325th Airborne Infantry Regiment History, Timeline & Legacy
Let's Go!
UNIT HistorICAL OVERVIEW
The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (325th AIR) stands as one of the most storied and decorated units in the United States Army. Operating as a pivotal component of the 82nd Airborne Division, the regiment has a long-standing legacy of deploying rapidly to combat zones across the globe. Bound by their famous motto, "Let's Go!," the soldiers of the 325th have demonstrated unparalleled bravery, adaptability, and lethality from the trenches of World War I to the modern battlefields of the Middle East.The regiment’s origins trace back to World War I. The unit was first constituted on August 5, 1917, in the National Army as the 325th Infantry and assigned to the 82nd Division. Training initially at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the regiment deployed to France where it proved its mettle in some of the war's most brutal engagements. The 325th fought valiantly during the Lorraine, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne campaigns, securing key objectives and helping to break the back of the German defensive lines before being demobilized in 1919.Following the outbreak of World War II, the unit was reconstituted in 1942, but with a new and revolutionary mission. As the U.S. Army developed its airborne forces, the regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR). Unlike paratroopers who jumped from C-47s, glider infantrymen rode canvas-and-wood Waco and Horsa gliders directly into enemy territory, often landing in unprepared, heavily defended drop zones.The 325th GIR saw its first World War II overseas deployments in North Africa before thrusting into the Mediterranean theater. While elements of the 82nd Airborne jumped into Sicily and Italy, the 325th supported the division's heavy fighting in the Italian peninsula, particularly distinguishing itself during the amphibious landings and grueling battles around Naples-Foggia. Their combat effectiveness established the glider infantry as a vital asset for delivering heavy weapons and concentrated troop formations behind enemy lines.On June 7, 1944, one day after the initial D-Day parachute assaults, the 325th GIR landed in Normandy as part of Operation Neptune. Touching down in treacherous, flooded fields and heavily contested landing zones, the regiment quickly consolidated and entered the fierce hedgerow fighting. They played a critical role in securing the Merderet River crossings, linking up with isolated paratroopers, and driving the German forces back, earning a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions in France.The regiment's next major engagement came in September 1944 during Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. The 325th executed a massive glider assault, fighting to secure vital roads and bridges to allow Allied armored columns to advance into Germany. Just months later, during the bitter winter of 1944-1945, the regiment was rushed to the Ardennes to help halt the massive German counteroffensive known as the Battle of the Bulge, holding the line in freezing conditions before pushing into the heart of Germany.Following the Allied victory in WWII, the regiment underwent several reorganizations, eventually transitioning from a glider unit to a fully airborne parachute infantry regiment in 1948. Throughout the Cold War, the 325th AIR served as a cornerstone of America’s strategic quick-response force. In 1965, the regiment deployed to the Dominican Republic during Operation Power Pack to restore order, and later played a central role in Operation Urgent Fury in 1983, conducting airland operations in Grenada to rescue American medical students and defeat hostile forces.As the 20th century drew to a close, the White Falcons remained at the tip of the spear. In 1989, elements of the 325th deployed to Panama during Operation Just Cause to oust dictator Manuel Noriega. Shortly thereafter, the regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and subsequent combat in Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991). During the ground war, the 325th spearheaded deep advances into Iraq, securing critical supply routes and overwhelming Iraqi defensive positions.With the dawn of the Global War on Terrorism, the 325th AIR experienced its most sustained period of combat since World War II. The regiment executed multiple deployments to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Engaging in intensive counter-insurgency operations, securing urban centers, and advising local forces, the White Falcons consistently demonstrated their ability to adapt to complex, asymmetric warfare while taking heavy casualties and earning numerous valor awards.Today, the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment remains an essential pillar of the 82nd Airborne Division's Global Response Force. Whether deploying to the Middle East for Operation Inherent Resolve or standing ready to drop anywhere in the world within 18 hours, 325 Falcons maintain the aggressive, pioneering spirit of their World War I infantrymen and World War II glider pioneers. Their history is etched in the annals of American military greatness, forever advancing under the banner of "Let's Go!"
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