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Spc. John Banta, infantryman, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, poses security as a CH-47 Chinook descends in preparation of a sling load of two M1151 Humvees. The training helped to increase the unit’s interoperability between the ground and aviation units. (U.S. Army Photo by Capt. Adan Cazarez)
U.S. Army Soldiers from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment maneuver up a mountain while searching for Taliban weapon caches near Barla, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael L. Casteel) (Released)
New Jersey National Guard Soldiers, 508th Military Police Company, construct hospital beds at East Orange General Hospital, East Orange, N.J., April 29, 2020. The National Guard is assisting the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in reopening a wing of the East Orange General Hospital in response to the COVID-19 relief effort. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company and the Military Advisor Team III receive a heroes farewell at a Salute to Troops Ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Teaneck, July 15. The New Jersey National Guard Soldiers will be deploying for a year-long assignment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez)
131020_HD862_026 FAYETTEVILLE N.C. – Sgt. Erik Isenhour, a medic in the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, shoots targets with an M4 at a range as part of High Risk Personal training, Sun, Oct 20. The platoon was selected from the XVIII Airborne Corps to serve as a personal security detail for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S Army Photo by Spc. Dani Salvatore)
Sainte-Mère-Eglise, le jour le plus long du 505th.
Bien qu’une heure du matin soit passée en ce 6 juin 1944, les habitants du village de Sainte-Mère-Eglise se pressent sur la place de l’église. Malgré le couvre-feu et alertés par le tocsin, ils ont découvert la maison en feu de Julia Pommier et s’affairent le long d’une chaîne humaine afin de circonscrire l’incendie. Encadrés par les soldats allemands du Grenadier-Régiment 1058, 91. Infanterie-Division, les normands perçoivent un bruit au loin. Depuis 23h, ce vrombissement se fait entendre, mais là, le bruit s’amplifie.
Puis dans la nuit, les civils sont médusés : des avions passent en formation. Une première vague, puis une deuxième venant de l’Ouest survole la péninsule du Cotentin. Les habitants, comme l’occupant allemand, sentaient que quelque chose se préparait, que les alliés allaient bientôt tenter de percer ce Mur de l’Atlantique. Mais ils ignoraient où et quand ?
Il est 1h15 (heure française) et la troisième vague se présente au-dessus de Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Soudain, les C-47 crachent leurs volées de parachutistes, pris pour cibles par les rafales allemandes. Les hommes de la 82nd US Airborne Division s’élancent vers le sol de France, au Nord-Ouest du futur secteur Utah Beach. Le Jour J, les régiments de la division aéroportée ont 3 missions principales :
•Le 505th Parachute Infantry Régiment doit s’emparer de Sainte-Mère-Eglise, codé Brooklyn pour les alliés, et de son réseau de communications stratégiques sur la RN13. Le 505th doit également capturer et tenir deux ponts sur le Merderet, à La Fière et Chef-du-Pont. Puis les paras devront signaler et sécuriser la Landing Zone W pour les planeurs.
•Le 507th PIR doit cloisonner le secteur à l’Ouest du Merderet et soutenir le 505th pour la défense des ponts.
•Le 508th PIR doit détruire les ponts de Beuzeville et former la réserve de la division.
Cependant les tirs de la Flak ennemie et le stress des pilotes de C-47 rendent les largages des parachutistes difficiles. Devant être droppés plus au Sud, vers Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, des membres de la 101st US Airborne Division se retrouvent largués avec leurs camarades de la 82nd Airborne.
Il est 1h15, et ce sont d'abord les boys des 502nd et 506th PIR, 101st US Airborne, qui se balancent au-dessus du bourg de Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Le maire Alexandre Renaud enjoint ses administrés à se rendre aux abris. La F Compagny du 505th arrive ensuite sur le guêpier de la place du village. Les allemands ouvrent le feu sur les corolles flottant au vent. Alfred Van Holsbeck se dirige vers les flammes de la maison Pommier. Il hurle, puis péri dans le brasier. Destinée cruelle, des hommes meurent avant d'avoir touché le sol. Six parachutistes pendent aux arbres, tués dans leurs harnais.
