Sicily - Italy - July 43 - operation Husky

Sicily's map

In the setting sun, at the head of the invasion, the 3rd Battalion of the 504th PIR, glanced through the coast of North Africa. The C-47 underwent brief anti-aircraft fire probably from small islands. Removed from the regiment for tactical reasons, the Battalion over the Sicilian coast and jumped on its Drop Zone assigned on July 9th, 1943. The first Allied invasion begins. The Prime Minister Winston Churchill will indicate by these words:  

" Not the beginning of the end, drink the end of the beginning ".

For two days, the regiment fought a superior enemy in number and in equipment. By D+3, it had reached its objectives and returned under the control of the Regiment.

<- Colonel Tucker

July 11th, 1943, the rest of 504th PIR under command of Colonel R.H. Tucker unload Kairouan. Unfortunatly, the journey which had to lead the troops on their drop zone does not happen, indeed, approaching Sicilian coast, the formation of C-47 undergoes the firing of the DCA of Allied ships. Some crashed at sea, the others tried desperate maneuvers to avoid the firings. Some devices broke the formation to fly over the beach so thinking of fire escaping. But the friendly troops on the ground saw the firing of naval DCA, believed that the aicraft were enemy. They also opened the fire. 23 planes were shot on the 144 of the fleet. And a total of 318 paratroopers have been killed or wounded.  

The paras were dropped and scattered like straws fetus throught the length and width of the island. The plane carrying Colonel Tucker was twice a passage above the coast in search of the DZ. There are over 2.000 impact of DCA. Finally, they jumped on the DZ near Gela. However few paras had this luck. In the early morning on 1.600 men had the regiment (less the 3rd Battalion) only 400 grouped together.

But this scattering was nevertheless an asset for the Allies. Thus small groups of paratroopers were organized actions and sabotages, roadblocks and other guerilla actions which led to great confusion at the enemy. The Germans so overestimated the number of pratroopers of 10 times superior to the real number.

Attached to the 505th PIR, the 3rd battalion, 504th PIR is the spearhead of the airborne invasion. On July 13th, 504th moving with light tanks ask to the Italians, the motorcycles, horses, bicycles, mules trucks and even wheelbarrows Italian of the 82nd Airborne Division crossing 240km along the south coast of Sicily. The resistance was very light. The Germans gathered in the North of the island, leaving only Italian garrisons. They fired some shells just to save face, but the fighting spirit was not there. Soon, the white flags are hoisted. The Regiment moved, trader in the day and night. The paratrooper, exhausted were to pray that at least one point of resistance to stop this tiring march. The 504th moved from Agrigento to St Marguerita on a distance of 250 km.

St Marguerita reached, the regiment was again separated from the division. It received as objective to take the cities of Alcamo and Castellamare del Golfo. What was made without too much difficulty. To Castellamare, the regiment served as troop of maintains of the order and it during 10 days. The 10th day, the 504th PIR was returned by plane to the base of Kairouan in North Africa.

Although operation in Sicily was costly in lives and equipment, experience was acquired for those who survived it. Great damage was inflicted on the Axis troops. It is with this experience that men of the 504th returned in Africa to prepare the invasion of Italy.

The 504th PIR was formed in a Regimental Combat Team ( RCT) with the fusion of 376th PFAB and C Company of the 307th Engineers. To Kairouan, training resumed. The 3rd Battalion was again removed. It was sent to Bizerte for a special training. It trained together with Rangers and with the 325th GIR to land of barge on the beach.  
Then, the orders came to leave Africa and return to Sicily more appropriate to jump on Italy. The 504th so met itself on the bases of Comiso and Trapani.

The men were preparing to jump on Capua. But the information was aired, the Germans regrouped on the DZ. Becoming too dangerous, the mission was cancelled.

Another mission was programmed, a jump on Rome followed by a takeover of the city together with resistant Italian. But the secret negotiations between the General Taylor and the Marshal Badoglio revealed that it was in fact a trap. The mission was cancelled 3 minutes before the takeoff, causing a bad-tempered movement fast moderated at the paratrooper of the 504th PIR.

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Salerno – Italy – Septembre 43 – Operation Avalanche

Italy's map

The negotiations caused a political upheaval that was to overthrow the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. This had as consequence which Hitler sent to the country of the additional forces being afraid that all the country rises up and join the Allied camp. To counter in this event, the 82nd Airborne was to jump on Salerno to attack Rome. 
The 504th PIR had the mission to take the main airfields around Rome. Then supplementary troops would arrive as well as tanks destroyer coming from beaches. Unfortunatly, due to the resistance of the Italians to take weapons against their former allies, the operation began only on September 8th, 43.
 

