Photo By Matthew Ryan | Maj. William S. Whitman stands in front of a portrait of his grandfather, Col. Walter...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, has a long and proud history dating back to World War I, when it was activated Aug. 25, 1917, as the 325th Regiment.
The first to lead the mighty 325th was Col. Walter M. Whitman. He received his command shortly before the Regiment was activated and began training soldiers for World War I. Col. Whitman commanded the unit for almost two years, until it was demobilized May 18, 1919.
During WWI, the 325th was known for always completing the mission assigned, but famous for the 10-day battle crossing the Aire River that punched a hole in one of the last German defenses allowing allied troops a clear shot at continuing the advance into Germany.
Col. Whitman was known for his leadership, drive and ability to lead his men. He was known by his comrades and family for being tough, but also compassionate.
The 2BCT was honored by the presence of a distinguished visitor July 20. Maj. William S. Whitman, an Army Reserve officer for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, assigned to United States Army Forces Command, visited the 2 BCT Regimental Library that was dedicated to his grandfather, Col. Walter M. Whitman.
A native of Prattville, Ala., Maj. Whitman traveled to Fort Bragg for annual training required by the Army Reserve, and visited the 325th Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Museum. “I didn’t know that there was a library dedicated to my grandfather,” said Maj. Whitman.
“I can remember stories being told by family members, on how Patton was just a lieutenant under my grandfather when he was a Major,” said Maj. Whitman. He described stories that he heard as a boy about his grandfather that he now shares with his two sons, who are 9 and 12 years old.
Maj. Whitman spoke about his mother, daughter of Col. Whitman, and how she described Col. Whitman as formal and strict, being a product of the late 1800’s and a military officer. She would tell Maj. Whitman about how her father always demanded the best, and it carried with him. Maj. Whitman was a national level track cyclist and an Olympic weightlifter in the military master category.
“I can remember when I was a boy, playing “Army” with old war maps and an old metal helmet that was my grandfathers,” he said, adding that the strategy maps were real maps his grandfather used during WWI to track his unit’s maneuvers on during battles. “I still have the metal helmet that my grandfather wore,” he said. Even though Maj. Whitman never met his grandfather, he plays an important role in his life.
As Maj. Whitman looked at the portrait of Col. Whitman hanging in the library, he said the original is hanging in his home.
After visiting the museum, Maj. Whitman plans to come back to Fort Bragg and to donate some of his grandfather’s belongings. He hopes that they will make a great addition to the museum, and wants to share them with future generations.
“My youngest son is already planning on joining the military, and it would be great to visit (the museum) with him, to see our heritage in the 82nd Airborne Museum.”
Maj. Whitman’s time on Fort Bragg may be brief, but he said the memories of visiting the Col. Walter M. Whitman Regimental Library and learning more about his grandfather’s history through the museum’s archives will have a lasting effect on his life.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2012 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 92278 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 692 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Grandson of 325th Regiment’s first commander remembers grandfather at regimental library, by Matthew Ryan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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