L’institutrice va aux toilettes quand une ombre imposante apparait. Robert Murphy vient de toucher terre à vingt mètres d’elle. Les arbres de la place de l’église reçoivent la visite du para Blanchard, qui pour se dégager et échapper à la tuerie, sectionne ses sangles et un de ses deux pouces sans s’en apercevoir. Cliff Maughan atterrit dans le jardin de Mr Monnier, le vétérinaire, et est mis en joue par Werner, un officier allemand. Mais ce dernier, comprenant l’importance du largage américain, se rend à son tour au soldat Maughan.
Au coin Nord-Ouest de l’église, John M. Steele reste accroché par son parachute à l’édifice. Quant à Kenneth Russel, sa toile se prend au toit du transept Nord. En essayant de prendre son poignard, Steele le fait maladroitement tomber à proximité d’un allemand. Le feldgrau lève la tête et ouvre le feu sur le para, le blessant au pied. Steele se résout alors à faire le mort pendant deux à trois heures, malmené par le bruyant tumulte des cloches. Positionné dans le clocher, Rudolf May agrippe le parachute de Steele et hisse l’américain hors du vide (fait prisonnier, Steele parviendra à s’échapper deux ou trois jours plus tard. Il souffrira plusieurs semaines de surdité, mais réalisera son quatrième saut de combat lors de l’opération Market Garden en Hollande en septembre 1944).
Aux alentours, des éléments du 505th PIR ont atterri et se sont regroupés pour donner l’assaut. Dans le même temps les allemands sont perplexes face aux évènements. Ils quittent le bourg et partent en direction du Sud vers le château de Fauville.
Le 3/505th avance prudemment dans les rues de la commune, bientôt rejoint par le Lieutenant-Colonel Krause et 158 hommes. Vers 5h, Sainte-Mère-Eglise est aux mains des américains, et pour quelques minutes à 6h30, le drapeau étoilé flotte sur l’hôtel de ville. Vers 9h, 360 paras du 3/505th tiennent le village, retranchés derrière 7 barrages routiers.
Néanmoins, les paras du Général Ridgway doivent empêcher les contre-attaques dans le secteur. Le 2/505th se met en position défensive au Nord, à Neuville-au-Plain. Leur commandant, le Lieutenant-Colonel Vandervoort se déplace dans une remorque à munition, la cheville gauche brisée lors de son atterrissage. Son supérieur, le Colonel Ekman, n’arrivait pas à joindre le 3rd battalion. Inquiet, il a donc ordonné à Vandervoort de rejoindre le groupe de Krause.
Les américains doivent encaisser les nombreux assauts des allemands, déterminés à reprendre possession du village et de son nœud routier. Dès 9h30, les combats sont acharnés et les Sainte-Mère-Eglisais paient un lourd tribut pour leur libération. Blessé trois fois dans la journée, Le Lieutenant-Colonel Krause laisse la place à Vandervoort et au Major Hagan. Au crépuscule du D-Day, Sainte-Mère-Eglise est un bastion isolé. Les parachutistes accusent de lourdes pertes et le moral est bas. Le 7 juin, même sans nouvelles du VIIth US Corps débarqué la veille sur Utah Beach, ils doivent tenir leur avantage. Car à 9h, l’artillerie allemande fracasse l’entrée Nord du village. Des blindés s’approchent sur la RN13, mais les paras neutralisent la menace. Enfin, vers 15h, le contact est établi avec des GI’s du 8th Infantry Régiment, 4th US Infantry Division. Après l’emploi d’autres tirs d’artillerie, les allemands relâchent peu à peu leur pression dans la soirée. Après 40 heures de combats, les habitants peuvent souffler et savourer la fin de l’Occupation.
