Para : la Genèse
Posté : 01 juil., 14:08
Le 26 juin 1940; le 29ème régiment d'Infanterie fut réveillé par une drôle de demande de volontaires. 200 hommes répondirent à l'appel, et découvrir qu'il s'agissait pour l'Etat Major de l'Armée américaine de constituer le premier test platoon de parachutistes. 4 hommes furent sélectionnés par compagnie, ce qui faisait 48 hommes pour les 39 places d'un platoon normal. Des tests écrits furent exigés et c'est le 1st Lt Wiliam Ryder qui établit le plus gros score et fut nommé platoon leader. Après un dur entrainement à Lawson Field, le premier saut eut lieu le 16 aout 1940, et Ryder fut le premeir soldat américain a mené un saut expérimental à la tête d'un stick. Le 501 Parachute Infantry Battalion pouvait voir le jour début septembre 1940, bientôt suivi de trois autres PIB, le 502, 503 et 504. Ils allaient former les cadres des futurs régiments de parachutistes...
Ces 39 pionniers sont ;
First Lieutenant William T. Ryder
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class Tyerus F. Adams
Second Lieutenant James A. Bassett
Private John E. Brown
Private Leo C. Brown
Private First Class Willie F. Brown
Private First Class Floy Burkhalter
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Donald L. Coles*
Private Jules Corbin
Private First Class Louis D. Davis
Private Ernest L. Dilburn
Private First Class Edgar F. Dodd
Private Joseph E. Doucet
Private First Class Aubrey Eberhardt*
Private First Class Johnnie A. Ellis
Private First Class Mitchel Guibeau
Sergeant John M. Haley
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class George W. Ivy
Sergeant Benedicy F. Jacquay
Private Frank Kassell, Jr.*
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Richard J. Kelly*
Private Sydney C. Kerksis
Private William N. King*
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class John M. Kitchens
Private First Class Edward Martin
Sergeant Loyd McCullough*
Private First Class Lester C. McLaney
Private John O. Modisett
Private First Class Tullis Nolin
Private First Class Joseph L. Peters
Sergeant Lemuel Pitts*
Private Specialist 6th Class Robert H. Poudert
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class John F. Pursley, Jr.
Private First Class Benjamin Reese
Sergeant Grady A. Roberts*
Private Specialist 6th Class Albert P. Robinson
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Alsie L. Rutland
Private Thad P. Setman
Private Robert E. Sheperd
Private First Class Louie O. Skipper
Private First Class Raymond G. Smith
Private Arthur W. Swilley
Private Hugh A. Tracy
Private Specialist 6th Class Steve Voils, Jr.*
Sergeant Hobert B. Wade
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class John A. Ward
Private First Class Thurman L. Weeks
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Obie C. Wilson
Ces 39 pionniers sont ;
First Lieutenant William T. Ryder
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class Tyerus F. Adams
Second Lieutenant James A. Bassett
Private John E. Brown
Private Leo C. Brown
Private First Class Willie F. Brown
Private First Class Floy Burkhalter
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Donald L. Coles*
Private Jules Corbin
Private First Class Louis D. Davis
Private Ernest L. Dilburn
Private First Class Edgar F. Dodd
Private Joseph E. Doucet
Private First Class Aubrey Eberhardt*
Private First Class Johnnie A. Ellis
Private First Class Mitchel Guibeau
Sergeant John M. Haley
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class George W. Ivy
Sergeant Benedicy F. Jacquay
Private Frank Kassell, Jr.*
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Richard J. Kelly*
Private Sydney C. Kerksis
Private William N. King*
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class John M. Kitchens
Private First Class Edward Martin
Sergeant Loyd McCullough*
Private First Class Lester C. McLaney
Private John O. Modisett
Private First Class Tullis Nolin
Private First Class Joseph L. Peters
Sergeant Lemuel Pitts*
Private Specialist 6th Class Robert H. Poudert
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class John F. Pursley, Jr.
Private First Class Benjamin Reese
Sergeant Grady A. Roberts*
Private Specialist 6th Class Albert P. Robinson
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Alsie L. Rutland
Private Thad P. Setman
Private Robert E. Sheperd
Private First Class Louie O. Skipper
Private First Class Raymond G. Smith
Private Arthur W. Swilley
Private Hugh A. Tracy
Private Specialist 6th Class Steve Voils, Jr.*
Sergeant Hobert B. Wade
Private First Class Specialist 4th Class John A. Ward
Private First Class Thurman L. Weeks
Private First Class Specialist 6th Class Obie C. Wilson