101st Airborne Division

101st Airborne Division
Darz Mol · Public domain · source
Unit name	101st Airborne Division
Caption	Shoulder sleeve insignia
Dates	1942–1945, 1948–1949, 1950–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Airborne Infantry
Role	Air assault
Size	Division
Garrison	Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Nickname	"Screaming Eagles"
Motto	*"Rendezvous With Destiny" *"Currahee" (3rd Brigade)
Battles	World War II, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Notable commanders	William C. Lee, Maxwell D. Taylor, Anthony C. McAuliffe, David E. Grange Jr., Hugh Shelton
Identification symbol	75px
Identification symbol label	Combat service identification badge
Identification symbol 2	75px
Identification symbol 2 label	Beret flash

101st Airborne Division. A premier light infantry division of the United States Army, specializing in air assault operations. Known as the "Screaming Eagles," it is one of the most deployed and recognized units in the U.S. military. Headquartered at Fort Campbell on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, the division has a storied history from World War II to the modern conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

History

The division was activated in August 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, under the command of Major General William C. Lee. It played a pivotal role in the Normandy landings, parachuting behind Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion. The unit later fought in the ill-fated Market Garden in the Netherlands and famously defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, where acting commander Anthony C. McAuliffe issued his defiant reply of "Nuts!" to a German surrender demand. After World War II, the division was reactivated as a training unit before being deployed to Vietnam, where it fought in major campaigns like the Battle of Hamburger Hill. In the post-Cold War era, it participated in Operation Desert Storm, the Battle of Mogadishu, and extensive combat operations following the September 11 attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Organization

The division is organized as an air assault division, relying on helicopter mobility rather than traditional paratrooper drops. Its core combat power resides in three infantry brigade combat teams: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Brigades. The 3rd Brigade retains the "Currahee" motto and lineage of the historic 506th Infantry Regiment. The division also includes a combat aviation brigade, equipped with UH-60, AH-64, and CH-47 helicopters, an artillery brigade, and a sustainment brigade. This structure allows for rapid deployment and highly mobile operations in diverse terrain, from the mountains of Hindu Kush to the urban centers of Baghdad.

Insignia and uniforms

The division's distinctive shoulder sleeve insignia, a black bald eagle's head on a white shield, was designed by a Disney illustrator and approved in 1923. This "Screaming Eagle" patch is worn on the left shoulder. Personnel are authorized to wear the maroon beret, a symbol of airborne forces, with a specific division flash. The Combat Infantryman Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge are commonly worn by its soldiers. The division's legacy units, such as those within the 3rd Brigade, often wear the spade symbol, a tradition inherited from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of World War II.

Notable members

Many distinguished soldiers have served in its ranks. Early commanders included Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, who later became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe. Notable non-commissioned officers include Command Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley, famed for his service in Vietnam and portrayed in the film We Were Soldiers. Other notable members include Senator J. Strom Thurmond, who served as a division staff officer, and Colonel Robert G. Cole, a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient for actions at Carentan. Contemporary leaders like General Hugh Shelton, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also began their careers in the division.

Honors and awards

The division has been awarded numerous unit decorations, including two Presidential Unit Citations for actions at Bastogne and Nijmegen. Its soldiers have earned many individual valor awards, such as the Medal of Honor, awarded to individuals like Private First Class Joe E. Mann and Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole. The division received campaign participation credit for World War II, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism. The French Croix de Guerre with Palm was awarded for its defense of Bastogne.

In popular culture

The division's exploits, particularly during World War II, have been depicted in numerous books, films, and television series. It is central to the book and HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, which follows Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Other notable portrayals include the film The Longest Day, the video game series Call of Duty, and the television series Combat!. Its modern actions are featured in films like Black Hawk Down, which depicts the Battle of Mogadishu.

Category:Airborne divisions of the United States Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1942