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

100m Actually Anzio Baggy Beek Cant Commemorates Devils Diary Entry Erected Everywhere Failed Fought Funk Less Nowhere Originates Outpost Paratrooper Paratroopers Seems

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