Pour les hommes de la 82nd US Airborne Division, la Bataille de Normandie commence, Sainte-Mère-Eglise n’étant que la première étape d’une campagne qui durera 35 jours.
L'ultime tir du Sergent Ray
Le Jour J, le Sergent John P. Ray (photo ci-contre) est membre de la Fox Compagny du 505th PIR. Il glisse avec son parachute le long du toit de l’église de Sainte-Mère-Eglise puis chute lourdement. Un autre para de sa compagnie, John Steele, voit sa toile s’accrocher au clocher. Il n'est pas seul, car Kenneth Russel est également en mauvaise posture, lui-aussi resté suspendu un peu plus bas contre le transept de l'église. Un allemand assiste à ces péripéties. Cependant ce dernier remarque aussi au sol le Sgt Ray et fait d’abord feu sur lui, le touchant mortellement à l'estomac. Puis l’allemand vise John Steele et Kenneth Russel. Soudain, le Sgt Ray se redresse et abat son agresseur dans un ultime effort. Il sauve ainsi la vie de ses camarades mais succombe ensuite. Sa tombe se trouve au cimetière militaire américain de Colleville-sur-mer, plot E, rangée 26, tombe 36.
Devant l’église est aujourd'hui placé un monument qui rappelle la libération de la commune par les paras américains. A l’intérieur du bâtiment religieux deux vitraux rendent hommage aux hommes de la 82nd US Airborne Division, et un mannequin placé sur le clocher envoi un clin d’oeil à l’odyssée de John Steele (décédé le 16 mai 1969). Des impacts sont encore visibles sur la façade, car les troupes aéroportées ont dû tirer sur le clocher pour déloger des vigies allemandes.
Rendez-vous à l'Airborne Muséum, à droite de la place de l’église. Trois bâtiments, dont la première pierre fut posée par le Général Gavin en 1962, vous propose de revivre et comprendre les préparatifs et l’action des 82nd et 101st US Airborne Divisions. L’un abrite un planeur Waco, le seul d’Europe. On y voit notamment une réplique d’un rupert, ces mannequins largués lors de l'opération Titanic pour leurrer l’ennemi allemand. L’autre abrite un C-47, et des bornes présentent une riche documentation sur la libération du village. Deux films racontent les évènements de l’opération Overlord.
Une extension a été inaugurée en mai 2014 et permet aux visiteurs de s'immerger dans l'épopée des paras américains aux premières heures de la Libération de la France. Devant l’accueil (ou se trouvait la fameuse maison en flammes), un Char américain Sherman et un canon sont exposés.
A l’intérieur du village une dizaine de panneaux jalonnent les rues et racontent les évènements passés. La commune regroupe également plusieurs magasins de militaria, qui font le bonheur des amateurs de tous horizons.
Sainte-Mère-Eglise abrita le premier cimetière américain de la Libération et regroupait 13 000 dépouilles (photos ci-dessous). En 1948, les corps furent rapatriés soit aux Etats-Unis, ou déposés aux cimetières de Saint-James et Colleville-sur-mer. Une stèle commémorative près du complexe sportif marque depuis l’emplacement ou il se trouvait auparavant (voir l'article Les cimetières provisoires américains de Sainte-Mère-Eglise).
New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 508th Military Police Company, 108th Wing, and 177th Fighter Wing arrive near the Capitol to set up security positions in Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2021. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from several states have traveled to Washington to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company and the Military Advisor Team III receive a heroes farewell at a Salute to Troops Ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Teaneck, July 15. The New Jersey National Guard Soldiers will be deploying for a year-long assignment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez)
"The three squad leaders of "H" Company 508th Airborne Regiment divided this dollar bill in Nottingham, England on June 5th, 1944. They repieced it at their P.I.R. Reunion in Portland, Oregon on September 1st, 1983." As you can see one piece didn't make it back. "Bill Farmer was killed in Invasion of Normandy." One of the 3 returned the pieces and the story to Normandy. This is in the Musee Airborne in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France.
