We were confident and proud men on February 3, 1943, as we boarded the trains that would take us to Fort Benning and Jump School.  We were the most physically and mentally fit soldiers in the Army.

We maintained that confident attitude throughout the demanding three weeks of parachute school training, which included more running, landing apparatus and tower training, parachute packing and finally the five qualification jumps.

On March 12, 1943, we proudly pinned on our silver parachute wings, sewed a parachute patch on our caps, bloused our boots, and went on furlough. My first days off  since October 1942.  

When everyone returned from furloughs, the 508^th PIR moved to Camp Mackall.  A new camp built in the swamps of North Carolina.

The next weeks were used to police the area before starting advanced infantry and airborne operations training. We practiced crew-served weapons drills for hours, improved our marksmanship skills, conducted field exercises, and made parachute jumps. 

In May, we went to South Carolina and maneuvered against the 101^st Airborne Division, and in September, we participated in the Second Army maneuvers in Tennessee.

In Tennessee, we had an opportunity to demonstrate our airborne skills with a night jump. After the jump, we participated in a few small field exercises, and then returned to Camp Mackall, tired but proud. We were rewarded with three-day passes.   

We complacently resumed training, and got ready to enjoy the Christmas season. That was not to be. On December 19, 1943, we started a long trip that included an 11-day sea voyage to Ireland, then to Scotland, and a train ride to Nottingham, England.

In Nottingham, we lived in tents about a ten-minute walk from the city. A city of friendly people, numerous pubs and lively dance halls.

We trained for long hours, made two practice night jumps and spent countless nights on field exercises. We were honed to a war fighting cap-able force and were ready to go! 

The 508^th PIR was attached to the 82^nd Airborne Division and on May 28, 1944 moved to airfields to await a mission.

After days of sand table briefings and rolling equipment bundles, we blackened our faces, bid farewell to our buddies, and boarded our C-47s, and we were told our objective was in Normandy.