The bachelors entertained the Women’s Army
Corps (WACs). These women provided clerical and communications support for
Gen. “Ike’s” headquarters.
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Notwithstanding the praise and comfortable living conditions, the question upper most in the minds of Hq1 men was: “When do we go home?”
A theatre-wide eligibility system for rotation had been established. A man earned one point for each month of service overseas, five points for each battle star or decoration, and twelve points for each child. An eligibility goal of 85 points was established for shipment home.
The first 508th PIR group left for home under the point system while the regiment was still in France. However, as men accrued additional points when awards and decorations were published in orders, the departure of Hq1 men accelerated.
Many of the original 508th PIR men, the Camp Blanding veterans, missed the regimental Third Anniversary celebration in October 1945 as they had gone home.
Christmas 1945 in Frankfurt was not all it had been for most men at home, but it was considerably better than the Christmas of 1944 when the regiment executed a perilous night withdrawal from the Salm River in Belgium.
On November 24, 1946 – four years, one month and four days after it was activated at Camp Blanding, Florida, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment passed into history at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. We Served Proudly! |