Commission Impossible

82 Airborne Division patch.

Lon,

Instead of the 82 Airborne patch, you could have chosen the patch for US Special Forces. Then you could have had an alternate ending where Cupcake parachutes into Bidwell Ranch under cover of darkness, hooks up with the indiginous Faerie shrimp clans, and trains them to be insurgents to fight the oppressive Friends who have subjigated them in their colonial quest to isolate the Ranch from the world community. The shrimp could have emerged victorious and expelled the Friends, thereby establishing their own autonomous nation for the first time in their history. In an ultimate irony, as a tribute to Cupcake, they could have declared Disc Golf as the National Ranch Sport and converted the entire Ranch into a world class course, thus boosting their GNP through Disc Golf tourism.

Just a thought . . .

Rainman,

That was a wonderful alternative alternative ending to the Cupcake saga. But I'm trying to maintain a sense of realism on the blog.

On the challenge you are correct, and have been displaying a strong skill in logo recognition lately. The 82nd is often referred to as the All American division which comes from the "AA" patch. The army also maintains the 101st Airborne Division, which is actually a helicopter assault infantry unit. I believe the 173rd Infantry Brigade has also been reactiviated and is airborne qualified for combat operations.

Beyond those units it's special forces units, including Army Rangers, that make use of airborne combat techniques. I trained with some Rangers during a leadership course when I was at Fort Lewis, and we became good friends. In addition to jumping out of airplanes Army Rangers are fun to party with.

A Little 82 Airborne History: D-Day - Operation Neptune
While the 504th was detached, the remainder of the 82nd was pulled out of Italy in December 1943 and moved to the United Kingdom to prepare for the liberation of Europe. With two combat jumps under its belt, the 82nd Airborne Division was now ready for the most ambitious airborne operation of the war, Operation Neptune -the airborne invasion of Normandy. The operation was part of Operation OVERLORD, the amphibious assault on the northern coast of Nazi-occupied France.

In preparation for the operation, the division was reorganized. Two new parachute infantry regiments, the 507th and the 508th, joined the division. However, due to its depleted state following the fighting in Italy, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment did not take part in the invasion.

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.

The division dropped behind Utah Beach, Normandy, France between Ste Mere-Eglise and Carentan on June 6th, 1944. They were reinforced by the 325th GIR the next day. The division remained under strong German pressure along the Merderit River. Eventually, the 325th GIR crossed the river to secure a bridgehead at La Fiere on June 9th. It was during this action that Pfc Charles N. DeGlopper single-handedly defended his platoon's position and subsequently was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.

The next day the 505th PIR captured Montebourg Station and on June 12th the 508th PIR crossed the Douve at Beuzeville-la-Bastille and reached Baupt. They established a bridgehead at Pont l'Abbe on June 19th. The division then attacked down the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula and captured Hill 131 on July 3rd. The following day the 82nd seized Hill 95 overlooking La Haye-du-Puits.

By the time the All-American Division was pulled back to England on July 13, 1944, it had seen 33 days of bloody combat and suffered 5,245 paratroopers killed, wounded or missing. The Division's post battle report read, "...33 days of action without relief, without replacements. Every mission accomplished. No ground gained was ever relinquished."

Out of curiosity I looked up pfc Charles N. DeGloppers medal of honor description. Brave man. Here's a link if you care to learn about him.
http://www.medalofhonor.com/CharlesDeglopper.htm

Lon, I'm glad I can quit my anxiety medication now that Cupcake is safe. I'm sorry, though, that you've terminated your campaign so early on. Your equivocating, pandering response to my question last week about spay/neuter demonstrated your unmatched qualifications for the position of City Manager. Oh well, Chico's loss.