14 Feb 2022 Garand Picture of the Day - Jumpin' Jim

[Mark in Rochester]

Gavin in an impromptu headquarters during the Bulge

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[22SqnRAE]

You have to respect a general who carries a battle rifle around rather than something to 'look the part.'

[Mark in Rochester]

You have to respect a general who carries a battle rifle around rather than something to 'look the part.'

During the war, he was often referred to as "The Jumping General" because of his practice of taking part in combat jumps with the paratroopers under his command; he was the only American general officer to make four combat jumps in the war.

Although experienced combat soldiers tended to be contemptuous and wary of their senior officers, most troopers of the 82nd Airborne openly idolized General Gavin. He was known for his hands-on leadership, seemingly always at the front, facing danger, brandishing his trusty M1 Garand rifle, fighting alongside his people, without ever losing sight of the bigger picture so necessary to senior command.

He was fond of welcoming new officers with an admonishment that, in the 82nd Airborne, they were expected to be ‘first out of the door of the airplane and last in the chow line

[Bob Womack]

He landed on pavement in the Market Garden jump and fractured two vertebrae. He was told his back was okay so he soldiered on for the rest of the war with a broken back and only found out five years later. One tough dude, if you ask me.

Bob