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551st Parachute Infantry Association

551st Parachute Infantry Association

The 551st Parachute Infantry Association, originally activated back in 1984, is now re-activated. To become a member email us at info@551pib.us. GOYA!

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551st Parachute Infantry Association

19 seconds ago

551st Parachute Infantry Association

We, the Association, have received photos of 551st Parachute Infantry Regimental Colors flying in Panama for the first time!

Although the 551st was stationed at Fort Kobbe, Panama from January to July 1943, the actual Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia for the 551st Infantry Regiment were first approved on 15 May 1992, thanks to the efforts of many heroes of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion themselves.

COL(R) Doug Dillard, WWII veteran of Company A, had two sets of regimental colors procured, with both sets used for 551st Reunions and other related ceremonies over the years.

During the 75th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon, Cheryl Dillard Staurulakis, 551st Association President, presented one set of colors to Frederic Sanchez during a ceremony at Valbourgès, France. He has been dutifully flying them and honoring our heroes of the 551st at different ceremonies throughout France and Belgium ever since. Further, we are excited to announce that both sets of colors are going to be utilized during the dual reactivation ceremonies for the 551st Infantry Regiment (one in Panama, the other at Fort Benning, GA.) on Friday, 14 August, 2026.

Cheryl has just returned from southern France where she met up with Frederic Sanchez to collect our overseas set of 551st Regimental Colors as a "loaner" for the Fort Benning ceremony, with the other set already in Panama.

GOYA!! ... See More from 551See Less from 551

We, the Association, have received photos of 551st Parachute Infantry Regimental Colors flying in Panama for the first time! Although the 551st was stationed at Fort Kobbe, Panama from January to July 1943, the actual Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia for the 551st Infantry Regiment were first approved on 15 May 1992, thanks to the efforts of many heroes of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion themselves. COL(R) Doug Dillard, WWII veteran of Company A, had two sets of regimental colors procured, with both sets used for 551st Reunions and other related ceremonies over the years. During the 75th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon, Cheryl Dillard Staurulakis, 551st Association President, presented one set of colors to Frederic Sanchez during a ceremony at Valbourgès, France. He has been dutifully flying them and honoring our heroes of the 551st at different ceremonies throughout France and Belgium ever since. Further, we are excited to announce that both sets of colors are going to be utilized during the dual reactivation ceremonies for the 551st Infantry Regiment (one in Panama, the other at Fort Benning, GA.) on Friday, 14 August, 2026. Cheryl has just returned from southern France where she met up with Frederic Sanchez to collect our overseas set of 551st Regimental Colors as a loaner for the Fort Benning ceremony, with the other set already in Panama. GOYA!!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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The “new” 551st will have very large boots to fill!

551st Parachute Infantry Association

5 days ago

551st Parachute Infantry Association

GREAT FIND, ORDERS REGARDING THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE 551ST PIB DURING WWII!

We knew this information had to be out there somewhere, the orders from the War Department to stand up the 551st, as well as the communications/orders to disband/inactivate them. They were located in the Adjutant General's Office rolls in the National Archives. Also included are some indexes regarding those changes. GOYA!

The photograph included was taken by PVT Les Meade (551st medic) arriving in Juslenville, Belgium, following a rough go of it in Rochelinval. It was taken on the same day the letter was drafted by the War Department to disband the 551st, 10 January 1945.

- eb ... See More from 551See Less from 551

GREAT FIND, ORDERS REGARDING THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE 551ST PIB DURING WWII! We knew this information had to be out there somewhere, the orders from the War Department to stand up the 551st, as well as the communications/orders to disband/inactivate them. They were located in the Adjutant Generals Office rolls in the National Archives. Also included are some indexes regarding those changes. GOYA! The photograph included was taken by PVT Les Meade (551st medic) arriving in Juslenville, Belgium, following a rough go of it in Rochelinval. It was taken on the same day the letter was drafted by the War Department to disband the 551st, 10 January 1945. - ebImage attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment
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Excellent

Good find that can be added to our timetable

OUTSTANDING SHARE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME "GOYA"

Wonderful. As an amateur historian, I appreciate this Verry much.

551st Parachute Infantry Association

1 week ago

551st Parachute Infantry Association

As we wait to stand the 551st up at Fort Benning once again...a look back to late 1942 when the 551st was about to be stood up in the beginning.

Some Morning Reports from Nov-Dec 1942 of some GOYAS who didn't know they were going to be GOYAS yet. Of all of the possibilities for them, the 551st would not have been on their list as they hung around Fort Benning in replacement pools, following jump school, awaiting their fate while many of their buddies, that were assigned to other units, were heading home on furlough. Of course once they get to Newport News in Virginia they do finally get furlough...a dachshund puppy they stole away from the harbormaster at Camp Patrick Henry. That Furlough would remain loyal to them All The Way to the Battle of the Bulge before going MIA.