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company and the Military Advisor Team III receive a heroes farewell at a Salute to Troops Ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Teaneck, July 15. The New Jersey National Guard Soldiers will be deploying for a year-long assignment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Battalion held a casing ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan after serving in Afghanistan on a 12 month deployment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, USFOR-A Public Affairs)
2013 Operation Toy Drop jump day German Army Maj. Pascal Hark, left, "pins" a German Armed Forces Parachutist Badge (Fallschirmspringerabzeichen) on the chest of Sgt. 1st Class Donny Hagan with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, during the 16th Annual Randy Oler Memorial Operation Toy Drop, at Sicily Drop Zone, Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 7, 2013. Hagan, a Muskogee, Okla. native, previously earned Australian airborne wings on another multinational airborne operation. (U.S. Army photo by Timothy L. Hale/Released) Visit: www.AiirSource.com for military and aviation photos/videos www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=478419538944584&set=a...
Weather conditions made it difficult for some villagers to travel to a medical clinic in Nawa District, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, so coalition medics traveled to some of the more distant villages in the area, Jan. 14.
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Battalion held a casing ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan after serving in Afghanistan on a 12 month deployment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, USFOR-A Public Affairs)
Paratroopers with 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team prepares a M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV for sling load by a CH-47 Chinook assigned to 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Pike Field on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 1.
U.S. Army Spc. Thomas Brennan, 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard, constructs a hospital bed at East Orange General Hospital, East Orange, N.J., April 29, 2020. The National Guard is assisting the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management in reopening a wing of the East Orange General Hospital in response to the COVID-19 relief effort. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Michael Schwenk)
Staff Sgt. Christopher Wrenn, a Paratrooper assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, gives one last hug to his son Weston as he prepares to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Dec 6. Paratroopers from 2-508 PIR will primarily train Afghan security forces as part of the NATO training mission. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Armas, 4th BCT, 82nd Airborne Div. Public Affairs)
New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 508th Military Police Company, 108th Wing, and 177th Fighter Wing arrive near the Capitol to set up security positions in Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2021. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from several states have traveled to Washington to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht)
U.S. Army Soldiers with the 508th Military Police Company, 117th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 42nd Regional Support Group, New Jersey Army National Guard, listen to Col. Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, in the passenger terminal at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Nov.15, 2024. The more 60 Soldiers returned from a nearly year-long deployment to the southwest border where they supported U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen)
Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Kenneth “Rock” Merritt’s living room walls are covered with relics, awards and mementos of his
Army service. Merritt served in the Army with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II.
Families and friends welcome home Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard, at the Lawrenceville Armory June 6, 2013. The 508th returned from a nearly year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez/Released)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company and the Military Advisor Team III receive a heroes farewell at a Salute to Troops Ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Teaneck, July 15. The New Jersey National Guard Soldiers will be deploying for a year-long assignment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez)
Families and friends welcome home Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard, at the Lawrenceville Armory June 6, 2013. The 508th returned from a nearly year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez/Released)
U.S. Army Soldiers from Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment provide security during a meeting with the district subgovernor at the district center in Sabari, Afghanistan, March 6, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Holley) (Released)
A Paratrooper assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division moves to assault a simulated enemy during a situational training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 1, 2016. Paratroopers are preparing for live fire exercises and other training events scheduled for later this week.
Photo by Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez/4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO
Paratroopers assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, navigate through a simulated village as they conduct close quarters combat training during an air assault mission, Sept. 26.
Alicia Roubicek, the spouse of Capt. Nathan Roubicek, commander of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infnatry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and her daughter, watch as paratroopers exit from a CH-47 Chinook during April's Saturday Proficiency Jump Program, Fort Bragg, N.C. April 16. (Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman)
Spc. Ying Kit Tsui, 3rd plt., Co.A, 1/508th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division speaks to a local Afghan with the help of a translator in the Sagin Valley near Gereshk, Afghanistan May 7.
