Robbinsville Township near Windsor in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon

Photographed by R. C.

1. U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker

Inscription. This plaque is to honor New Jersey's paratroopers and to commemorate the U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon which trained here during the summer of 1940. This training was the beginning of the elite military paratrooper units, including the 82nd Airborne Division, who have served our country proudly in war and in peace.

Erected by State of New Jersey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 40° 14.882′ N, 74° 34.1′ W. Marker is near Windsor, New Jersey, in Mercer County. It is in Robbinsville Township. It is at the intersection of New Jersey Route 33 and Voelbel Road on New Jersey Route 33. Located on the South side of NJ 33/US 130, just north of Voelbel Road in Robbinsville Township, just south of Hightstown. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 99 N Main Street, Hightstown NJ 08520, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Jersey

and in Greater Princeton.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Washington Township Korea & Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Tales of the Rails (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named Tales of the Rails (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Tales of the Rails

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(approx. 0.9 miles away); Slavery at the Farmstead (approx. 2.3 miles away); Schenck Farmstead Historic Site (approx. 2.3 miles away); Edinburg Historic Community (approx. 2.6 miles away); East Windsor Township Civil War Monument (approx. 2.6 miles away).

Additional commentary.
1. These 48 men were members of the original Parachute Test Platoon:
First Lieutenant William T. Ryder
Second Lieutenant James A. Bassett
Warrant Officer C.W. (Tug) Wilson
Sergeant John M. Haly
Sergeant Benedict F. Jacquary
Sergeant Lloyd (Mac) McCullough
Sergeant Lemuel T. Pitts
Sergeant Grady A. Roberts
Sergeant Hobart B. Wade
Private First Class Tyerus Floyd Adams
Private First Class Willie F. Brown
Private First Class Floyd Burkhalter
Private First Class Donald L. Colee
Private First Class Louie D. Davis
Private First Class Edgar R. Dodd
Private First Class Johnnie A. Ellis
Private First Class Mitchel Guilbeau
Private First Class J. Hardin
Private First Class George W. Ivy
Private First Class John M. Kitchens
Private First Class Lester C. McLaney
Private First Class Joseph L. Peters
Private First Class John F. Pursley, Jr
Private

Photographed by R. C.

2. U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker

Part of the original landing zone remains behind the marker.

First Class Benjamin C. Reese
Private First Class Alsie L. Rutland
Private First Class Louie D. Skipper
Private First Class Raymond G. Smith
Private First Class Harris J. Wallace
Private First Class John A. Ward
Private First Class Thurman L. Weaks, Sr.
Private First Class Carles M. (Swifty) Wilson
Private First Class Obie B. Wilson
Private John E. Borom
Private Leo C. Brown
Private Jules Corbin
Private Ernest L. Dilburn
Private Joseph E. Doucet
Private Aubrey Eberhardt
Private Frank Kassell Jr
Private Richard J. Kelly
Private Sidney C. Kerksis
Private William N. King
Private John 0. Modisett
Private Robert H. Poudert
Private Albert P. Robinson
Private Thad P. Selman
Private Robert E. Shepperd
Private Arthur W. Swilley
Private Hugh A. Tracey
Private Steve Voils, Jr.

— Submitted January 13, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.

2. Book with signatures of "original parachute test platoon "
Raymond G. Smith (deceased) was the husband to my wife's sister, who also recently died. In going through some of Raymond's wife's, Nita, articles that were to be given to the family, I found an interesting book entitled Paratrooper! by Gerard M. Devlin copyright 1974. On the inside

View of U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker from Route 33/130 southbound image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Deb Hartshorn, September 11, 2010

3. View of U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker from Route 33/130 southbound

cover are the signatures entitled "original parachute test platoon". (15 including Raymond G. Smith) On the facing page is also listed app. 65 other names including Major McDonald Valentine Jr., society of Vietnamese Rangers. Some of the men in this list is discussed in the book. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted June 4, 2012, by Robert Norton of Gadsden, Alabama.

U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker and Newer Companion Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by R. C., August 19, 2014

4. U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker and Newer Companion Plaque

U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker Companion Plaque Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by R. C., August 19, 2014

5. U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon Marker Companion Plaque Detail

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. This page has been viewed 6,443 times since then and 247 times this year. Last updated on February 2, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 12, 2008, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. 3. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Deb Hartshorn of Burlington County, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on August 19, 2014, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.