513th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
During World War II, the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment (513th PIR) was a regiment of the 17th Airborne Division of the United States Army
. The regiment participated in the latter stages of the Battle of the Bulge
and parachuted into Germany in Operation Varsity
.
to Fort Bragg
before being assigned to Camp Mackall
, North Carolina
in January 1944, but was transferred to the Tennessee Maneuver Area and assigned to the 17th Airborne Division in March 1944.
The 513th was not sent overseas until after D-Day and was still in training in England during Operation Market Garden
. During the crisis of the Battle of the Bulge, the division was flown into Reims
, France and moved by truck into southern Belgium. In January 1945, the Regiment was sent into the assault on Flamierge. During this fight, Staff Sergeant
I.S. "Izzy" Jachman
raced through heavy fire, picked up a bazooka
from a fallen comrade and drove off two tanks, damaging one. His Medal of Honor citation concludes, "S/Sgt. Jachman's heroic action, in which he suffered fatal wounds, disrupted the entire enemy attack, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the parachute infantry." Another Medal of Honor recipient from this regiment was Pfc. Stuart S. Stryker
.
After the conclusion of the Ardennes campaign, the division was withdrawn in preparation for Operation Varsity
. The regiment dropped with the rest of the division into Germany near Wesel
in its only combat drop.
In April 1945, units of the 513th were carried into action around Munster by British tanks
from the Guards Armoured Division.
The 513th returned to the United States on 1945-09-14.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The regiment participated in the latter stages of the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and parachuted into Germany in Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
.
History
The regiment was constituted on December 26, 1942 and assigned to the 13th Airborne Division. It moved from Fort BenningFort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
to Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
before being assigned to Camp Mackall
Camp Mackall
Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located in eastern Richmond County and northern Scotland County, North Carolina, south of the town of Southern Pines. The facility is in close proximity to and is a sub-installation of Fort Bragg Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in January 1944, but was transferred to the Tennessee Maneuver Area and assigned to the 17th Airborne Division in March 1944.
The 513th was not sent overseas until after D-Day and was still in training in England during Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
. During the crisis of the Battle of the Bulge, the division was flown into Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, France and moved by truck into southern Belgium. In January 1945, the Regiment was sent into the assault on Flamierge. During this fight, Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
I.S. "Izzy" Jachman
Isadore S. Jachman
Isadore Seigfreid Jachman was a United States Army sergeant who was killed in World War II after defending the town of Flamierge, Belgium from a German attack on January 4, 1945...
raced through heavy fire, picked up a bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
from a fallen comrade and drove off two tanks, damaging one. His Medal of Honor citation concludes, "S/Sgt. Jachman's heroic action, in which he suffered fatal wounds, disrupted the entire enemy attack, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the parachute infantry." Another Medal of Honor recipient from this regiment was Pfc. Stuart S. Stryker
Stuart S. Stryker
Stuart S. Stryker was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
.
After the conclusion of the Ardennes campaign, the division was withdrawn in preparation for Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
. The regiment dropped with the rest of the division into Germany near Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
in its only combat drop.
In April 1945, units of the 513th were carried into action around Munster by British tanks
Churchill tank
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV was a heavy British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war...
from the Guards Armoured Division.
The 513th returned to the United States on 1945-09-14.
Notable members of the 513th
- Staff Sergeant Isadore S. JachmanIsadore S. JachmanIsadore Seigfreid Jachman was a United States Army sergeant who was killed in World War II after defending the town of Flamierge, Belgium from a German attack on January 4, 1945...
, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions during the battle for Flamierge, Belgium. - Private First Class Stuart S. StrykerStuart S. StrykerStuart S. Stryker was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions at Wesel, Germany, during Operation VarsityOperation VarsityOperation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
. - Dallas police officer, J. D. TippitJ. D. TippitTippit attended a Veterans Administration vocational training school at Bogata, Texas, from January 1950 until June 1952. He was then hired by the Dallas Police Department as a patrolman on July 28, 1952...
, who was shot and killed while trying to apprehend Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
.
External links
- http://www.silentwingsmuseum.org/
- http://www.asomf.org/
- http://www.staticlinemagazine.com/