Neal Beaver knew my dad in the war and told me of some of his experiences. I enjoyed talking to him and his daughter and son-in-law. He is an avid flyfisherman and I hope one day to go fishing with him in the U-P of Michigan.
Republic F-105B-20-RE Thunderchief, 57-5803, "HI" 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 508th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Air Force Reserve Command,
March Field Air Museum - 20180215
One of the Century series of USAF Interceptor Fighters and Fighter/Bombers of the 1950-1960 Era
Service History
1959 Edwards AFB California,
1960 Eglin AFB (Test Aircraft)
1960 Wright Patterson AFB Ohio (Test Aircraft for in-flight refuelling probe)
1962 4th Tactical Fighter Wing Seymour Johnson AFB
1965 4537th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB Nevada
1968 23rd Tactical fighter Wing McConnell AFB Kansas
1970 Transferred to Air National Guard
1972 Transferred to AF Reserve Hill AFB
1980 To March Field Air Museum
Families and friends welcome home Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard, at the Lawrenceville Armory June 6, 2013. The 508th returned from a nearly year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez/Released)
WWII veteran, George Shankle (center), a radio operator with Co. E., 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, places his hand over his heart as wreaths are laid at the base of a monument during the 74th D-Day commemoration ceremony June 6, 2018 at Utah Beach along the coast of France. Seventyfour years ago to the day, paratroopers, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the United States military conducted the largest assault and changed the tide of WWII.
photo by Spc. Stephen Decatur/4th BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO
Sgt. 1st Class James Brasher, right, is awarded a Silver Star by Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, 82nd Airborne Division commanding general, Oct. 9 at the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum on Fort Bragg. Brasher was given the award for his courageous leadership in battle as the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Dec. 8, 2007, during Operation Mar Karardad at Musa Qal’eh in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Pfc. Paul Gentry, of 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, competes to earn the Expert Field Medical Badge, at Fort Bragg, Oct. 28. The badge recognizes the proficiency of field medics.
Sgt. Rob Braholli, left, of the 508th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, and his son Noah, middle, hand out candy to trick-or-treater Bristol Loyd, 9, during Halloween festivities in the Olympic Grove housing area on McChord Field Tuesday.
Soldiers of the 595th Military Police Company, 508th Military Police Battalion, participated in Riot Control Training during their Certification Training Exercise held on January 12-15, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Afghan soldiers, assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps, stand alongside a U.S. Soldier, from 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, at a small outpost in the Zabul Province. The ANA and coalition forces worked together to thwart an attack by Taliban militants Nov. 7. photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright/82nd CAB TF Pegasus PAO
A Soldier with the 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard stands at attention after arriving near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2021. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from several states have traveled to Washington to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Battalion held a casing ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan after serving in Afghanistan on a 12 month deployment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, USFOR-A Public Affairs)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Battalion held a casing ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan after serving in Afghanistan on a 12 month deployment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, USFOR-A Public Affairs)
Capt. VanGemert, Cornelius; Cpl Boswell, Earl; Straubing Polizei Chief; Pfc Stephens, James; & Cpl Still, Luther T. Company C, 508th MP Bn, Munich.
U.S. Army Sgt. Roberto Carrero, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, provides instructions to a U.S. Army UH-47 Chinook at Combat Outpost Sarkari Bagh, Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones/Released)
Sgt. Matthew Christian, a medic with the 1-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division, checks equipment prior to a static line jump from a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130 Hercules at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. on May 14, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
Spc. Troy MacDermott, with the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, N.C., takes a close look at this older version of the M14 making sure it is in good shape. The newer M14 is made of all synthetic material in stead of wood to enhance its durability. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Lalita Guenther)
Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Battalion held a casing ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan after serving in Afghanistan on a 12 month deployment. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler, USFOR-A Public Affairs)
Families and friends welcome home Soldiers from the 508th Military Police Company, New Jersey National Guard, at the Lawrenceville Armory June 6, 2013. The 508th returned from a nearly year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Armando Vasquez/Released)