At 3:30 am, on September 9th, 1943, the amphibious offensive begins at Salerno. Company H, with a group of Rangers landed on the beaches of Maiori. The low resistance on the beaches licence to the paras to penetrate quickly in mountains overhanging the coast. They took a famous passage: Chiunzi Pass and a railway tunnel.
 

September 11th, HQ Co of the 3rd Battalion, as well as G and I Co with the rest of the 325th Combat Team land in the South on the bloody beaches of Salerno. The American bridgehead was disentangled when the Germans counter-attacked on September 12th. 
The situation became so critical as the General Mark Clark gave ordered to the 504th jumping directly to the bridgehead. To guide the C-47, the men set fire every 45 meters in some sand soaked in petrol. The paratroopers learned the purpose of the mission once inside C-47 in a briefing that was earned as the shortest in the history of the Regiment. The paratrooper were worried but also very proud to be the rescuers of the 5th Army.
 
On the night of September 13th, 1.300 paratroopers of the 504th PIR jumped on their DZ of 1.100 metres length on 740 metres wide in the South of the Sele river near Salerno. The sight of the parachutes's corollas fell the morale in the troops on the ground. The paratroopers jumped little before midnight. Only 75 men were wounded at this jump. 
This mission is considered as an example of the history of the mobility of airborne troops: in exactly 8 hours, the 504th PIR was informed of his mission, received the instructions, loaded into C-47, jumped on the DZ and engaged the combat with the enemy.
 

At dawn, the 504th (without his 3rd Battalion) was firmly implanted in a defensive sector in 5km of Pastum and in the southwest of Albanella. On September 14th and 15th, were spent for a Panzer attack in the North, near the Calore river. The 2nd battalion helped pushed panzer attack on the side of Sele river while E Co sent elements in recognition intercepting small enemy units. Others were sent towards Altavilla. The morning of 16, the 504th walked 6km to occupy the city of Albanella at noon, the Colonel Tucker gave the order to the Battalion to take the heights of Altavilla.

The next days were going to be decisive for the bridgehead. The paratroopers of 1st and 2nd Battalion who had moved on flat ground in the valley met themselves under intense fire from artillery. The contacts between the battalions and the HQ were lost, but nevertheless the determination of the paratroopers allowed to take the assigned objectives. On the night of 17, the Germans launched a counter-attack which cuts the 504th PIR of the troops to the rear. It was absolutely necessary the regiment reached this position for the safety of the bridgehead. The General Dawley, commanding VI Corps was contacted by radio. He suggested the Regiment to withdraw and to establish a new line near the beach. Summarize the spirit of the regiment, Colonel Tucker in strongly replied: " Retreat, Hell! - Send me my other battalion! "
The 3rd Battalion was sent to the regiment. It took position on the Hill 344. The 1st and 2nd push the attack. The contacts between the units were restored, the bridgehead was saved. The next day, the 504th PIR was relieved by elements of the 36th Infantry Division. During the fighting on the heights of Altavilla, the 504th lost 30 KIA, 150 WIA persons and 1 MIA. The majority of the losses resulted from artillery fires.

On the morning of September 20th, the 504th (less his 3rd Battalion) was at the middle in reserve. The 3rd battalion took positions directly on the Hill 344 to Blue Beach near Paestum. There, they embarked aboard LCI to join the Rangers and take the Chiunzi pass. 

For the rest of the regiment, the period from 20 to 25 September was a period of rest and resupplying. Nevertheless, patrols was organized to maintain the contact with the 8th British Army which was on the right side. But the enemy had apparently withdrawn northward, all the contacts pray with the villagers went to this direction.

 
On September 25th, the regiment was ordered to join the 3rd battalion on the coast of Maiori. The paratroopers embarked aboard LCI toward Red Beach. The ground in this area was very rough with precipices. The abundance of bush and tree gave many place for the dissimulation. The enemy was confined in the valley, the Valley of Naples. The positions of the 504th were bombarded from time to time, the paratrooper could distinguish below in the valley the flash of the blow of departure. The exit of the road on the base of Vesuvius called Chiunzi Pass, was particularly aimed. The paratrooper changed the name very fast of this passage to call it "88" Pass. 

