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508th PIR, Devils in Baggy Pants, Memorial, Beek
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508th PIR, Devils in Baggy Pants, Memorial, Beek
The Memorial was designed by H. J. Guse and was erected on 17 September 1981. It commemorates the liberation of Beek on 17 September 1944 by the 508th who were known as the Red Devils. It was the first day of Operation Market Garden. In C Company of the Regiment was First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk who would return to Pennsylvania as the most decorated American paratrooper of the war. The bas relief of a baggy-panted devil originates from an entry in the diary of a German officer who fought against American paratroopers (actually it was the 504th, not the 508th) at Anzio. It read, American paratroopers - devils in baggy pants - are less than 100m from my outpost line. I can t sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere. Date: 2001
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Media ID 23271310
© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans
1944 1981 2001 Baggy Commemorates Devils Erected Liberation Pants Beek Designed
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This poignant print depicts the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), also known as the "Red Devils," at the Beek Memorial in the Netherlands. The memorial, designed by H.J. Guse and erected on September 17, 1981, commemorates the regiment's liberation of Beek on the same date in 1944 during Operation Market Garden. The first day of this historic mission saw the 508th making their way into enemy territory, with First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk of C Company leading the charge. Funk would go on to become the most decorated American paratrooper of the war. The bas-relief of a baggy-panted devil at the memorial originates from an entry in the diary of a German officer who fought against American paratroopers, specifically the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, at Anzio. The officer wrote, "American paratroopers - devils in baggy pants - are less than 100m from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere." This image serves as a powerful reminder of the bravery and tenacity of the 508th PIR during World War II. This photo print, taken in 2001, captures the essence of the memorial and the legacy of the Red Devils. It is a testament to the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers and the impact they had on the course of history.
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