"I'm the 82nd Airborne"

[Subdeacon Joe]

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‘I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going.'

December 23, 1944 - An entire US Armored Division was retreating from the Germans in the Ardennes forest when a sergeant in a tank destroyer from the 7th Armored Division spotted an American soldier digging a foxhole. The GI, Private Martin, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, looked up and asked, "Are you looking for a safe place"? "Yeah", answered the tanker. "Well, buddy," he drawled, just pull your vehicle behind me.... I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going.'

Picture: The tough paratrooper PFC Vernon Haught, of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, marching in the cold, snowy winter with a rucksack on his back.

Source: Fort Bragg, N.C.

 

Another Version:

 

https://www.517prct.org/documents/82nd_airborne_poster/82nd_airborne_poster.htm

 

Late on the night of December 23rd, Sergeant John Banister of the 14th Cavalry Group found himself meandering through the village of Provedroux, southwest of Vielsalm. He'd been separated from his unit during the wild retreat of the first days and joined up with Task Force Jones, defending the southern side of the Fortified Goose Egg. Now they were in retreat again. The Germans were closing in on the village from three sides. American vehicles were pulling out, and Banister was once again separated from his new unit, with no ride out.

A tank destroyer rolled by; somebody waved him aboard and Banister eagerly climbed on. They roared out of the burning town. Somebody told Banister that he was riding with Lieutenant Bill Rogers. "Who's he?" Banister wanted to know. "Will Rogers' son," came the answer. It was a hell of a way to meet a celebrity.
An hour later they reached the main highway running west from Vielsalm. There they found a lone soldier digging a foxhole. Armed with bazooka and rifle, unshaven and filthy, he went about his business with a stoic nonchalance. They pulled up to him and stopped. He didn't seem to care about the refugees. "If yer lookin for a safe place," he said, "just pull that vehicle behind me. I'm the 82nd Airborne. This is as far as the bastards are going."

The men on the tank destroyer hesitated. After the constant retreats of the last week, they didn't have much fight left in them. But the paratrooper's determination was infectious. "You heard the man," declared Rogers. "Let's set up for business!" Twenty minutes later, two truckloads of GIs joined their little roadblock. All through the night, men trickled in, and their defenses grew stronger.

Around that single paratrooper was formed the nucleus of a major strongpoint.

[Pat Riot]

[Subdeacon Joe]

I should add that the longer version makes more sense.

The usual short version makes it seem as if the guys on the vehicle just kept going and abandoned him to his fate.  

But having 'em take heart from that one stubborn, pig-headed sunnuvashedog, then dig in with him to lend a hand,  then others pitching in,  sounds right. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

Too tired to run , 

[Trailrider #896]

From BGEN Anthony McAallaff (sp) to the German commander, "Nuts!"! 

[Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme]

 'Merica. US Army Airborne. 

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

There is nothing harder to move than resolute infantry.

"I'll face you!"