 
On September 28th, the regiment contacted the 10th British Corps and moved to a point of attack of the old port of Naples. The British tanks attacked since the base of Vesuvius by the East, while the men of the 504th PIR attacked by the West, taking Castellamare, leading along the coast eventually into Naples on October 1st, 1943 to a happy population. This was the first unit to enter the city. The 82nd Airborne served at this moment there as garrison. The 504th established its HQ to Pretura of Naples near the Garibaldi Station. The landscape of Naples offered only ruin and desolation, the enemy had cared, before going to destroy public facilities such as water, gas or electricity. But slowly, things hare handed up. It was good time for the paratroopers: wine, women, and songs was on the agenda.

But this rest period was to end. The information circulated that the next mission was the mountainous positions. To do it, a group of 13 paratroopers was sent to the 5th Army Mountain Climbing School near Naples to receive a training of climbing. 

 
On October 27th, 1943, the 504th RCT was sent by truck near Castello d'Alife. Once in position, it was not an attack on positions of mountains but advance general of 40km in the North of Alife from Isernia. 2 days later, the 504th launched an attack through the mountains of the central Italy which will drive 35km in front of the 5th Army. The fighting led the 504th to cross Volturno, it entered the railway of Isernia, released the villages of Colli, Macchia, Fornelli, Cerro and Rochetta and 15 paratroopers of the H Co. and I went through a minefield to reach the Hill 1017, the 5th strategic point of the 5th Army. The biggest problem for the regiment was the supply. It was brought to the first lines with men's back and mules because no road of communication for vehicles.
 
Another problem was the distance between the HQ and the various Companies, added to that the fact that the front was always in movement. The communication's team was put to work almost 24 hours on 24. On the other hand, the fights was limited to small engagements between patrols. 
The nature and the relief of the ground prevented any continuous frontline. This war shape was obviously to the advantage of the paratroopers who were trained for that. Even outnumbered, the paratroopers of the 504th have never lost a confrontation.
 
After pushing the Germans on a line from Cardito to Alfedena, the 504th was notified that it was going to move near Scapoli. Before that, the RCT was put in reserve and to replace by the 133rd Infantry. The 3rd Battalion moving on November 23rd, followed by the entire RCT the next days. At Ciorlano, Thanksgiving was celebrated. After this bivouac as spare unity during two weeks, the 504th RCT received the order to move for an assault on Mt Sammucro near the heights of Venafro who dominates the German positions of Cassino.

On December 10th, 1943, on a cold evening, the HQ of the 504th established at Venafro, 1st and 2nd Battalion took position in the valleys of Volturno and Venafro. The G and I Co of the 3rd Battalion moved immediately to take the frontline units of the 3rd Rangers Battalion which took position on the Hill 950. Hardly arrived on his position, the I Co faced successive to 7 counter-attack. And althought it lost 46 men, in the early morning, the unit was still the position.

The next morning, the 2nd battalion took the heights of Mt Sammucro ( 1205 ) in place of the the 143nd Infantry. From its part, Companies G and I continued to push away counter-attack. The 307th Airborne Engineers begun to create a minefield between the Hill 1205 and 950. The intensity of German bombardments proved to the men that the Germans were determined to resume his positions. The 1st battalion, supposed to be maintained in reserve, served for supply the troops with ammunition, waters and foods. Following several days of success, the 2nd Battalion tried to take the Hill 687 held by the enemy, but it eventually pushes away and took positions defensive on the Hill 1205. The 1st Battalion taken out of its reserve (except the B Company which occupied the Hill 710) to occupy also the Hill 1205 as additional help for 2nd Battalion. The 3rd Battalion when to him sent patrols to explore the enemy lines. They met little resistance and discovered even positions abandned.
 
During this period, the 376th PFAB was placed supports it in 504th PIR. The communication section worked day and night to establish the communications between the various units. 
On December 20th, the 504th RCT held the Hill 1205, 950, 954, 710 and 687 and sent regularly patrols to the Hill 877 and 710. The fights consisted of assault of hills and heights one after the others. It was a hard fight on abrupt slopes. The wounded were evacuated with great difficulty! The supply of heights, a real problem. 
Of a total of 19 days of fighting in Venafro, the 504th PIR (alone) counted 54 KIA, 226 WIA and 2 MIA. Most of the losses are due to the enemy artillery fires. On the other hand, have little to estimate the enemy losses in 5 times superior to that of the regiment.
 

