Army·Mission eliminated·In Memoriam
Glider Infantryman
Glider Riders
Served: 1942–1948
Rode unpowered CG-4A gliders into combat behind enemy lines — Sicily, Normandy, Market Garden, Varsity.
The Story
The Glider Badge wasn't authorized until 1944 because the Army initially considered "riding into combat in a plywood box" not worth a badge. Glider Riders had higher casualty rates than paratroopers in some operations — but no jump pay until the very end.
Epitaph
“Plywood box. No pay. No engine. No badge for two years.”
Sources
- Wikipedia — Glider Infantryen.wikipedia.org
- Army History Foundationarmyhistory.org