MEMBERSHIP OF THE 505TH
RCT ASSOCIATION
THE SEARCH FOR MEMBERS
1986-Present
INTRODUCTION
The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
of the 82nd Airborne Division was in combat intermittently
over a period of 22 months from July 9, 1943 through May
8, 1945, during WWII. Its action earned six campaigns
stars, three recognized as initial invasions with an
arrowhead on the campaign ribbon. The regiment was
supported by specialized support groups which, along with
the 505th, made up a regimental combat team.
During these actions special bonds
were established between friends as well as mutual
feelings of respect between “units” that supported each
other. In 1986, forty years after most men had left their
units, an association was formed so that old friends
could renew contact. That association was named “The
505th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team
Association, Inc”. Following the first meeting of several
hundred whose whereabouts were known to each other, a
search was initiated to identify and find those still
living who might wish to re-unite with old friends in the
505th RCT association.
The search was started by James J.
“Joe” Meyers (D Co.), who developed the procedures and the
basis for continued work. Robert W. “Bob” Gillette (HHC)
assumed the task in 1992 and carried it forward to this
date. The association has had active reunions from 1986
forward but in 1999 as its memorial projects approached
completion this record was archived in various libraries
in the U.S. and in Europe. It is continually being
updated.
DISCLAIMER
This tabulation is the by-product of
that search conducted from 1986 to the present for those
who served in units of the 505th Parachute Infantry
Regimental Combat Team during the years 1942-1945,
including training, during combat action and as “America’s
Guard of Honor” during the occupation of Berlin. Over
7,000 names have been tabulated. Much of the data
collected was from valid “research” sources but its
mission did not require documentation normally expected of
a research project.
Sources were Special and General
Orders from army archives, assistance from the Veterans
Administration, Social Security records, lists from
attached units carrying on their own searches and from the
Static Line. Anomalies include a number of deaths
recorded during combat periods but not listed as KIA, DOW
or NBC (non-battle casualty).
Our mission was to locate living
members but in so doing we collected information of
interest to others, and presumably to their descendants.
It can neither be considered as complete nor without
inaccuracies, but might be used as a starting point
for those seeking more complete history on an individual
or unit. Some names reported to be missing from this list
could not be verified.
THE COMBAT TEAM
in World War II
The regimental combat team consisted
of:
The 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment
Company B,
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
The 456th
Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
The 80th
Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion
The 307th
Airborne Medical Company
Company B of the 307th Airborne
Engineer Bn. and the 456th PFA Bn. were permanently attached
to the 505th PIR and their members often served as combat
infantrymen with the 505. The 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft
Bn. and the 307th Medical Co. supported the 505th PIR
intermittently in one or more of its six campaigns. They
also supported the other regiments of, or attached to, the
82nd Airborne Division.
This tabulation should be studied in
company with the 505th Regimental History “Ready”,
written by Allen Langdon (C Co.), and of course the
numerous histories of the 82nd Airborne Division.
THE ROSTER
of those who served
NAMES:
Spelling of
last names was not always consistent, often written under
field conditions
Some name
changes were made post-war
Listing of
rank or position was intentionally not included
The major
known deficiencies are in the lack of completeness of the
attached units.
ARMY SERIAL NUMBERS:
Army Serial
Number (ASN) can give a clue as to entry into the service,
e.g.,
First number
“1" indicates enlisted volunteer
First number
“2" indicates National Guard origin
First number
“3" indicates draftee
Other
segments of ASN indicate region of entry
O- prefix
indicates Officer
UNITS:
The 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment consisted of the following
companies
HHC = Hq & Hq
Co.
SVS = Service
Co.
Med = Medical
detachment
1HHC + A, B,
C Cos. (all 1st battalion)
2HHC + D, E,
F Cos. (all 2nd Battalion)
3HHC + G, H,
I Cos. (all 3rd Battalion)
The 456PFA Bn.
had batteries HHB, A, B, C, D, e.g., 456A
The 80th AAA
Bn. had batteries HHB, A, B, C. D, E, F, e.g., 80AA-B
Only Co. B,
307th Airborne Engineers was part of the 505th
RCT, e.g., 307E
There have
been errors in identification between “307 Eng Medic” and
“307 Med. Co.”
ALSO: Lists other unit(s) when the
person served in more than one unit
CIB: Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
or Combat Medical Badge (CMB) and Campaign indicating
when the badge was first awarded. S-Sicily, I-Italy,
N-Normandy, H-Holland, A-Ardennes, R-Rhineland,
CE-Central Europe. For example, CMB-H. While Holland was
not a separate campaign, it was identifiable as a major
battle of the 82nd Airborne.
Some men who
served in Sicily were not awarded the CIB until the Italian
campaign. These were probably clerical oversights. The men
of 307th Engrs, 456th FA, 80th AAA & 307th Medical Co. did
not receive the CIB at all--technically they were not
infantrymen
MEMBER: Lxxx is Life Member number. Year indicates last
year of annual membership.. NI means the man was contacted
but not interested in joining the 505RCT..
STATUS: KIA-campaign as identified above, or date deceased
D=00-00-00. All deaths during combat periods were not
recorded as KIA. Some are DOW, NBC or simply D
CITY AND STATE: City and State listed
is generally the last known place of residence 1986-
present. Many addresses are a retirement address--not
original home or career address.
For current
members, the 505th RCT Association Treasurer has the most
reliable list.
VIEW THE LIST (Coming soon)
