Gavin, James Maurice “Slim Jim”.

Gavin, James “Slim Jim”, born 22-03-1907 in New York.  also referred to as Jumpin Jim, because of his practice of taking part in combat drops with the paratroopers whom he commanded. His precies anchester is unclear. His mother may have been an Irish immigrant. Katherinne Ryan and his father James Nally ( also an Irish heritage) although official documentation lists Thomas Ryan as his father. possibly in order to make the birth legitimate. The birth certificate lists his name as James Nally Ryan, although Nally was crossed out. When he was about two years old, he was placed in the Convent of Mercy orphanage in Brooklyn, where he remained until he was adopted in 1909 by Martin and Mary Gavin from Mount Carmel, Pensylvannia, and given the name James Maurice Gavin…,   James took his first job as a newspaper delivery boy at the age of 10. By the age of 11, he had two routes and was an agent for three out-of-town papers. During this time, he enjoyed following articles about World War I. In the eighth grade, he moved on from the paper job and started working at a barbershop. There he listened to the stories of the old miners. This led him to realize he did not want to be a miner. In school, he learned about the Civil War. From that point on, he decided to study everything he could about the subject. He was amazed at what he discovered and decided if he wanted to learn this “magic” of controlling thousands of troops, from miles away, he would have to continue his education at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York. His adoptive father was a hard-working coal miner, but the family still had trouble making ends meet. Gavin quit school after eighth grade and became a full-time clerk at a shoe store for $12.50 a week. His next stint was as a manager for Jewel Oil Company. A combination of restlessness and limited future opportunities in his hometown caused Gavin to run away from home. In March 1924, on his 17th birthday, he took the night train to New York. The first thing he did upon arriving was to send a telegram to his parents saying everything was all right to prevent them from reporting him missing to the police. After that, he started looking for a job. At the end of March 1924, aged just 17, Gavin spoke to a sergeant in the United States Army. Since he was under 18, he needed parental consent to enlist. Knowing that his adoptive parents would not consent, Gavin told the recruiter he was an orphan. The recruiter took him and a few other underage boys, who were orphans, to a lawyer who declared himself their guardian and signed the parental consent paperwork. On 01-04-1924, Gavin was sworn into the U.S. Army. Gavin was the youngest U.S. Major General commanding a division during World War II. During combat, he was known for his habit of carrying an M1 Garand rifle,   as opposed to the pistols traditionally carried by officers. His men respected him a great deal, affectionately referring to him as “Slim Jim” due to his athletic figure. Gavin fought against segregation in the U.S. Army, which gained him some notoriety. Gavin spoke with a US Army recruiting officer. Since he was under 18, he needed parental consent to enlist in the Army. On 01-04-1924, Gavin was sworn in to the US Army, and was stationed in Panama. Gavin began training at the Airborne School in Fort Benning in July 1941 and graduated in August 1941.

  

Gavin became the commanding officer of the 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment in August 1942. In February 1943, the US 82^nd All Americans Airborne Division , consisting of the 325^th  and 326^th  Glider Infantry Regiments  and the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was selected for the Allied invasion of Sicily. Gavin was part of Mission Boston on D-Day. This was a parachute combat assault conducted at night by the U.S. 82^nd Airborne Division on 06-06-1944 and part of the American Airborne landings in Normandy. Lieutenant. General Omar N. Bradley decorates Brigadier. General James Maurice Gavin (Asst Cdr 82d Abn Div), Lieutenant Colonel Edward C. Krause 

(CO 3d Bn, 505th PIR) and Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin H. Vandervoort (CO 2d Bn, 505th PIR).  The command of the gliders had Major General, Chief of Staff, 82^nd Airborne, Matthew Bunker Ridgway.

    They were to capture the town of Sainte Mère Église, a crucial communications crossroad behind Utah Beach.

 John Marvine Steele  hanging on the churchtower  For the first time General Gavin would lead the 82^nd Airborne into combat. On Sunday, 17-09-1944, Operation Market Garden took off. Market Garden, devised by the British General, Bernard “Monty” Montgomery. On 20-09-1944 James Gavin was the commander during the famous Waalcrossing, an action to capture the bridge from behind. Third Battalion of the 504^th Third Battalion , H & I Company of the Third Battalion 504^th, H& I Companies of the 82^nd Airborne Division were the first to cross the Waal River in small canvas/wood boats. First battalion crossed after 11 of 26 boats returned. The Germans artillery was able to mow them down as they crossed.

  Inspite of heavy casualties, 48 men died in the crossing, the men of the 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment prevailed and captured their objective, the North end of the Bridge at Nijmegen. 

Gavin receiving the Distinguished Service Order from British Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law “Monty” Montgomery  in Mönchengladbach on 21-03-1945.

One of the crossing survivors was Lieutenant Colonel Jim “Maggie” Megellas

       a regular visitor on his 1944 war fields, who commanded a platoon in Company “H” of the 3^rd Battalion. James Megellas died 02-04-2020 at the age of 103 at his home in Texas. The 82^nd would stay in Holland, (see About) until 13-11-1944 and had during WWII the next casualties: 1.619 killed in action, 6.560 wounded in action and 332 died of wounds. After the war Gavin also played a central role in integrating the U.S. military and retired in March 1958 as a Lieutenant General.

Death and burial ground of Gavin, James Maurice “Slim Jim”.

 Gavin died on 23-02-1990, age 82 of Parkinson and is buried to the immediate East of the Old Chapel at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point, New York. Close by the grave of General, Commander II Corps, Deputy Commander of George Patton, Jeoffrey Keyes.  My friend Robert Dreher from Hartford, Connecticut sent me the grave picture, His wife Betsey made the picture.