On December 27th, the regiment was relieved from the sector of Venafro and bivouac near Pignatoro in the Volturno valley. The paratroopers celebrated Christmas with delay, we can finally open their package received families and celebrated the New Year. The paratrooper are finally going to be able to rest and take showers. 
On January 4th, the RCT left their bivouac for the suburbs of Naples.

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Anzio – Italy – January 44 – Operation Shingle:

Italy's map

To extend beyond the German defenses along the Gustav line, an amphibious invasion was planned. Wasassigned to thhe  force of invasion: the 504th RCT including the 504th PIR, 376th PFAB and the 307th AEB.

For this operation of tables with models were built for the briefing. On January 20th, 1944, the 504th was ready to take off. The operation " SHINGLE " consisted of a parachuting on a zone situated behind the coastal city of Anzio in 45km in the South of Rome. The paratroopers had only fear, it is the presence of the German troops on the DZ. Indeed, information on the operation leaked out in the population! But these fears showed themselves unfounded because the amphibian landing took place very well and because the amphibious landing went very well and it appeared thet the sectoor was poorly defended.

However, in the early morning of January 20th, the orders from the 5th Army changed the plans. The 504th RCT was not any more going to jump but would participate in the amphibian assault. The next day, the 504th loaded aboard LCI in the small fishing port of Pozzuoli, in the North of Naples and in the afternoon, ships sailed.

At the dawn of January 22nd, ships stood off the beach. Everything seemed quiet on the beach … The reports from the beach indicated that 5 waves of assault did not encountered difficulties. Colonel Tucker ordered to land on Red Beach. 13 LCI went to the beach and the paratroopers off-loaded. No problem. But the enemy aircraft out of the clouds and openned the fire. One aircraft shot down and went to crash on a LCI which off-loaded the paratroopers of the G Company. Men have continued to land, some had water up to ankle, the other to the waist, others on the swim to shore, all under the root ball in open attacks of the Luftwaffe.

<- Lieutenant Colonel W. R. Williams

Two days later, the regiment received the order to take position on the right side of the bridgehead or repel the enemy elements of the 3rd Infantry Division across the Mussolini Canal. Near the bridge N°5, the Lieutenant Colonel W.R.Williams, commanding the 1st Battalion gave the order to the B Company to attack and secure the bridge after a failure to take the bridge by a section of A Company supported by a section of tank. 4 hours of fighting later, with tanks and 57mm gun of the 376th PFAB, The German were repelled and secure the bridge. Near the bridge N°2, Lieutenant Colonel L.G.Freeman, commanding the 3rd Battalion gave the order to the I Company to clear the area. But the company was taken in a trap, it's take defensive positions. At the dawn of January 24th, the I Company supported by armored cars and by naval artillery passed in the attack. G and H Companies attacked the enemy by the side. After two hours, the enemy losses were 69 KIA, 25 WIA and 33 PW and two destroyed tracked vehicles and 1 captured. The 504th Battalions losing only 6 paratroopers. (2 KIA, 3 WIA and 1 MIA) The next days were made by patrol along the Mussolini canal until day or the Regiment received the order to attack the city of Borgo Piave which was an important crossroads. 

At 1:30 pm, each of three Battalions were in place to attack. The 1st by Sassano, the 3rd not Borgo Sabatino and the 2nd attacked directly Borgo Piave. The 3rd Battalion reached its objective and sent patrols to the North and in the East supported by a naval bombardment. The 1st battalion met a deep opposition from the artillery, but a small group of the C Company reached the objective: Sessano. The 2nd Battalion, supported by artillery barrage reached Borgo Piave, D Company growing up to 200 metres east of the city. However, the enemy conter-attack with 5 panzers and 8 armored cars isolating the D Company.

On order of the 3rd Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion withdrew behind the Mussolini Canal leaving channel before any post. D Company, who suffered heavy losses managed to infiltrate into the enemy lines and reach the American Line. In a general way, it is a defeat for the regiment which returned to its starting point, the channel. After a week of waiting in this sector, the 504th was relieved by the 179th Infantry. The 3rd Battalion was attached to the 1st Armored Division and sent to the North in the sector of the British bridgehead whereas the rest of the RCT was sent to the North of the bridge N°5 to participate in a major operation in the sector of the 3rd division.

