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517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team Memorial

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Details:

The memorial is located in the center of the small garden that constitutes the Wanne site on the north side of the town's traffic circle.  Plaque The memorial consists of a black and gray granite plaque that is mounted on an upright concrete pillar. At the top of the plaque, there is an engraving of the Airborne Parachutist Badge as well as the dates of the Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945). The rest of the plaque contains a bilingual message which honors the courage of the Belgian citizens who joined the 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team in its fight for a liberated Europe. 


The 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team saw combat in Italy, Southern France, The Ardennes, and Germany. The unit began training on March 15, 1943, at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, and deployed in May of that same year. During its time in the Ardennes, the 517th was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. Overall, the unit recorded more than 150 combat days over the course of five different campaigns and won one Medal of Honor, 131 Silver Stars, 631 Bronze Stars, and 1,576 Purple Hearts.

Monument Text:

"The Men
of The 517th Parachute
Regimental Combat Team
United States of America

Lest We Forget... In Gratitude We
Honor Those Brave Belgians Who
Fought With Us In The Ardennes
During the Battle of the Bulge - And
Those Faithful Belgians Who Keep
The Memories of Our Joint Fight For
Freedom And Our Friendship Alive

Avec Gratitude Nous Rendons Ici
Hommage A La Bravoure De Ces Belges
Qui Combattirent Avec Nous Pendant
L'Offensive Allemande Des Ardennes
Et A La Fidelite De Tous Ces Belges 
Qui Nous Temoignent Leur Profonde
Amitie Et Perpetuent Le Souvenir De
Notre Lutte Commune Pour La Liberte

Erected 1988"

Commemorates:

Units:

517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team

United States Army

Wars:

WWII

Battles:

Battle of the Bulge

Other images :