513th Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)
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| 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942-1945 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Parachute Infantry |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of the Bulge *Operation Varsity |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel James W. Coutts |
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. It was under the command of then Colonel James Winfield Coutts (1909-1991). He was from the class of 1932, of West Point. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Presidential Citation, French Fouraguerre, and the Korean Taeguk Medal. After the war, from 1946-47 he was chief of staff, of the 82nd Airborne Division. He later became Brig. General and was Chief of Staff of Carib. Command (now Southern Command) in 1959.
Contents |
[edit] History
The regiment was constituted on 26 December 1942 and assigned to the 13th Airborne Division. It moved from Fort Benning 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."[1] 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After the conclusion of the Ardennes campaign, the division was withdrawn in preparation for Operation Varsity.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.
The 513th servedto the United States on 14 September 1945.
[edit] Notable members of the 513th
- Staff Sergeant Isadore S. Jachman, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor[1] for actions during the battle for Flamierge, Belgium[2].
- Private First Class Stuart S. Stryker, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Wesel, Germany. Operation Varsity.
- Officer J. D. Tippit who was shot dead while trying to apprehend Lee Harvey Oswald
