My Dad was a two time veteran, first on a destroyer in World War Two and then later when he served in the 508th Airborne Infantry as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
On this Memorial Day weekend I find myself going through my Dad’s military photos and paperwork. Unfortunately his World War II records and 
However, I do have his records and articles from his second enlistment in the Army Airborne during the 1950’s including paratrooper training photos from the 1951 508th Airborne Infantry division.
I found the family photo albums when my Mom died in 2011, many I have never before, nor any of the articles. I’m in the process of scanning and restoring the photos I inherited.
I also found his original Airborne Creed, I should frame it like this one.
I hope with this post maybe someone will remember, have memorabilia, or even the WW II personal items of Leo Thomas Tyrrell. His nickname was “Tiny Terry the Terrible” during his time on a destroyer in the European and Pacific theatre.
According to his discharge papers, Leo T. Tyrrell attended training at TIC Fort Benning, GA and QM School Fort Lee, VA between May 1951-Jan 1952.
He completed the Basic Airborne and Parachute Packer and repairman courses as well as Basic Military Training.
Along with the photos were clippings of many training airborne maneuvers between 1951 and 1953 including the biggest maneuver in U.S. history Operation Longhorn.
This military exercise at Fort Hood Texas involved The 508th Regimental Combat Team. Over 3,089 troops dropped as part of an Army exercise also included the 82nd Airborne in a make-believe war involving over 100,000 military personnel over a 17 day period.
Over 20,000 civilians either participated as their towns were invaded or watched maneuvers, unfortunately just like in real war there were two fatalities and 221 were injured.
Below is a photo of my Dad, he’s inside the glider so it doesn’t do much good but I love the glider, someone told me they were left over from WWII
Dad was also stationed at Fort Bragg and Camp Drum NY, where he participated in Exercise Snowstorm at Snow Ridge ski resort near Turin New York.
He was honorably discharged as a Private First Class on August 17th, 1954. It appears he was attached to the 623rd Quartermaster Company as his most significant duty assignment.
Leo Thomas (Terry) Tyrrell born 1925, died 1995
Miss you Dad, wish you had been around to see my kids grow and your grandsons become U.S. Marines. You would have loved the US Army Airborne Christmas ornament I created below.
UPDATE: 4/14/2014
I was recently contacted by a fellow Blogger who is documenting her family history and genealogy. Her Dad John G Hopkins was in the 508th with my Dad and there is a photo of the plane with the all the men sitting in front of it. My Dad is in the photo!! I think I have it narrowed down, he is either 4th from right on top row, or 4th from right on the bottom row.
Related 82nd Airborne articles
- 82nd Airborne Association
- Home of the 508th Red Devils
- Dad’s Airborne Shadowbox (ndjmom.wordpress.com)
- My Dad in the 82nd Airborne
- The Young Brothers “The Paratrooper Song-Sleep with Your Boots On!” [VETUNES AIRBORNE ROCKATORIUM] (k2globalcommunicationsllc.wordpress.com)
Books About the 82nd and 508th Airborne
The Sword of St. Michael: The 82nd
82nd Airborne (Military Power)Boots on the Ground: A Month withJUMP: INTO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW:History of the 508th Parachute RegimentPut Us Down In Hell: The Combat
ALL THE WAY Paratrooper – AIRBORNE! Great story & photos, and with your permission, would like to add this story to the 82nd Airborne Division Museum’s Facebook page –
I would be honored to have it added to the page. I was thinking about looking up a few Airborne sites myself and posting it. I have several articles about Operation Longhorn and did I read right, the 82nd played the part of the invading (enemy) troops? Upon discharge my Dad then worked for a parachute company in Manchester CT, in a district called “Silk City”. Considering he was a packer and inspector that would have been the perfect job.
I’ll dig thru the Archives this week & see what I can find; many training exercises were conducted post WWII that would involve the 82nd having some of the units act as OPFOR (Opposing Forces) – thanks for the intel & keep in touch!
These photos are great, particularly the ones of the Paratrooper training. I hope you find the information you are looking for.
What a great legacy your Dad has left for you and your family. Those are amazing photos. I have also lost my dad and your closing made me teary, take care.
Are any of those grandson Marine here in San Diego?
My youngest son is at Pendleton as his permanent duty station.
What a great tribute to your Father, Dawn. I just love the second photo with all the planes and parachutes against the sky. Very cool!
I just created a very similar page about my Dad, same thing…. Longhorn. It’s here: http://nnjhopkinsfamilytree.com/2014/04/12/john-g-hopkins-operation-longhorn-april-8-1952/
MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE CAN HELP ME , MY DAD WAS IN THE ARMY PARATROOPERS, BUT I NEVER KNEW HIM BECAUSE MY MOM AND HIM WERE DIVORCED WHEN I WAS BORN, HE WAS STATIONED AT CAMP PENDLETON, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIND ANY INFO ABOUT HIM. I USED TO HAVE 2 PICTURES OF HIM IN HIS DRESS UNIFORM AND IN HIS FATIGUES, BUT WHEN MY MOTHER DIED SHE WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE THEM AT 89 YEARS OLD SHE WAS STILL BITTER, AT HIM, BECAUSE HE HAD ASKED HER FOR A DIVORCE WHILE HE WAS OVERSEA’S… SO SHE WAS A VERY BITTER WOMAN ALL THE YEARS I WAS GROWING UP…. I DO NOT KNOW HIS BIRTHDAY, OR SOCIAL SECURITY, MY MOTHER WOULD NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT HIM OR HIS FAMILY. MY DAUGHTER PULLED A PAPER UP ON THE INTERNET SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IT SHOWED HE SERVED IN NORMANDY, AND HE HAD SOME MEDALS, BUT NO PICTURES…..I AM JUST TRYING TO FIND SOME INFOMATION ON HIM, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT, MY MOTHER TOLD ME HE HAD PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS BACK, BUT I DO NOT KNOW THAT FOR SURE. IF ANYONE COULD HELP OR TELL ME HOW TO FIND INFO ON HIM , I WOULD APPRECIATE IT… THANK YOU SO MUCH…. GAIL CAMPBELL KOHR,
Sorry to hear that, wish I knew where to tell you to start. If you do have his name that should help some. I would start at the 82nd Airborne website. Do you have a link to the photo you found?
If you have his name and time he was in, you can go to your Congressman and ask for his/her assistance. Good luck!
Hi, my name is bob and I live where Operation Longhorn happened, in Lampasas Texas. Love you photos. I would like to add them to my collection of Longhorn history. Email me and I’ll tell you more about the exercise.
Thanks Bob, I sent you an email I would love to learn more!
Fantastic article and amazing photos! I’m working on a magazine cover for a veterans center and I’d like to ask your permission to use the 1st photo on the cover. Please let me know your thoughts on that. Thanks!
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. You can use the first photo, but I don’t know if anyone else holds the copyright to it, my Dad didn’t take that one. But I’m sure it would be fine. I would love to see the cover or project when you’re done and would appreciate a link back to the article.
Hey, my dad was a 3 war vet, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam….82nd Airborne I was born at Ft Bragg in 59, didn’t get to see my pops alot till 69, He was a Chief Warrant Officer, Jump master…I was named after his CO Dale Sanders, His name was Robert Edleston, he passed away in 88 fighting a second long battle with agent orange cancer.