82nd Airborne Division transcript.pdf

Century of Service: 82nd Airborne Division

A discussion of the history and development of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division with Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino. 

The U.S. 82nd Infantry Division became part of the National Army on August 5, 1917 to support the United States' entry in World War I. Re-flagged as the 82nd Airborne Division at the onset of World War II, this active-duty airborne infantry division is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and trains for airborne assault operations into enemy-denied areas, with a specialization in airfield seizure. Presented in partnership with U.S. Army Office of Public Affairs, Midwest. 

The 82nd Infantry Division was formed August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Since members of the Division came from all 48 states, the unit was given the nickname "All-Americans," hence its famed "AA" shoulder patch. In the spring of 1918, the Division deployed to France. In nearly five months of combat the 82nd fought in three major campaigns and helped to break the fighting spirit of the German Imperial Army. The 82nd was demobilized after World War I. For more than 20 years the "All-American Division" would live only in the memories of men who served in its ranks during the Great War.

With the outbreak of World War II, the 82nd was reactivated on March 25, 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana under the command of Major General Omar N. Bradley. On August 15, 1942, the 82nd Infantry Division became the first airborne division in the U.S. Army. On that date, the All-American Division was redesignated the 82nd Airborne Division.

The Division's first two combat operations were parachute assaults into Sicily and Salerno, Italy on July 9 and September 13, 1943. On June 5-6, 1944, the paratroopers of the 82nd's three parachute infantry regiments and reinforced glider infantry regiment boarded hundreds of transport planes and gliders and, began the largest airborne assault in history. They were among the first soldiers to fight in Normandy, France. On September 17, the 82nd Airborne Division conducted its fourth combat jump of World War II into Holland. Fighting off ferocious German counterattacks, the 82nd captured its objectives between Grave and Nijmegen. Its success, however, was short-lived because the defeat of other Allied units at Arnhem.

The 82nd Airborne's quick global response saw them in the Dominican Republic in 1965, Vietnam in 1968, Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and have seen multiple deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism since the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOE BUCCINO serves as the Director of Public Affairs for the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He received his commission in the Field Artillery from SUNY Albany ROTC in 1997.  Joe's previous assignments include serving as the intelligence officer for 1-39 FA (MLRS), 3ID during Operation Iraqi Freedom I in central Baghdad in 2003, the Fire Support Officer for 6-8 CAV, 4/3 ID in southern Baghdad in 2004 and 2005, as a combat advisor for an Iraqi Army division in Diyala Province in 2009, and as the Brigade Public Affairs for the 172nd Infantry Brigade in Paktika, Afghanistan in 2011.  Joe holds a Master in Professional Studies from Georgetown University.  His military awards include three bronze star medals, three meritorious service medals, the Iraq campaign medal, the Afghanistan campaign medal, and the Combat Action Badge.