European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Books a drawing of a. Con. William c. Tee. The airborne in Wii the inc Lett of William snuff s latest Book. F by Mike Cenal new York Bureau America s first paratroopers were cocky even .mog.vit. And they were Tough. During world War ii army maj. Gen. Lesley i. M Nair called the  our problem children adding they make a lot of Money anal they know they re Good. This makes them a Little temperamental but they re great  in his new Book Geron Owilliam b. Lieut a tells the Story of american paratroopers in world War ii. He follows the airborne units from their birth in i to through major Battles in the european and Pacific Heaters. They successfully undertook some of the War s most dangerous and difficult missions. The airborne concept had been derided by Many High ranking . Military men who Clung to the doctrine of frontal assaults. In january 1940, Mai. Gen. William c. Lee now regarded As the father of the american airborne forces was ordered to Experiment with the idea of transporting infantry soldiers by air. But it was the Success of German airborne units in Belgium and Holland that summer that led the War department to authorize the formation of the Parachute test platoon 39 volunteers from the 29th inf regt at fort Benning a. In August it William t. Ryder the platoon Leader look the first jump from a Douglas b-1u bomber becoming America s first paratrooper. Pvt. William red King was the first enlisted Man to jump. Breuer also tells the Story of the paratroopers Bailie cry. On the eve of the first mass jump four platoon members look in a wild West movie about the . Cavalry s Battles with the Apache chief inspiring pvt. Aubrey Eberhardt to leave the plane the next Day with an Indian War whoop and a shout of Geronimo others followed his example. The Marine corps launched its own paratroop program in october 1940. Marine paratroop units would fight with great espirit at Vella Levalle. Choiseul and Bougainville but would never make a combat  writes Breuer. By Early 1444, the Marine corps disbanded its Parachute  after the japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on dec. 7. I 141. He adds America s airborne units began to  i he army set up the airborne come at i Ort Bragg n.c., pulling Lee in charge. Five Parachute regiments were rapidly formed. In August l 42, the 82nd All american and 101st screaming eagles divisions were established. Using the recollections of 562 former paratroopers Breuer s Book follows the army airborne through its introduction in the North african Campaign the invasions of Sicily Salerno Anzio and Normandy and jumps into Southern France and Holland. There were scattered combat jumps after operation Market Garden the last major jump in Europe but from that Point on Breuer explains the paratroopers generally fought their Way into Germany As infantrymen. America s first combat airborne operation came on nov. Al 1942, when the 509th Parachute inf in took part in operation Torch during the invasion of North Africa. The 509th was to serve with distinction throughout the european Campaign culminating in a bitter and costly Battle in the ardennes where the three companies each authorized a strength of 148 officers and men were reduced to a total of 63 men. One of America s War heroes Gen. Lames m. Gavin received his baptism by fire with the 82nd airborne div in Sicily. It was not an auspicious Start Breuer recounts for 20 years he had prepared himself for the Challenge of leading a Large body of men into Battle. Now he did t know where the Battle was he was not certain what country he was in and his Force consisted of eight  Gavin and his men missed the drop zone and had to set off Cross country toward the target area. I tried to speak with the Assurance that i did t feel for i did not know where i was where the do was or even if i had landed in Sicily Gavin recalls in the Book. Gavin know As slim in was widely respected by his men Breuer writes. One trooper summed it up this Way i d follow slim Jim into hell and pay for the Coal to keep the fires  As dangerous and difficult As combat jumps were Breuer makes it Clear that the troops who came in on gliders were even More at risk. A mortar Man describes this glider Landing we pancakes in at about 80 Miles per hour and bumped along Over the rough terrain at High Speed for what seemed to be hours. All the while our Flimsy Craft was creaking and groaning and treating to rip apart. We 12 glider soldiers held on for dear life and prayed that a pole or a Slone Wall or a tree stump would not suddenly Loop up in our  rank offered no Protection from the irreverence most paratroopers fell toward legs As they called non jumpers. The Book tells of an incident during the Battle for Leyte in the Philippines when fighting erupted around a Headquarters area. The Headquarters staff complained repeatedly to the airborne unit about the firing in the area and finally reported by radio that shots were being fired through the commanding general s office window. As Breuer relates it deeply annoyed by now the airborne voice shouted Back then Tell the. General to get his. Down on the floor " Breuer also tells a Story about life photographer Robert Capa who accompanied an airborne unit on a drop in Germany. Capa a naturalized american of hungarian descent got tangled in his Chute on the ground and began cursing loudly in his native hungarian. Hey buddy a nearby prone paratrooper shouted them jewish prayers Ain t Gonna do you no Good Here in Germany the paratroopers were a dedicated committed group with Well earned Pride in their status. Membership could not be bestowed because of political or social connections or  Breuer writes. Rather entry could be earned Only by enduring the most arduous training that diabolical minds could conceive then by qualifying As a parachutist after five jumps and eventually by measuring up in the Crucible of Battle. American paratroopers were Tough resourceful and cocky. They were the army s elite and they knew  having served As the Anvil in Many a Hammer and Anvil attack dropping behind enemy lines the airborne played a key Lole in the Allied Victory. On Ian. 12, 1946, with Gavin at their head the survivors of the 82nd airborne div marched proudly Down fifth Avenue in new York City s Victory Parade. It was their last Hurrah Breuer writes left behind for future generations. Was a legacy of exceptional courage unswerving Devotion to duty and a fierce will to     to up Malmo of St Mir wet Prill. 175 finn a new Yore. . 10010. It won win a Avail it Start and Stulp Booc styx stripes Siguine january in 1990