11-334 Garand Picture of the Day - 509th PIR 1942

[Mark in Rochester]

Mrs. Fdr Sees Paratroops
Date taken: October 1942
Photographer: David E Scherman



Col. Edson Raff "Little Ceasar" Commander of the 509th PIR escorts First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Note he carries a standard M1 Carbine. M1A1 Paratrooper Carbines had not yet been issued when the 509th PIR was in England. Also note his home-made bayonet.

Edson Duncan Raff (November 15, 1907 in New York City – March 11, 2003 in Garnett, Kansas) was an officer in the US Army and author of a book on paratroopers. He served as commanding officer of the first American paratroop unit to jump into combat, the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, near Oran as part of Operation Torch.[2] His book, We Jumped to Fight, was based on his experience in that operation and was published in 1944.

Raff had served as First Captain of Cadets at a small prep school in Winchester, Virginia called the Shenandoah Valley Academy before serving in the Army. Due to the tough training course he gave the paratroopers in the 509th (and his stocky physique), Raff was nicknamed "Little Caesar" by them.[3][4] He first saw combat during Operation Torch as the commander of the 509th:[5]

...the main force with Lieutenant Colonel Raff also jumped early some 35 miles east of the objective airfields. Although he broke several ribs in a hard landing, Lieutenant Colonel Raff continued to lead his paratroopers toward their objectives. After a full day and a night forced march, a company of weary paratroopers reached the airfield at Tafaraoui on the morning of November 9. Both airfields had already been captured by Allied amphibious forces. Thus ended the first and rather disappointing American Airborne combat operation in history.
He spent time as an airborne planner on General Omar Bradley's staff and was assigned by General Matthew Ridgway to lead Task Force Raff, a composite unit of M-4 Sherman tanks and scout cars landed at Utah Beach on D-Day to support the 82nd.[6] When the commander of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was captured in Normandy, Raff was assigned on June 15, 1944, to command the regiment. Raff led that unit, nicknamed "Raff's Ruffians", through the rest of the war, including its participation in Operation Varsity.

As the plane neared the DZ, Raff recalls:[7]

I was alone standing in the door of the plane looking down at the river passing beneath the plane, smoke partially obscured my view. At that moment, I said a prayer to the infant Jesus, The Little Flower, 'Little Flower, in this hour show Thy power.' The prayer was given to me by my sister who was a nun. I said the prayer before every jump.
After the war in 1954, Raff would command the 77th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Bragg and is credited by Lieutenant General William Yarborough[8] as the "father" of the then-controversial green beret now routinely worn by US Army Special Forces.

Information

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[Bill Hollinger]

Note the experimental bayonet on the carbine. Eleanor Roosevelt was a huge woman!

[Sarge1998]

That's a lot of firepower on that '03 in picture #4.

[frankderrico]

Alot of .45's in those pics. It looks like the front sight on the carbine has been modified. I wonder how the bayonet is attached?
Those were the day's, 1st Lady see's the troops. I don't see any secret service and there are a lot of weapons around. JMT.....Frank

[browningautorifle]

Lots of gear in those shots. The carbine looks to have two little loopy things on the barrel and a barn spike installed for a bayonet. Looks like they recognised the need, even at the outset for a bayonet.

[mannparks]

hmmmmm ,i wonder which GI shot the weasel thats around her neck???----charles

[frankderrico]

Got to love the boots.
She's taller than any of those 'troopers.
That looks like a double fox stole scarf. I suppose that would be a no no for a fiest lady today....Frank

[browningautorifle]

Also the center pic, the T corporal seems to have an M1, pistol belt, the extra large ammo pouches and a 1905(?) scabbard for his 1905 blade. The distant T corporal in the further rear seems to have a 1905 scabbard too? It's clearer but I can't blow it up. Am I seeing it right or what??

[Bill Hollinger]

In the second photo it looks like the rank has been touched up on the sleeve of the soldier behind Ellie

[emmagee1917]

I would guess that the 03'er is using a rigger made set-up to haul his grenades in ? Have not seen that befire.
In picture #1 , 2nd man in , third row , you can see the funky square wire hook end of the ammo box sling just above the box . Very rare to see it in use . The others prob'ly have them but you can't tell.
Chris