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During World War II the 39th regiment fought as part of the 9th Infantry Division. The Fighting Falcons of the 39th became the first unit of United States combat troops to set foot on foreign soil when they stormed the beaches of Algiers in November 1942.
During fighting in Sicily, Italy, the regiment came under the command of the legendary Colonel Harry A. "Paddy" Flint who gave the regiment its famed triple A- Bar Nothing slogan: Anything, Anywhere, Anytime - Bar Nothing. The regiment took great pride in the AAA-O slogan, displaying it on their helmets and vehicles, even in combat. When questioned about the soundness of the practice, Colonel Flint confidently declared, "The enemy who sees our regiment in combat, if they live through the battle, will know to run the next time they see us coming." General George Patton commented upon Colonel Flint in the following manner: "Paddy Flint is clearly nuts, but he fights well."
Later in the war, the 39th landed at Utah Beach and fought through France. While advancing on the Saint-Lô-Périers road, Paddy's outfit was held up by heavy mortar fire. Leading from his customary place on the front, the Colonel and a rifle patrol soon found the trouble. Colonel Flint reported by radio over the walkie-talkie: "Have spotted pillbox. Will start them cooking."
During fighting in Sicily, Italy, the regiment came under the command of the legendary Colonel Harry A. "Paddy" Flint who gave the regiment its famed triple A-
Later in the war, the 39th landed at Utah Beach and fought through France. While advancing on the Saint-
He called for a tank, and rode atop it in a rain of fire as it sprayed the hedgerows. During the attack, the tank driver was wounded, stopping it, whereupon Paddy crawled down, and went forward on foot with his men. As he led the patrol into the shelter of a farmhouse he was hit by a sniper's bullet. Aid men soon came up, loaded the Colonel on a stretcher, and as they started for the rear, one of men told him: "Remember, Paddy, you can't kill an Irishman -- you can only make him mad." Colonel Flint smiled. On the next day, 24 July 1944, he died of his wounds.
The Fighting Falcons joined the 47th Infantry Regiment in capturing Roetgen, the first German town to fall in World War II. The 39th fought valiantly through the Battle of the Bulge, helped secure the Remagen bridgehead and roared across Germany as the allied forces finished off the last of the German resistance.
When the dust settled following VE day, the 39th Regiment held campaign streamers from some of the bloodiest and most hard fought battles of the war - Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. It was cited twice by the Belgians for valorous actions and awarded the Belgian Fouragerre. It also received two French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the French Fouragerre, and three Presidential Unit Citations.
When the dust settled following VE day, the 39th Regiment held campaign streamers from some of the bloodiest and most hard fought battles of the war -
The AAAO painted helmet pictured here was worn by Norman B. Hopkins Jr, ASN 13185982. (Research Continues)
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