Being maintained in reserve of the 1st Armored, the 3rd battalion joined the British 1st Division in the sector of Carreceto. The German artillery was particularly intense. German concentrated a maximum of fire power to reject the allies to the sea. Within first hours of February 5th, after a dam of artillery particularly violent, German went on the attack. After several days, the British units were cut by the 3rd battalion. This one of withdraw in the city of Aprilia. Artillery and Stukas concentrated then their forces on the men. The paratroopers suffered from many losses and when the Germans came forward, the companies were reduced to 20 or 30 men. Of wild fights, often in the hand-to-hand fight followed. The positions now too exposed paratroopers forced to withdrew. Through a railway tunnel near a factory, the 3rd battalion can establish a new line of defense.

The Company H received the order to free a British general who was captured by the Germans. After a bloody fight, the men freed the general but met themselves cut by their lines. The Company I received then the order to restore the contact. The last 16 men of this company brought to a successful conclusion the mission. The thorn dorsal of the German counter-attack was broken. For the courage, the perseverance which it showed for the period from 8 till 12 February, the 3rd battalion lives awarded one of the first Presidential Unit Citation for the European theater.

The rest of the RCT fought in the 3rd Division's sector. On January 30th, 1st and 2nd battalion launched an attack, meeting only a weak resistance. But when they were approached their first objective, a bridge crossing the Mussolini canal, the resistance was strongest. While the 1st Battalion reinforced these positions, the 2nd advanced along the left side of the 1st. As with the 1st battalion, it did not meet strong resistance. The enemy it was folded after destroying the bridge. The 2nd Battalion continued to pursue the Germans more in the North. The Germans destroyed the bridge on Cisterna. The destruction of this bridge stopped the advance of the paratroopers who dug their foxholes. Many materials and weapons were made to the enemy. 80 prisoners were made and the enemy suffered heavy loss.
For the remainder of this period on the bridgehead of Anzio, the 504th exprerienced a war similar to the First World War. A war of trench, with barbed wires and minefields. No gain of ground. This war type was in total contradiction with what the paratroopers training.
The men were thus happy to learn on March 23rd, which they returned to Naples.

To Anzio, the 504th RCT fought elite units of the German army, the Hermann Goering Division, the 3rd Division of Panzer and 16. SS Panzer Division.

This resulted in completely demoralized Germans. To prove this remark of a German officer who referred to them by nickname: " Devils in Baggy Pants " nickname which carried the 504th until this day.

On the beach, while paratroopers embarked aboard LST, the Germans bombarded the port, as a last sign of goodbye. This campaign of Anzio was costly in lives for the 504th but more for the enemy. 120 KIA, 410 WIA and 60 MIA.

The 504th bivouac to Bagnoli, situated in 15 minutes of Naples. Over there, the regiment fell in a routine given rhythm in light training and some parachute jumpings. The General Clark reviewed the troops during a ceremony in honour of the 3rd Battalion which was decorated with Presidential Unit Citation for its action to Carroceto.

The paratroopers supposed that they would soon embark for England and to join the 82nd Airborne Division. On April 10th, 1944, the RCT left Naples for Via Umberto. It embarked aboard the British ship there, " Capetown Castle. " The trip went smoothly despite the fact that radio Nazi propaganda warned that U-Boot sink the ship after the Strait of Gibraltar.

The only problem was that there was when the ship arrived to Liverpool on April 22nd, 44 that all the men rushed on the same side to see the landscape but especially the girls on the dock! Then, they took the train to Leicester towards the small region of Thurnby.
The 82nd band welcomed the regiment in the sound of "We're All American". The camp situated to Evington was pleasant. This camp was only made by tent, but there was of the lawn, roads in gravel and either sand. The life was pleasant to it, sessions of cinema, sporting rooms and also the coming of " donut dugout ". Leicester was a big city, but there was no night club. On the other hand, cinemas spent big American films. On the other hand in Victoria and Spinney Hill Park, the paratroopers found salons dances. And especially, there were girls.

The D-Day approached, the paratroopers felt that something was brewing, but most do not worry, the regiment did not have all these troops to be sent as a spearhead of the 82nd Airborne Division in Normandy. Only dozen man participated as member of Pathfinders. After the invasion in Normandy, the 504th was maintained in constant preparation for an airborne operation. But the ride of Patton in France and in Belgium obsolete any preparation.

