Brief history of 101st airborne 506th P.I.R
Colonel William C Lee was given command of all airborne units in March 1942. This new organization was designated the Airborne Command and established at Fort Benning GA. Rapidly moving world events accelerated the need for trained airborne units and two more parachute regiments were activated. On 20th July 1942 the 506h parachute Infantry Regiment was activated and Lt.Col Robert Sink was named regimental commander.
Lt.Col Sink who had been a member of the original 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion relinquished his command of the 503rd PIR to Lt Col Kenneth Kinsler and immediately began the task of thoroughly conditioning his new recruits. Like many of the Airborne regimental commanders of his day, Col “Bounding Bob” Sink instilled is own unique style of leadership on his troops who took there training camp reviews on the double. Besides setting a world record, this demanding style of training would serve the men well during the war when they were renowned for marching great distances in short periods of time.
This training took place in Camp Toccoa Georgia, which was adjacent to the Currahee Mountains. Ironically, “Currahee” meant, “stand alone” in the local Indian Language and the troopers immediately adopted it as their regimental motto since that was their objective behind enemy lines.
Toward the end of November 1942, the 506th PIR was ordered to Fort Benning for parachute training. Upon arrival the 506th immediately stated their training. They learned to pack their own chutes and to prepare their equipment to be dropped in an airborne operation. Once their advanced training at Fort Benning as completed the unit moved to Camp Mackall, NC. It was there that extensive training was conducted, including many night jumps.
The 506th PIR was attached to the 101st division on 1st June 1943. Later that month the regiment moved west to participate in the Tennessee maneuvers. After partici in the maneuvers the 506th moved to Fort Bragg NC until the end of August 1943 when the unit reported to Camp Shnks, NY to prepare to be transpoeted overseas. The 506th crossed the Atlntic on the S.S Samanta during September, arriving at Lverpool, England, on the 15th September 1943.
In England , the 506th was stationed in Wiltshire County, with units in such villages as Aldbourn, Ramsbury, Foxfield, and Chillton-Foliat. Here the unit took part in such exercises as “Operations Wadham and Rankn” in preparation for the coming invasionof occupied Europe. June 5th, 1944, found the men of the 506th parked by the aircraft that were to carry them into their first combant mission.