Photo By Staff Sgt. Thomas Calvert | Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Chisolm and Cpl. (Ret.) Hector M. Morales, veterans of WWII, the...... read more read more
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"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world."
-Gen. Dwight D. Eishenhower
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bob Chisolm of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was just 19 when he prepared to take part in the largest airborne assault in history. The invasion of Nazi-occupied Normandy, France was arguably the most famous military action of World War II.
But before he and his brothers-in-arms would become heroes, they were just 82nd Airborne paratroopers waiting for their jump orders in Nottingham, England. The 508th PIR was one of the first Army units to train as a regiment, Chisolm said.
“They were together 24 hours a day,” Chisolm said. “They ate together, they billeted together, they went on pass together, they got into trouble together, they got outta trouble together, so this was a rather unique situation. Those people were your family.”
The 82nd Airborne’s priority during D-Day was the destruction of German supply bridges and capture of routes behind the Normandy beaches. Over 10,000 paratroopers and gliders landed in support of the operation.
“I wouldn’t use the word ‘terrifying’ to describe it,” Chisolm said. “We were trained. We were highly trained.”
Despite their training and preparation, Allied forces still suffered heavy casualties. According to the White House website, Allied casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 10,000 killed, wounded, and missing in action. Americans made up nearly 7,000 of those casualties.
“We were with each other all the time,” Chisolm said. “If something happened to somebody, you felt it very deeply. When I lost a comrade in combat, I felt it very deeply.”
Remembrance and reverence for the heroes of World War II echoed through the halls of The Roy Benavidez-Robert Patterson “All-Airborne” Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association as they held a public D-Day commemoration June 6 in El Paso, Texas.
“As each one of these veterans pass away, we lose another piece of history and it’s something that were never going to be able to get back,” said John Ceballos, the organization’s public information officer. “I think it’s important that we try to continue to get the word out while we have these veterans still living and they’re able to tell their stories. I’m afraid that once they’re gone, that part of history is literally going to die away.”
The El Paso chapter, the largest in the state of Texas with over 300 members, holds the commemoration every year to mark one of the most significant events in our nation’s history.
The event included recognition of World War II and D-Day veterans, a presentation on major events of World War II and public remembrance, a reading of names of the chapter members who have passed away, and presentation of the POW/MIA table.
“It’s important to recognize our veterans and teach the kids what their sacrifices have been so they understand why they have the freedoms they have,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Phillip Saloniger, the keynote speaker at the event. “I think that’s part of the education process that’s missing today that deprives people of understanding what those sacrifices were of the ones who came before us. “
Among those present were veterans of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and the Global War on Terror, including D-Day veterans Chisolm and Cpl. (Ret.) Hector M. Morales of the 13th Armored Division.
Stories like Chisolm’s desperately need to be preserved and passed down for the education of future generations, Ceballos said.
“You hear some of these stories and you try to imagine what it must have been like for these, at that time they were kids, you know?” Ceballos said. “They could’ve been in school, they could’ve been out partying with their friends, and yet they chose to go into a foreign country and fight a war for international freedom and world peace. I think our country owes them an awful lot.”
The El Paso chapter was officially chartered in 1985 as a way for veterans to come together after their service. The El Paso chapter was given the “All Airborne” distinction as one of the few 82nd Airborne Division Association’s chapters that allows all paratroopers member status regardless of their unit affiliation.
“[The Army] created this program that’s called Soldier For Life, which is great, but organizations like the 82nd ‘All Airborne’ allow us to share our own experiences with other people,” Saloniger said. “Any Soldier knows that when you’re in conflict, you don’t really have the full picture yourself. The more you talk to other people that were involved in similar incidents, the more you learn about yourself and the more you learn about what really happened.”
The brotherhood throughout the organization is apparent the moment after walking through the door. Photos of past events and comrades adorn every inch of the walls, and it doesn’t take long to find a veteran willing to share their experience.
“Once you leave the military, there’s a little bit of shock involved,” Ceballos said. “The transition from military to civilian life is a pretty drastic change. If you get involved with one of these veterans organizations, you’re with people who served with you and know what you went through and all of a sudden there’s that attachment.”
For the members of the El Paso chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, their lifelong connection to their fellow paratroopers runs deep.
“There’s no relationship like the relationship that the Airborne has,” Chisolm said. “Had I not been assigned to the 508, none of this would’ve ever happened, career or otherwise.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2018 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 280162 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | DALLAS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Honoring Their Service: D-Day, WWII Veterans recognized at El Paso 82nd ABN DIV Association event, by SSG Thomas Calvert, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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