82nd Airborne Division Unit Rings
82nd Airborne Division All the way!
Based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was constituted on 5 August 1917 in the National Army at Camp Gordon, Georgia. The unit acquired the nickname “All American”, which is the basis for its famed “AA” shoulder patch from having its initial members coming from all 48 states.
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
“AA” refers to the nickname “All American” Division adopted by the organization in France during World War I.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
• A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of pair of blue stylized wings, tips down surmounted by a white fleur-de-lis supported by a blue scroll inscribed, “IN AIR, ON LAND” in silver color metal letter.
Symbolism
1. The fleur-de-lis is represents battle honors earned in France during World War I.
2. The wings are symbolic of the Division’s mission.
3. The motto is expressive of the personnel of the organization either on land or in the air.
Constituted on August 5, 1917 and formally activated on August 25, 1917 at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the mission of the 82nd Airborne Division is to strategically deploy, conduct forcible entry parachute assault and secure key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests, within 18 hours of notification. The reorganized modular 82nd Airborne Division mission remained the same. Their primary mission was airfield and seaport seizure—once on the ground, they provided the secured terrain and facilities to rapidly receive additional combat forces. The Division is the nation’s strategic offensive force, maintaining the highest state of combat readiness.
The division deployed to France in 1918 to fight in World War I. The 82nd fought in three major campaigns and helped to break the German Imperial Army in nearly five months of combat. The 82nd was demobilized and ceased to exist for more than 20 years after the Great War. The division was reactivated on March 25, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, after the outbreak of World War II. The Division’s first two combat operations were parachute and glider assaults into Italy in 1943. The 82nd Airborne Division participated in the most ambitious airborne operation of the war, Operation Neptune — the invasion of Normandy which is part of Operation Overlord, the amphibious assault on the northern coast of Nazi-occupied France followed by Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. Following the surrender of Germany, the 82nd was ordered to Berlin for occupation duty. General George Patton was so impressed with the 82nd’s honor guard in Berlin he said, “In all my years in the Army and all the honor guards I have ever seen, the 82nd’s honor guard is undoubtedly the best.” Therefore, the “All-Americans” became also known as “America’s Guard of Honor.” The All-Americans entered the civil war in Operation Power Pack in 1965. In 1968, they went into action during the Tet Offensive which swept across the Vietnam. Later the brigade moved south to Saigon, and fought in the Mekong Delta, the Iron Triangle and along the Cambodian border. Division units were deployed to the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Greece for exercises in potential future battlegrounds during the 1970s. The war in the Middle East in 1973 brought the division to full alert. In March 1988, the airborne joined Operation Golden Pheasant which caused the Sandinistas to withdraw to Nicaragua. As part of the US invasion of Panama Operation Just Cause, they conducted their first combat jump since WWII onto Torrijos International Airport on 20 December 1989. They were also called to war in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in 1990 and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. In August 1992, the division was deployed to provide assistance following Hurricane Andrew and then joined Operation Restore Democracy on 16 September 1994, Operations Safe Haven and Safe Passage in December 1994. In 1999, 82nd Airborne was deployed in support of Operation Joint Guardian.
After the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, the 82nd’s 49th Public Affairs Detachment and several individual 82nd soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and the Central Command Area of Responsibility to support combat operations. In June, 2002, elements of the Division Headquarters, and 3rd Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In January, 2003 1st Brigade relieved 3rd Brigade, and continued the Division’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Supporting units were deployed to support search-and-rescue and security operations in New Orleans, Louisiana after the city was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. The division supported the 2010 Haitian earthquake relief in the distribution of water and food.
82nd Airborne Division Unit Rings
Our unit rings are a great way to celebrate service with a particular Unit.
Each ring includes the particular unit insignia, they can also be inscribed
with the soldiers name, rank, even details of overseas deployments.
