Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding original post-WWII 82nd Airborne Division commemorative wooden presentation tray, honoring Major General Williston Birkhimer Palmer and his service as commanding general of the division from November 1, 1949, to October 14, 1950. The tray features a large hand-painted 82nd Airborne Division insignia surrounded by the names of Palmer and members of his staff, together with original Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) representing five organizations within the division. Above the central design is the inscription “The 82nd Airborne Division,” flanked by embedded sterling paratrooper and glider qualification wings. We believe this was most likely presented to Palmer in recognition of his service as divisional commander, possibly upon the conclusion of his command in October 1950, although the precise circumstances of its presentation have not been established. Measuring approximately 24 x 18 x 3 inches, the tray retains its original integral wooden handles and remains in very good overall condition, with some fading to the wood finish and minor separation along portions of the frame.

The 82nd Airborne Division was one of the most distinguished American military formations of the Second World War. Originally organized during WWI, the division was reactivated and reorganized as an airborne formation in 1942, becoming one of the first two American airborne divisions established during the conflict. Under the leadership of commanders including Major General Matthew B. Ridgway and Major General James M. Gavin, the division participated in major operations in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, the Netherlands, and the Ardennes. Its wartime record established the “All American” division as one of the most recognizable formations in the United States Army.

Williston Birkhimer Palmer was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 11, 1899, and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1919, completing an accelerated three-year course of study. He came from a family with a substantial military background. His grandfather, William E. Birkhimer, was a U.S. Army brigadier general and recipient of the Medal of Honor, while his younger brother, Charles D. Palmer, also rose to the rank of four-star general. The Palmer brothers became the first brothers in U.S. Army history to achieve four-star rank.

During WWII, Palmer served as a brigadier general and commanded the artillery of the VII Corps during the Allied campaign in Northwest Europe. His command responsibilities extended from the Normandy invasion in June 1944 through the advance across France and Germany to the Elbe River. Artillery played a critical role in American combined-arms operations during this period, providing the concentrated fire support necessary for infantry and armored formations to overcome German defensive positions.

An unusual incident in Palmer's wartime service occurred in January 1943, when he was a passenger aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress that landed in neutral Ireland. Because the Republic of Ireland maintained neutrality during WWII, the presence of Allied military personnel created a diplomatically sensitive situation. Palmer was transferred across the border into Northern Ireland the following day, allowing him to continue his military duties.

Following WWII, Palmer served as Director of Logistics for the European Command before assuming command of the 82nd Airborne Division on November 1, 1949. He commanded the division until October 14, 1950, a period that included the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950. Although the 82nd was not deployed to Korea as a complete division, the conflict placed new demands upon American military readiness and reinforced the importance of airborne and rapidly deployable forces.

Palmer's relatively brief tenure as divisional commander occurred during this significant period of military transition. His previous experience directing corps artillery during WWII, together with his postwar administrative and logistical assignments, provided a substantial background for command of one of the Army's most prominent formations. The commemorative tray appears to reflect the importance attached to his leadership and his relationship with the officers and organizations serving under him.

This tray was likely gifted to General Palmer following his end of command of the Division, and is painted with the divisional insignia with the names of Palmer and his staff painted around it. To the top is the painted text The 82nd Airborne Division with Sterling Paratrooper & Glider wings embedded in the tray to the sides of the text. In the four corners and in the bottom center are the embedded DUI pin insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, the 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, the 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, and the Divisional Special Troops. 

The tray is in great shape though there is some fading to the wood finish around and under the insignia. This could possibly be fixed with some restoration work, but we will leave that choice up to you. The tray measures 24 x 18 x 3” and retains integral handles to the sides. There is some minor spacing between the border wood and the base wood at the long ends, likely due to warping of the wood.

Following his command of the 82nd, Palmer continued to hold increasingly important positions within the United States Army. He subsequently commanded the 2nd Armored Division and the X Corps during the Korean War period, receiving promotion to lieutenant general on June 10, 1952. His career eventually culminated in promotion to four-star general and service as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1955 to 1957, followed by appointment as Deputy Commander in Chief of the United States European Command from 1957 to 1959. From 1959 to 1962, he served as the first Director of Military Assistance, overseeing an important component of American military policy during the Cold War.

Palmer also played an interesting role in the establishment of the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra during his postwar service in Germany. While commanding the 2nd Armored Division, he supported a proposal from Corporal Samuel Adler to create an orchestra composed of professionally trained musicians serving in the United States Army. The organization became an important instrument of American cultural diplomacy in Europe, with its soldier-musicians performing for audiences throughout the continent during the Cold War. This initiative illustrates a lesser-known aspect of Palmer's military leadership, extending beyond combat and command responsibilities into the Army's cultural and diplomatic activities.

This 82nd Airborne Division commemorative tray honoring Major General Williston B. Palmer is a particularly significant artifact of his time as commander. Its hand-painted divisional insignia, named staff inscriptions, embedded sterling parachute and glider wings, and five original unit crests establish a clear association with the division and its leadership during the early Cold War. Palmer's documented command dates provide a strong chronological context for the piece, although its precise presentation date and circumstances remain unconfirmed. The surviving finish wear and minor wood separation are consistent with its present condition and have been left undisturbed. As a personalized artifact associated with an officer who later became one of the Army's senior four-star generals, the tray offers an unusually direct connection to the command history of the 82nd Airborne Division during the years between WWII and the Korean War.