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Holland – September 44 – Operation Market-Garden:

Holland's map

On September 9th, 1944, British Field Marshal Montgomery proposed a plan baptized Market Garden intends has to establish a bridgehead to the Rhine. This jump should to put an end to the war.
The operation was a combination between an airborne assault to take and hold roads and main bridges of Holland and an motorized advance. The 504th was fully recovered and reinstated in the 82nd. 
Its mission was to jump 90km behind the enemy lines near Grave with as objective to capture two bridges step over the Maas-Waal Canal. The E Co had to jump in the South of the Maas River. The rest of the 2nd Battalion had to jump in the North of the river and therefore, train a "pliers" for the taking of the bridge in Grave. The 1st Battalion had to jump more in the North and take bridges 7 and 8 overhanging the Maas-Waal Canal. The 3rd Battalion jumping between two others and would be kept in reserve at first. The paratroopers were very worried, S-2 of the Regiment had received the information that there was 4.000 SS as well as Panzers awaiting the invasion.

The operation began on September 17th. At 12:31 am, Pathfinders of the 504th dropped on their DZ. They are followed 1/2 hours later by the rest of the regiment and the C Company by the 307th Engineers. Once on the ground, the E Company moving as it had it received the order in the South of the Maas river. The rest of the 2nd Battalion moving in the North, The enemy was completely set by surprise. There was a brief exchange of gunfire before the bridge near Grave is took. 1st and 3rd Battalions moved in their area. A few hours later, a message of the 1st Battalion informed the HQ that the bridge N°7 was set intact but that the bridge N°8 was destroyed by the Germans. The 3rd battalion was to be placed in reserve was divided and some of its units were placed support it of the 2nd Battalion along the Maas River and in the northwest limit of the zone assigned to the 504th. At 6:00 pm, the objectives were filled.
In just 4 hours, the regiment had jumped, had gathered had engaged the fight and took its objectives. During the next two days, the situation does not change. The 504th spent time to consolidate its positions and sending patrols to the contacts with the enemy.

 
On September 19th, in the early morning, Irish Guards, led the XXX British Corps of the 2nd British Army contacts the men of the 504th in the bridge N°11 and all day long trucks and tanks are going to cross this bridge. During the period of noon, 150 bomber B-24 is going to parachute of the various material. And after noon of the same day, 1st and 3rd Battalion are sent to Nijmegen whereas the 2nd stayed in Grave, to control bridge 7, 8 and 11.
 
September 20th, 3 battalions (less Company E and D) was in position along the south bank of Waal River with neighborhood 400 metres of the railroad bridge of Nijmegen. The bridge of Nijmegen was the last bridge, objective of the 82nd Airborne Division. The British tanks fired at the bank set to support the attack of the paratroopers.

<- Major Julian Cook
 
The 3rd battalion under command of the Major Julian Cook received the order of the General Gavin to cross the river and to take the another important bridge. With the support of the artillery, the first wave aboard boats of assault crosses the channel under the enemy fire. They lost 200 paratroopers. On 26 boats of the initial assault, 1 only were able to make the inverse road to load the Engineering men. And while the Engineering men crossed, the 3rd Battalion attacked higher the German defences creating a bridgehead. Then, the 1st Battalion crossed lines to attack a fortified town ( a medieval castle) held by the Germans. And while the 1st Battalion gave the assault, the 3rd secured the surroundings. 3 hours later the castle was set and a 1.000 meters was reached. The first British tanks could cross the bridge. A British general who attended the assault of the 3rd battalion had these words: " Incredible ".
Finally, at D+4, the 504th took the bridge, defending against German counter-attacks. It is in one of these skirmishes that Pvt. John Towle won his Medal of Honor. It is in this assault that the 504th lost most men during all the conflict. (Except the jump on Sicily)

 
Then, the 2nd battalion was ordered to raise a battalion of the 508th PIR, later, the 1st and 3rd Battalion raised what remains of the 508th. From this moment and until October 12th, the 504th held a defensive line in the southwest of Nijmegen near Erlkom along the southwest banks of Wyler-Meer and along the forest of Den Huevel. This period was given rhythm by more or less strong counter-attacks of the German infantry supported by Panzers, all were pushed away. On October 12th, the frontline was extended to the North of Wyler-Meer and in the South of Vossendaal. The frontline stabilized, of part and the others, the defences were improved. Barbed wires, minefields. Every when sent patrols to test the defences.
During this period from September 17th till November 13th, 1944, when the regiment was relieved by the 8th Canadian Brigade, the 504th PIR spent 57 consecutive days on the frontline. Its losses amounted to 98 KIA, 443 WIA and 98 MIA. But, It captured 919 German, killed neighborhood 1.100 and wounded an incalculable number.

 
The motto of the 504th PIR, "Strike Hold", was never demonstrated as much as during these fighting. Tired but determined, the 504th bravely carried out each mission and never leave any ground gained. 
However, its success would be short-lived because the defeat of the Allied troops at Arnhem. 
The passage in Germany would not open in September, 1944 and the 82nd Airborne Division was sent to France. 

