jump directly to the bridgehead. To guide the pilots of C-47, the men set fire to sand soaked with gasoline while the towering 45 meters. On the night of September 13, 1300 the 504th PIR paratroopers and two platoons of C Company, 307th AEB were dropped over the DZ, which was about 10km south of 7km Sele near Salerno. At the sight of corollas parachutes, morale went up. During the following night, the 505th PIR and the B Company 307th AEB made the same jump. At the same time, the first platoon of the 307th jumped with the 509th PIR near Avellino. The 504th (without the 3rd Battalion) took the heights of Altavilla meanwhile, attacked the enemy against the side of the 6th Corps. His commanding officer suggested to withdraw. Summed up the mood of the Regiment, Colonel Tucker to vigorously responded: "Retreat, Hell! - Send me my other battalion!" Thus the 3rd battalion joined the 504th, the enemy was repulsed, and the bridgehead of Salerno, saved.

To outflank the German defenses along the Gustav Line, an amphibious invasion was planned. Was assigned to the invasion force, the 504th RCT. 
Until 4 January 44, when the 504th RCT was removed from the front for the preparation of Operation Shingle, he served as infantry in the advance on Rome. 
The 504th RCT was ordered to take the town of Borgo Piave January 24. Although the city is taken, the men had to withdraw because of the German artillery. They then held a defensive line along the Mussolini Canal until we replacements January 28. Then, the 504th PIR was assigned to the 1st Armored Division, while the rest of RCT was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. 
The 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR seen its worst fighting. Because of this action, they became the first American parachute unit to receive a Presidential Citation. (The equivalent for the unity of the Medal of Honor to a soldier) 
Joined by the 3rd Battalion decimated the 504th RCT was back on its defensive positions on the right flank where they made aggressive patrols, infiltration through the enemy lines. This resulted in completely demoralized the Germans. To demonstrate the remark of a German officer who referred to them by the nicknamed "Devils in Baggy Pants" nickname for the 504th PIR brought up to date. It was assumed that the 504th RCT also involved in Operation Neptune, but it seemed obvious that the lack of staff prevented the regiment to participate in the invasion of Normandy. Only a dozen men participate as a pathfinders.

For Operation Neptune, the307th AEBwas divided into two companies. The Co B remained with the505th, the D will be assigned to the508th.
On the night of June 5-6, C-47 carrying the505th RCTtook off fromEngland. The clouds overhanging theChannelprevented good visibility. When they finally entered theCherbourg Peninsula, they were victims of German flak. This had the effect of dispersing devices. It was 3:00 am when the first para of the505th RCTjumped from his aircraft. Many Pathfinders could bring the DZ but many lacked the equipment and men of the505th RCTbegan to land in a large area in theNormandy campaign. For their bravery, their courage during the invasion, the307th AEBreceived a Presidential Citation.

On September 9, 1944, The British Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan called Market Garden was intended to set 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 feed motor. For the first time, the 307th AEB would be dropped as a full battalion. The mission of the 82nd Airborne was to capture and secure the bridges over the Maas and Waal rivers and the Maas-Waal Canal. The operation began September 17. The 504th RCT quickly fixed the first bridge, the largest flying over the river Maas hitting both ends simultaneously. 
On 20 September the 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR, commanded by Major Julian Cook with the C Company 307th AEB was ordered by General Gavin to cross the river and take another important bridge. With the support of artillery, the first wave aboard assault boats crossed the channel. They will lose 200 men. On the other hand, men of engineering disarm traps laid by the Germans. The commander of Company C, Captain Wesley D Harris was awarded the DSC for his role in the crossing of the Waal. Finally, at D-Day 4, the 504th RCT took the bridge, defending against attacks against the German. 
However, its success would be short-lived because the defeat of the Allied troops at Arnhem. The move to Germany would not open in September 1944 and the 82nd was sent to France.

On December 16, 1944, the Germans launched an offensive through the Belgium Ardennes surprising the Allies. Two days later the 82nd was sent to Werbomont to block the German advance. 
On 19 December morning, the 82nd came in Belgium and was heading north while the 101st was sent to Bastogne. The German advance separated the two airborne units. The 82nd has generally faces great difficulty in taking positions along the north edge of the salient. The 504th's face particularly heavy German attacks, thereby winning their second Presidential Citation. 
Advancing deep into the heart of Germany, the 504th RCT finally arrived along the western banks of the Rhine River. On April 6, 1945, a company of the 504th PIR with the C Company of 307th AEB crossed the Rhine River near the village of Hitdorf. It served as a decoy to fool the Germans of the true cross. The heavy fighting that ensued did win a presidential citation to the unit.

The war was officially ended in Europe May 5, 1945. The 82nd was invited to serve as occupation forces in the American sector of Berlin. There it gained the name of honor guard. 
On January 3, 1946, the 82nd was sent to the United States. They marched in the Victory Parade in New York along 5th Avenue. The 307th AEB was the first airborne engineer battalion to participate in 6 combat jumps and 8 campaigns during the Second World War. In 1948, the 307th AEB was withdrawn from the Organized Reserve Corps to be divided into the regular army. In 1957, the unit was reorganized and re-designated 307th Engineer Battalion. C Company was decorated for his service in Vietnam for the period 1968-69.

United States:

Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Company A for its action in Normandy.

Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Company B for its action in Normandy.

Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Company B for its action in Holland.

Presidential Unit Citation awarded to Company C for its action in Holland.

France:

Croix de guerre with palm awarded to A Company for its action in Ste Mere Eglise and Cotentin.

Fourragere awarded to A Company.

Croix de guerre with palm awarded to B Company for its action in Ste Mere Eglise and Cotentin.

Fourragère awarded to B Company.

Holland:

William Military Order (Rank of Knight and 4th Class) for its action in Nijmegen in 1944.

Lanyard Oranje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden

Belgium:

Fourragere for this action in Ardennes.

- Citation of the day’s order of the Belgian army for its actions in the Ardennes. 
- Citation of the day’s order of the Belgian army for its actions in Belgium and Germany.