- eb ... See More from 551See Less from 551

As we wait to stand the 551st up at Fort Benning once again...a look back to late 1942 when the 551st was about to be stood up in the beginning. Some Morning Reports from Nov-Dec 1942 of some GOYAS who didnt know they were going to be GOYAS yet. Of all of the possibilities for them, the 551st would not have been on their list as they hung around Fort Benning in replacement pools, following jump school, awaiting their fate while many of their buddies, that were assigned to other units, were heading home on furlough. Of course once they get to Newport News in Virginia they do finally get furlough...a dachshund puppy they stole away from the harbormaster at Camp Patrick Henry. That Furlough would remain loyal to them All The Way to the Battle of the Bulge before going MIA. - ebImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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My father should be on that list John Bellefontaine

551st Parachute Infantry Association

2 weeks ago

551st Parachute Infantry Association

It has been a rollercoaster of a ride over the past year for the 551st. We said goodby to our last surviving paratrooper of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, Ernest Scango of 'B' Company, in April, then we learned that we were going to stand up as an MFRC only to fall through at the last minute, to now preparing to be the newest infantry regiment of the United States Army on 14 August.

So here's to our comrades, buried far and near!
And here's to our Colonel, who loves us all so dear!
And here's to you, Buddy -- and you -- and you!
And here's to all of us, when it's over and it's through!
(from The Left Corner Of My Heart)

In the photo is Phil Hand, a former HQ officer of the 551st PIB appropriately raising his GOYA mug to members of the 551st at an early Association meeting, possibly the first. Hand began to run down members of the 551st from a 1945 roster that was released during the Battle of the Bulge. That first reunion was held in 1977 in Atlanta, GA.

From the minutes of that first Association meeting, a list of those inaugural members:

John Affleck
L.D. Aughtman
Cooper Blackney
Bee Brown
Robert C. Boruff
Joe Cicchinelli
Eugen Cooper
Douglas Dillard
Virgil Dorr
Ben Goodman
Phil Hand
Ed Hartman
Ray Herrmann
Bill Holm
Robert Joerg
Roy McCraw
Will Marks
Dick Mascuch
John Peltzer
Tims Quinn
Harry Renick
Carlo Ronilo
E.F. Schroeder
Andrew Titko

If you are planning to attend this monumental event for the 551st on 14 August and haven't contacted the Association as of yet, make sure to do so right away. We need to finalize the list by 31 July in order to get everyone access to Fort Benning. We will also get a tour of the base, that will be led by our own 551st historian/board member CSM (ret) Chris Lewis, as well as a tour of the National Infantry Museum, also by CSM. There is more, but you must first contact us at:

info@551pib.us

GOYA!! ... See More from 551See Less from 551

It has been a rollercoaster of a ride over the past year for the 551st. We said goodby to our last surviving paratrooper of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, Ernest Scango of B Company, in April, then we learned that we were going to stand up as an MFRC only to fall through at the last minute, to now preparing to be the newest infantry regiment of the United States Army on 14 August. So heres to our comrades, buried far and near! And heres to our Colonel, who loves us all so dear! And heres to you, Buddy -- and you -- and you! And heres to all of us, when its over and its through! (from The Left Corner Of My Heart) In the photo is Phil Hand, a former HQ officer of the 551st PIB appropriately raising his GOYA mug to members of the 551st at an early Association meeting, possibly the first. Hand began to run down members of the 551st from a 1945 roster that was released during the Battle of the Bulge. That first reunion was held in 1977 in Atlanta, GA. From the minutes of that first Association meeting, a list of those inaugural members: John Affleck L.D. Aughtman Cooper Blackney Bee Brown Robert C. Boruff Joe Cicchinelli Eugen Cooper Douglas Dillard Virgil Dorr Ben Goodman Phil Hand Ed Hartman Ray Herrmann Bill Holm Robert Joerg Roy McCraw Will Marks Dick Mascuch John Peltzer Tims Quinn Harry Renick Carlo Ronilo E.F. Schroeder Andrew Titko If you are planning to attend this monumental event for the 551st on 14 August and havent contacted the Association as of yet, make sure to do so right away. We need to finalize the list by 31 July in order to get everyone access to Fort Benning. We will also get a tour of the base, that will be led by our own 551st historian/board member CSM (ret) Chris Lewis, as well as a tour of the National Infantry Museum, also by CSM. There is more, but you must first contact us at: info@551pib.us GOYA!!
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