On November 16th, 1944, the 504th PIR arrives at Camp Sissone near Reims in the North of France. Transported in British trucks, the regiment is welcomed by 82nd Airborne Band under the sight of "We're All American".

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Belgium – December 1944 – Battle of the Bulge:

Belgium's map

Germany Map

Then, the regiment received the order to attack the Siegfried line. The 504th PIR was positioned on the right flank of the 1st US Army.
On January 28th, 1945, the 504th PIR moved in the forest Bullingen in two columns along a snowy road meeting that low resistance. While approaching Herresbach, the Regiment met an enemy battalion. It engaged directly the fight, taking the battalion by surprise. Machine guns and tanks opened the way whereas the paratroopers loaded. The enemy losses amounted to 100 KIA and 180 WIA. Not a paratroopers of the 504th was not affected. One hour later, the city was in the hands of the paratroopers.  
 
On February 1st, 1945, the order came to launch the assault on the fortifications of the Siegfried line by the  Belgian's fort of Gerolstein. The next day, the 1st and the 2nd Battalion attacked. Moving with precaution of bunker in bunker, the paratroopers met only heavy machine guns and light weapons in all the points. Paradoxically, it is Panzerfaust (German weapon anti-tank) with which the 504th is equipped well, which will reduce to the silence bunkers. And despite of very large number of mine, because of the temperature very low, ice, years, detonators were corroded, so very few of them have skipped. And even if the Siegfried line seemed an impenetrable wall, the Germans did not take advantage of it. At nightfall, the 2nd Battalion had advanced of 1.000 metres east of Wilsam while the 1st Battalion took the heights overlooking the Lewart river. The 3rd Battalion, took a longer road. The 3rd Battalion, took a longer road. Following the 325th GIR, it passed by Neuhof, to turn South and be positioned on the left flank of the 2nd Battalion. During the night, counter-attack supported by firings of mortars and panzers were repelled.

February 3rd and 4th, against, the enemy attacked, but was repulsed. The unit was raised and sent to Grand Halleux where it spent several days. This tiny village was so bombarded that it had become almost uninhabitable. Then, the regiment was sent on the other side of the Belgo-German border to Schmithof behind the first belt of defense of the Siegfried line. The regiment was put for the first time in the rest in Germany. The paratroopers had ban to fraternize with the enemy. Films and rules had to dissuade them from it.

 
On February 13th, 1945, the regiment was sent on the banks of Roer River. Where she was preparing to cross and to fight on the other side. But the time stop him, so that on February 19th, the 504th PIR was relieved and sent at first in Aachen, then to Sissone in France. The place having become a hospital, it was sent to Laon. A garrison life waited for his paratroopers come back from the hell. To Laon, the men received permissions. Someone left for Paris, of the other for England. There was also Brussels or "French Riviera."
The paratroopers also trained to jump new C-46 Commando, sense to replace C-47 during the operation VARSITY on Germany. But the SHAEF decided to use the 17th Airborne Division for this operation.
As entertainment, the men of the 504th had personalities' visit Marlene Dietrich or still Mickey Rooney. 
The 1st Battalion was decorated with the Presidential Unit Citation for its action to Cheneux in Belgium, Pvt John R. Towle received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his action to Nijmegen in Holland. The time passed to Laon, but the war in Europe arrived in that final phase.

April 1st, the Colonel Tucker with a small group left Laon for Germany. They established the HQ of the regiment with neighborhood 400km of Cologne, to Longerich, in the suburb of the city. 3 days later, the regiment arrives. The 504th takes its positions along the banks of the Rhine River. The paratroopers are going to fight the Germans trapped in the Ruhr pocket.
Every night, patrols were sent on the other side of the Rhine river to track down the enemy positions. The Germans tried well to drill the lines of the 504th, but unsuccessfully and by leaving with heavy losses. 

