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WHEREAS: The 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, comprised
of volunteers from the Forty-Eight States, was activated October 20,
1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida; and after basic training at Camp Blanding
and parachutist qualification at Fort Benning, Georgia, and tactical
unit training in Camp Mackall, North Carolina, Ireland, and England,
the Regiment, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, parachuted into
Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944 as the vanguard of the sea-borne
forces. After accomplishing all of its missions, the Regiment returned
to Nottingham, England for replacements and equipment; and
WHEREAS: On September 17, 1944, the reconstituted Regiment
parachuted into Nijmegen, Holland as part of the force committed to
liberating the Netherlands; and on December 18, 1944 the Regiment was
rushed to Werbomont, Belgium to help defeat the last major German offensive,
and fought heroically in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe
campaigns; and
WHEREAS: On April 4, 1945, the Regiment was detached from
the 82nd Airborne Division and came under control of the First Allied
Airborne Army; it moved immediately to airfields prepared to parachute
on prisoner-of-war camps to liberate prisoners. Upon cessation of hostilities,
having sustained 2670 battle casualties, won five unit decorations for
heroic actions, and individual members of the Regiment having earned
every decoration authorized by the United States Government, and decorations
from the governments of Belgium, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands,
and having been chosen as the Honor Guard for General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s
Supreme Headquarters; the Regiment, on June 8, 1945, moved to Frankfurt-am-Main,
Germany; and
WHEREAS: On November 24, 1946, after four years, one month
and four days of outstanding service, the 508"' Parachute Infantry Regiment
was deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS: On July 6,1975, in Chicago, Illinois, veterans
of the Regiment created the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association,
1942-1945 to affirm and renew the friendships shared during World War
II, and perpetuate the memory of all who served in the Regiment; and
WHEREAS: On August 6, 2002, the General Membership having
determined the Association can no longer function effectively, because
of aging, resolved to on October 20, 2004 transfer Association assets
and memorabilia to the Camp Blanding Museum and Historical Associates,
Inc., Starke, Florida for safeguarding and display in the Camp Blanding
Museum; and formally retire the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association,
1942-1945.
NOW THEREFORE: I, Kenneth J. Merritt,
President of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association, 1942-1945,
do hereby in accordance with this Resolution, as approved by the General
Membership, officially transfer Association assets and memorabilia to
the Camp Blanding Museum and Historical Associates, Inc., Starke, Florida
effective October 19,2004.
IN WITNESS THEREOF: I have hereunto set my hand and caused
the seal of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association, 1942-1945
to be affixed this October 19, in the year of Our Lord two thousand
and four.
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