The 508th Connection
About the Author The 508th Connection is Zig Boroughs's third book about the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. A Private's Eye View of World War II was published in 1989. The Devil's Tale, stories of the 508th Red Devils, was published in 1992. As a member of the Enlisted Reserve Corps at the Citadel, Zig Boroughs witnessed a demonstration parachute jump by airborne soldiers. When inducted into the army, Boroughs immediately volunteered for the paratroopers. After basic training, Boroughs completed parachute and demolition training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Boroughs arrived in England on June 6, 1944, which was D-Day of the Normandy invasion. He was assigned as a replacement to the 508th Parachute Infantry, taking the place of a Normandy casualty of war. Zig Boroughs served throughout Operation Market Garden in Holland, the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and in the Roer Valley of Germany with the Demolition Platoon of Regimental Headquarters Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After V-E Day-Victory in Europe-Boroughs taught algebra in a regimental school for his fellow paratroopers. Boroughs was discharged at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on November 7, 1945. The next day he accepted a job as teacher of math and science and coach of the boys' and girls' basketball teams at his alma mater, Pickens High School. At the conclusion of the school year, Boroughs interrupted his teaching to finish his bachelor's degree. Later Boroughs served twelve years as a Baptist minister. He earned a bachelor of divinity degree, master of science education degree, and doctor of science education degree. He is retired from Lander University, where he taught in the School of Education for twenty-two years. Zig Boroughs and his wife live in Pickens, South Carolina.--This text refers to thePaperbackedition.