French CDG Fourragere

FRENCH CITATIONS RESOLUTION NO. 161
The President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic Cites the Following Units, being parts of the 82d Airborne Division: 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment They are authorized to carry the Fourragére in the colors of the Croix de Guerre, 1939-45. PARIS, 6 April 1946 Signed: FELIX GOUIN Fourragére: The French Fourragére may be awarded by the French government if a unit was cited twice in the dispatches. Award of the Fourragére is not automatic and requires a specific decree of the French government. The Fourragére is the same colors as the ribbon for the Croix de Guerre. If a unit is cited four times, the Fourragére colors are changed to that of the French Medaille Militaire instead of the Croix de Guerre. b. During WWI and WWII, the French Croix de Guerre was awarded to both U.S. Army units and to individuals. The Croix de Guerre may be awarded at different levels of command. The level of the awarding command determines the appurtenance worn on the ribbon. The bronze palm indicates awarded by the Army; a silver gilt star by a corps; a silver star by a division; and bronze star by a regiment or brigade. c. The French Fourragére is authorized for both permanent and temporary wear. Personnel assigned to a unit which was awarded the Fourragére may wear the Fourragére while assigned to the unit.
(Courtesy of Donald van den Bogert)	From When The Honor Came? This letter written by the Mayor of Ste Mere Eglise recommended two battalions of the 505th PIR for the French Fourragére. The award was extended to all paratrooper units that supported the invasion. The original was discovered last year in the National Archives. As far as he and Maurice Renaud could determine it apparently was never been published. He sent a copy to Maurice who graciously translated it into English.
From the sands of North Africa to the close of the war 60,000 men passed through the Division's ranks. Nearly every unit holds the Distinguished Unit Citation; the entire division wears the Belgian Fourragére and the Dutch "Order of Wilhelm." The units awarded the French Fourragére are Headquarters and Headquarters Company 82nd Airborne Division; 325th Glider Infantry Regiment; 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment; 82nd Airborne Signal Company; 307th Airborne Medical Company; Headquarters and Headquarters Battery and Batteries A B and C, 80th Airborne; AA Battalion Companies A and B, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion; Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 82nd Airborne Division; Artillery 319th and 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion. [The News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, 18 Oct 1946, Fri, Page 12]
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