Item Description
Original Item: Only one available. WWII 82nd Airborne Glider material are some of the hardest most collectible items on the market, due to the small number of Gilder troops that landed in combat in comparison to infantry soldiers. Lieutenant Keith N. Krier was an officer in the 326th Glider Infantry which was assigned to the 82nd Airborne then the 13th division. H was sent to Europe during the war and was part of the occupation force after the war.
Included in this uniform group are the following items:
-Excellent condition WW2 Class A four pocket uniform jacket named on inside pocket to Lt. Keith N. Krier with wonderful condition patches, ribbons and material, has a sterling silver GLIDER ASSAULT BADGE backed in blue felt with a white surround. 82nd Airborne patch on left shoulder and Lieutenant bars on both epaulets. The Patches, ribbons, awards are as follows: European, African, Middle East Campaign Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, German Occupation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation.
- Excellent Condition Ike Jacket 82nd Airborne patch on left shoulder, 13th Airborne patch on right shoulder and Lieutenant bars on both epaulets.
- Excellent Condition Officers overseas garrison cap with Lieutenant bar and Glider Infantry Patch.
- Original documents and original wartime photos (one dated 1944!)
- Pages of research on Krier and his WWII service and post war activities.
History of the 326th GIR in WW2:
After the war, the colors of the 326th Regiment were cased but were to be unveiled once again on March 25, 1942 under the command of Colonel Stuart Cutler. Located at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, the Regiment was again to be part of the 82nd Division.
On August 15, 1942 the 82nd Division became the first Airborne Division under the command of General Matthew Ridgeway. The 325th and the 326th were designated Glider Infantry Regiments. In October, 1942 the 82nd Airborne Division moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and continued their training in the fundamentals of airborne tactics and air transport.
During the early days of 1943 the 82nd Airborne Division's composition changed. Instead of two glider and one parachute regiments the Division would have one glider and two parachute regiments. Supposedly, the decision of which glider regiment would remain with the 82nd was decided by a flip of a coin. The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) won the toss. Consequently, the 326th GIR was transferred from the 82nd to Airborne Command on February 10, 1943. The next month the 326th left Fort Bragg for Alliance, Nebraska.
The 326th GIR arrived at Alliance Army Airbase on March, 4, 1943. In June Colonel William O. Poindexter (picture right) assumed command of the 326th and retained command until shortly after V-E Day. This was the getting tough phase for the regiment. Physical and mental conditioning was the goal of every exercise during this time. A German village was recreated on an abandoned ranch by the regiment and was dubbed"Fuehrerville," to assist in their mental conditioning. The fame of the 326th close combat course here was recorded in "Yank" as the "toughest in the country." Schools in demolition, camouflage, attack of fortified positions, and the detection of mines were held. In October, 1944 the regiment began preparing for deployment overseas.
After the German surrender on May 7, 1945 the 13th and 101st Airborne Divisions were notified of their reassignment to the Pacific. However, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan in August, 1945 again dashed the 326th's chance to prove themselves. That same month the regiment was shipped home aboard two overcrowded Victory ships, the Cranston Victory and the Georgetown Victory. The 326th GIR arrived in New York Harbor on August 27th. After a short furlough the regiment reported to Fort Bragg, where they were incorporated into the 82nd Airborne Division. The 326th GIR remained in Fort Bragg until about January 1946.
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