first days off since October 1942, the regiment moved to Camp Mackall, NC.  The camp was a brand new facility hacked out of the swamps.

After several months of advanced infantry and weapons training, perfecting parachuting techniques, undergoing extensive field training exercises, and large-scale maneuvers in South Carolina and Tennessee, the 508^th PIR moved to Camp Shanks, NY.

We arrived in Camp Shanks on December 20, 1943 and starting over-seas processing, including passes to New York City.

Christmas Day the regiment was restricted but we had a good Christmas dinner. Late in the afternoon of 27 December, following a short train and ferryboat ride, we boarded the USAT James Parker; and in the morning, we sailed into the Atlantic Ocean.  After eleven days at sea, we arrived in Belfast, Ireland, and moved to Port Stewart. 

Our first days in Ireland were devoted to learning the local customs and regaining the physical condition and muscles we had lost during the long sea voyage. The following weeks were spent on weapons firing, and short field exercises.

505^th PIR veterans of jumps into Sicily and Italy lived with each 508^th PIR company. They told us ‘war stories,’ answered our questions, and offered useful suggestions about what we could expect from the Germans on the battlefield. These sessions were helpful and enhanced our confidence.

On March 10, the regiment boarded trains for Belfast where we loaded on a ship for Scotland.  From Scotland we moved by train to Nottingham, England. Our long trip from Camp Blanding, Florida was over. 

In Nottingham, the 508^th PIR lived in tents in a Kings Deer Park. We participated in several tough field exercises, and two dangerous night jumps with tactical exercises. By June 1944, the 508^th PIR was physically and mentally ready for combat; the men were highly trained and confident. 

Late on June 5, 1944, we had our final briefing, blackened our faces, said farewell to our comrades, and were boosted into our C-47s. On the aircraft, we were told we would drop into Normandy behind the beaches where several allied divisions would land.

We had a relatively smooth flight over the English Channel until we encountered dense low clouds. To avoid collisions, many of the pilots broke formation. Later, as we crossed the Normandy coast, the Germans employed antiaircraft and machinegun fires to attack our formations causing further dispersal of the planes.  As the result of the dispersal of the