Original U.S. WWII 82nd Airborne Division Ike Jacket Uniform with Photos of Soldier Wearing Jacket & 325th Glider Infantry DI - Unnamed

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a great 82nd Airborne ike jacket for a Private in the Airborne. The uniform is not named, but there were two photos in the pocket showing the soldier in this uniform, along with a great period 82nd Airborne decal!

The jacket has an 82nd Airborne patch and rocker on the left shoulder, two overseas stripes on the left cuff, US & Infantry collar discs, and two outstanding pin-back Distinctive Insignia pins on the collar for the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment. They are both maker-marked for N.S. Meyer Co., but they each have a different level of patina. There is a Presidential unit citation over the right breast pocket, and two ribbons over the right breast pocket including the Good conduct medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign medal with three campaign stars. Over this is a great period-stitched oval for the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment with a set of Sterling Glider wings over it. On the pocket is a Combat Infantryman Badge. There is a size tag under the collar, for 34S. 

The jacket has some minor moth nipping on the collar and across the exterior. The interior retains a tag in the pocket, with a contract date of June 1944. 

The included 82nd Airborne decal measures 2 ¾ x 3 ½” but has some heavy wear and a hole in one of the As. The two photos which were in the pocket are two copies of the same shot measuring 2 ½ x 3 ½”. The back of one is inscribed “Not too bad huh?”

An outstanding unnamed but certainly original 82nd Airborne uniform, ready for further research and display!

Called to active duty again during World War II on 25 March 1942, the regiment formed under the command of Colonel Claudius M. Easley at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. After initial training, the regiment was reorganized as a glider infantry unit when the 82nd Infantry Division was reorganized as the 82nd Airborne Division in August 1942, and the 325th was redesignated the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment.

After further training, the regiment deployed to North Africa under the command of Colonel Harry L. Lewis. The regiment was not committed to combat until they conducted a landing at Salerno, Italy, on 15 September 1943. It was not, however, by glider but by landing craft.

After service in the Italian campaign, the regiment deployed to England and conducted further training in preparation for Operation Overlord. Conducting a glider-borne assault on 7 June 1944, the day after the initial Normandy landings, the regiment fought in Normandy for over a month, sustaining heavy casualties before being withdrawn to England. On 9 June 1944 the 325th earned its first and only Medal of Honor of the war, belonging to Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper.

Committed to another glider-borne assault in September 1944, the regiment fought in Holland as part of Operation Market Garden and later saw service in the Battle of the Bulge under Colonel Charles Billingslea.