April 6th, 1945, A Company crossed the Rhine river near the village of Hitsdorf with the mission to take the village. It served as bait to deceive the Germans of the real crossing.
The company embark in boats and crossed the Rhine at 2:30 am. At once, it contacted the enemy. Under the enemy fire, the company was split in two groups which fought in a way separated to take the objective. Both groups of the first wave destroyed nests of machine guns and placed roadblocks, whereas the successive waves penetrated into the village. HQ and a perimeter of defence were installed. At 8:30 am, Hitsdorf was totally under the control of the paratroopers. They made 68 prisoners. But 15 minutes later, the Germans launched a violent counter-attack which repelled fronts posts in the suburbs of the village. The Germans advanced up to 50 metres. Finally, the paratoopers opened the fire simultaneously, withdrawing the enemy and making 33 prisoners. A second much more violent attempt was launched at 3:30 pm.
The paratropers were knocked out at first under a rain of shells. Then, the Germans gave the assault from south and east supported by two panzers.
Having exceeded the positions of the 3rd platoon, the Germans maneuvered in the city whereas another strength of 200 enemies attacked the positions of the 2nd platoon in the North. Sub numbers, the A Company without its 3rd platoon with which any contact was lost, withdrew up to the river. Leaned in the river, it installed a new line of defence there. The Regiment, warned of the bad position in which was the A Company, sent the I Company sent as reinforcements. At 1:30 am, two platoon crossed the river to join the A Company. Again, the Germans launched a counter-attack, a platoon of panzer supported by 200 infantrymens.
The attack was repelled and the Company crossed again the river taking 13 prisoners. The A Company follow-up can later.
The A Company imposed to the enemy the loss of 80 soldiers prisoners, 350 KIA or WIA. On 150 paratroopers which composed it at first, 9 KIA, 24 WIA and it counted 79 MIA. 
Because of the losses and of the withdrawal, for the troops, it is a defeat even if the purpose of this mission was to divert the Germans of the real objective.
 
On April 13th, 1945, patrols contacted elements of the 97th Infantry Division along the banks of the Rhine. 3 days later, the pocket was reduced, the paratroopers of the 504th PIR took defensive positions along the Rhine river.

On April 27th, the Regiment was relieved and sent to the outskirts Cologne to serve as troop of occupation. It was in charge of a sector of 580 km2 to check, looking for weapons and ammunition and military equipment and especially take charge numerous displaced persons.

On May 1st, 1945, the HQ was installed to Breetze, Germany on the West banks of the Elbe River and 4 days later arrived all the regiment. 2nd and 3rd Battalion crossed the river and moved of 15 km on the other side of the Elbe River. They met no resistance (or very light) From time to time, Luftwaffe made of shy appearance to destroy the bridge but unsuccessfully. The 1st Battalion was maintained in reserve. 

Tanks were attached to the 504th PIR to purchase the Germans in crushing defeats. They caught up some rearguard who quickly raised arms. The war was lost. Since the Elbe River, the 504th moved of 65km, it stopped its progress when it arrived at Eldena. There where the Neue Elde Cannal joins the Elbe river.

On May 3rd at 10:00 am, a jeep transporting paratroopers of the I Company left on the meeting of the Russians. They passed by the south side of the Neue Elde Canal and drove 19km towards the city of Eldenburg where they met a Cossak's Company.
During the next days, there was no collision with the Germans. Only meet, the Cossacks. They were drinking with the paratroopers of the 504th and the paratroopers went drinking with them. The time spent to celebrate the end of the war was approaching.

The war was over on May 5th, 1945. V-Day or Day of Victory was officially May 8th, 1945. During the last months of war, casualties were very light for 504th PIR, only 2 KIA and 29 WIA. But a new form of loss would appear: " This is war ". That the paratroopers set of the equipment to the enemy. And cleaning a Luger "memory" could pull a ball deep! The alcohol also flowed in stream!! Driving and alcohol do not make good mix! Finally, an order was established that all the weapons and vehicles should be made to avoid " self-extermination ".

If May 8th was V-Day, May 12th was also a very important date, it is the date of the demobilization for some paratroopers who could count 85 points, that is, half of the regiment.
In Nancy, what remains of the 504th received reinforcements from unity of the 17th Airborne Division, then it moved with the rest of the 82nd Airborne Division to occupy Berlin.
The 504th PIR was distinguished by being a force on what could be expected, the regiment chase the Germans nearly 22.530km through 11 countries! 
They participated in most hard fighting. They succeeded where the others failed. 
With 3 Presidential Unit Citations, they have become a paratrooper unit the most decorated of the war.

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Awards & Decorations :

United States :

3 Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations for the operation in Anzio, Nijmegen and Cheneux. for this action in Ste Mere Eglise.

Belgium :

Fourragere for this action in Ardennes.

Holland :

Lanyard Oranje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden

William's Military Order (Rank of knight and 4th class) for her actions with Nijmegen in 1944.nje from the Netherlands for the operation Market Garden