508th Infantry Regiment (United States)

508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 508th Airborne Infantry Regiment 508th Infantry Regiment
508th Infantry Regiment coat of arms.
Active	1942–1946 1951–1957 1962–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Airborne infantry
Role	Parachute infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, NC
Nickname(s)	Red Devils
Motto(s)	Fury From the Sky
Engagements	World War II Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Ardennes Campaign Operation Powerpack Vietnam War Operation Just Cause Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign
Commanders
Current commander	Kobe Reese
Notable commanders	Colonel Roy E. Lindquist
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Unit beret flashes of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 508th Infantry Regiment

World War II

Operation Powerpack
Vietnam War
Operation Just Cause

The 508th Infantry Regiment ("Red Devils" or "Fury from the Sky"), previously the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (508th PIR), is an airborne infantry regiment of the United States Army, first formed in October 1942 during World War II. The 508th is a parent regiment under the U.S. Army Regimental System, and two battalions from the regiment are currently active: the 1st Battalion (1-508 PIR) is assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 2nd Battalion (2-508 PIR) is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. The regiment served in combat during World War II, and regimental elements have served in combat in the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated during World War II on 20 October 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida. Lieutenant Colonel Roy E. Lindquist formed the unit and remained its commander throughout the war.

After extensive training and maneuvers the 508th embarked on 19 December 1943 in New York City, New York and sailed on 28 December 1943 for Belfast, Northern Ireland, arriving there on 8 January 1944. After additional training at Cromore Estate in Portstewart, the regiment was moved by ship to Glasgow in Scotland and by train on 13 March 1944 to Wollaton Park in Nottinghamshire, England, where they became part of the veteran 82nd "All American" Airborne Division, commanded by Major General Matthew Ridgway, which had seen distinguished service in Sicily and Italy. A sister unit, the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (later to become attached to the 17th Airborne Division), who were part of the 2nd Airborne Brigade with the 508th, were camped less than ten miles away at a former country hotel called Tollerton Hall, Nottinghamshire. During training in England Brigadier General James M. Gavin, the Assistant Division Commander (ADC), was particularly impressed with the regiment, noting that the 508th "looks as good as any new outfit that I have ever seen, if they cannot do it it cannot be done by green troops."