Guardsmen stop in Lula on their 'Band of Brothers' march

LULA - A group of airborne Georgia National Guardsmen, recreating a historic 1942, 118 mile march from Toccoa to Atlanta, stopped over for a well deserved rest Wednesday night in Lula at the city's train depot.

First Lieutenant David Ubriaco told the ten members of the National Guard's Long Range Surveillance Unit, part of the 3rd Squadron, 108th Cavalry, it was nearly time to turn in after a long first day on the road.
They had marched thirty-two miles, recreating the 506th Parachute Regiment's march 67 years ago.

"There were ups and downs throughout the day," Ubriaco said. "We had 10 start this morning, we had six who were still walking this evening."

While they are designated cavalry, the Lieutenant said for this all-volunteer event they are in reality portraying the 'foot cavalry' of old, following the 100-mile route taken by the World War ll outfit made famous by the TV series, 'Band of Brothers'.

Moving at an estimated 33-mile per day, their destination is Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University.
Saturday morning the Guardsmen will march an additional six miles along Peachtree Street and lead off Atlanta Veteran’s Day Parade.

The last time the unit re-enacted the march was in 2008. Previous re-enactments were conducted in 2002 and 2005. World events and deployments in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 prohibited the Georgia Guardsmen re-enacting the march during those years.

In December 1942, shortly after having completing its basic training at Camp Toccoa, the 506th was about to move to Fort Benning in Columbus to begin its parachute training.
Their commander, Col. Robert F. Sink, had read a Reader’s Digest story about a Japanese Army unit that had broken the world record for marching (about 100 miles in only a few days). Believing his men, including those of Easy Company, could do better; Sink ordered 2nd Battalion and its commander Maj. Robert L. Strayer 118 miles south to Atlanta.

“It’s a chance for us to remember those veterans who have gone before us, to honor our fellow brothers and sisters in arms, and also to honor the airborne legacy,” Ubriaco said.

The original march was conducted over 75 hours and 15 minutes, with 33.5 hours per day being used for marching. When the battalion reached Atlanta’s Five Points area, it was greeted by crowds of cheering civilians and news media who’d lined the streets in anticipation of the unit’s arrival.

At least 20 Lula citizens greeted the Guardsmen when they arrived in town, and the city treated them to dinner at the Depot, where they bedded down for the night.

“It was real nice getting to come up and see a group of people,” Specialist Jason Cormier said as he slipped off his boots. “It always boosts up your spirits, and helps you finish out the day…it was a good ending."

The marchers pass through Gainesville Thursday on their way to Buford, where they will spend their second night on the march to Atlanta.