Keith Christen’s experience in the 508^th PIR paralleled the combat activities of the regiment as summarized in Chapter II, Combat Operations. Briefly:

·        On September 17, 1944, he parachuted into a field south of Nijmegen, Holland to liberate the Netherlands. That night Keith participated in an attack through the city of Nijmegen, in a dangerous attempt to seize a highway bridge over the Waal River.

·        On November 11, 1944, the 508^th PIR was relieved from com-bat in Holland and marched 22 miles to rendezvous with trucks, which carried the regiment to Sissonne, France.

·        On December 18, 1944,  the comfortable life of the 508^th PIR,  living in a French Artillery Post in Sissonne ended, the Germans had launched a desperate attack to save the Third Reich.

·        The massive German assault created a huge bulge in the allied area, and started the largest most costly WW II campaign in Europe, named the “Battle of the Bulge.”

·        The 508^th PIR troops fought both the Germans and the bitter cold and deep snows of the Ardennes. They breached the Sieg-fried Line, captured or destroyed many fortifications and towns, and suffered major casualties,  inflicted by the Germans and the lack of protection from the bitter cold weather.

·        The 508^th PIR fought all the way to the West Bank of the Roer River where on February 18, 1945 it broke contact with the German forces and returned to Sissonne, France.

·        On April 4, 1945 the 508^th PIR was relieved from its long attachment to the 82^nd Airborne Division and placed under the direct control of the First Allied Airborne Army. The regiment immediately moved by trains to Chartres near Paris alerted to parachute into or near prisoner-of-war-camps to liberate allied prisoners, should the Germans resort to atrocities.

·        The war in Europe ended before the regiment could execute any of the rescue missions, and the 508^th PIR again moved back to Sissonne, France.

·        After a short delay, the 508^th PIR was assigned to perform security and honor guard functions for Eisenhower’s headquarters, and moved to Frankfurt, Germany.

Keith Christen was discharged from the Army August 9, 1945 at Fort George G. Meade, MD. He had spent an adventurous year with the 508^th