Editing 101st Airborne Division

{{short description|Active United States Army formation}}
{{redirect2 |101st Division|101st}}
{{use American English|date=January 2017}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
| image                         = US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg
| image_size                    = 160px
| caption                       = Insignia of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
| dates                         = {{plainlist|
* 1918 (National Army)
* 1921–42 (Organized Reserve)
* 1942–45 (Army of the United States)
* 1948–49, 1950–53, 1954– (Regular Army)
}}
| country                       = {{Flagu|United States}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{army|United States}}
| size                          = [[Division (military)#United States|Division]]
| command_structure             = [[XVIII Airborne Corps]]
| garrison                      = [[Fort Campbell]], [[Kentucky]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = "Screaming Eagles" ([[special designation]])
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = ''Rendezvous With Destiny''
| colors                        = {{legend2|#000000|Black|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| colors_label                  = Beret color
| march                         = “The Screaming Eagles”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/3Evg5MvNrI0BDSwzMTYDTo|website=The [[United States Army Band]] “Pershing’s Own” official [[Spotify]]|title=The Screaming Eagles|date=|access-date=10 June 2024}}</ref>
| mascot                        = [[Bald eagle]] ([[Old Abe]])
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = {{Tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Operation Overlord]]
***[[Operation Neptune]]
****[[American airborne landings in Normandy]]
*** [[Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche|Sainte-Marie-du-Mont]]
*** [[Battle of Carentan]]
**** [[Battle of Bloody Gulch]]
**[[Operation Market Garden]]
**[[Battle of the Nijmegen salient]]
**[[Battle of the Bulge]]
*** [[Siege of Bastogne]]
**** [[Siege of Bastogne#Initial combat at Noville|Battle of Noville]]
**[[Western Allied invasion of Germany]]
*[[Vietnam War]]
*[[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]
*[[Kosovo Force|Operation Joint Guardian]]
*[[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism]]
**[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]
**[[Iraq War]]
**[[Operation Inherent Resolve]]
**[[Somali Civil War (2009–present)|Somali Civil War]]
{{tree list/end}}
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| disbanded                     = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = {{URL|https://www.army.mil/101stAirborne|Official Website}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1                    = [[Major General (United States)|MG]] [[Brett Sylvia|Brett G. Sylvia]]
| commander1_label              = Commander
| commander2                    = CSM Charles D. Walker
| commander2_label              = [[Command Sergeant Major]]
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| commander4                    = 
| commander4_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = [[List of commanders of 101st Airborne Division|Complete list of commanders]]
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol         = [[File:Combat service identification badge of the 101st Airborne Division.png|100px|center]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Combat service identification badge]]
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Patch of the United States Army 101st Airborne Division (Scorpion W2).png|100px|center]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Subdued [[shoulder sleeve insignia]] worn on OCP-ACU
| identification_symbol_3       = [[File:101st Airborne Division DUI.png|100px|center]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = [[Distinctive unit insignia]] of division headquarter elements
| identification_symbol_4       = [[File:US Army 101st ABN Div Trimming.svg|140px|center|border]]
| identification_symbol_4_label = [[Air Assault Badge#Airborne background trimmings|Airborne background trimming]] of division headquarter elements
| identification_symbol_5       = [[File:Flag of the United States Army 101st Airborne Division.svg|140px|center|border]]
| identification_symbol_5_label = Division Flag
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_helicopter           = 
| aircraft_helicopter_attack    = 
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo     = 
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = 
| aircraft_helicopter_observation = 
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer   = 
| aircraft_helicopter_utility   = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
| aircraft_transport            = 
| aircraft_tanker               = 
| aircraft_helicopter_transport = 
}}
{{Infobox command structure
| name = 101st Airborne Division
| date = Present
| parent = [[XVIII Airborne Corps]]
| subordinate = 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team<br />2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team<br />3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team<br />[[101st Combat Aviation Brigade]]<br />[[101st Airborne Division Artillery]]<br />[[101st Sustainment Brigade]]<br />Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion
}}
The '''101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)''' ("Screaming Eagles")<ref name=SUD>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-ra_ar.html |title=Special Unit Designations |date=21 April 2010 |website=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512061407/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/spdes-123-ra_ar.html |archive-date=12 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is a light infantry [[division (military)|division]] of the [[United States Army]] that specializes in [[air assault]] [[military operation|operations]].<ref name="special-ops.org">{{cite web |url=https://special-ops.org/sof/overall/the-101st-airborne-the-only-unit-in-the-world-that-can-do-this/ |title=The 101st Airborne: The Only Unit in the World That Can Do This |first=Eric |last=Sof |website=Special-ops.org |access-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211849/https://special-ops.org/sof/overall/the-101st-airborne-the-only-unit-in-the-world-that-can-do-this/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 101st is designed to plan, coordinate, and execute [[brigade]]-sized air assault operations that can be conducted in one period of darkness, at distances up to 500 nautical miles, to seize key terrain and hold it for up to 14 days.<ref name="Restoring the 101st">{{cite web |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/16/after-almost-5-years-armys-101st-airborne-will-return-full-air-assault-power.html |title=After Almost 5 Years, Army's 101st Airborne Will Return to Full Air Assault Power |first=Matthew |last=Cox |date=16 October 2019 |website=Military.com |access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="army.mil">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/123707/101st_Airborne_Division_conducts_brigade_air_assault |title=101st Airborne Division conducts brigade air assault |first=Joel |last=Salgado |date=April 11, 2014 |website=United States Army |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref><ref>Russ & Susan Bryant, p.63.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJfuX0nMso8 Air Assault Demonstration - D-Day 80], 101st Airborne Division YouTube Channel, dated 3 June 2024, last accessed 26 January 2025</ref> In recent years, the 101st was active in [[foreign internal defense]] and [[counterterrorism]] operations in [[Iraq]], in [[Afghanistan]] in 2015–2016,<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/11/06/army-deploys-101st-airborne-soldiers-oversee-iraqi-army-training.html |title=Army to Deploy 101st Airborne Soldiers to Oversee Iraqi Army Training |last=Block |first=Gordon |date=6 November 2015 |website=Military.com |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="stripes.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.stripes.com/carter-to-army-s-101st-you-will-prepare-iraqis-to-retake-mosul-1.388603 |title=Carter to Army's 101st: You will prepare Iraqis to retake Mosul |last=Dickstein |first=Corey |date=January 14, 2016 |newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="military.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/06/army-to-deploy-101st-airborne-soldiers-to-afghanistan.html |title=Army to Deploy 101st Airborne Soldiers to Afghanistan |last=Bull |first=Gregory |date=6 September 2016 |website=Military.com |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref> and in [[Syria]], as part of [[Operation Inherent Resolve]] in 2018–2021.

{{Military unit sidebar|title=US Infantry Divisions|previous=[[100th Infantry Division (United States)|100th Infantry Division]]|next=[[102nd Infantry Division (United States)|102nd Infantry Division]]}}

Established in 1918, the 101st Division was first constituted as an airborne unit in 1942.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/238168/five_historical_things_to_know_about_101st_on_its_anniversary |title=Five historical things to know about 101st on its anniversary |last1=Ingersoll |first1=Stephanie |date=August 14, 2020 |website=U.S. Army |access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> During [[World War II]], it gained renown for its role in [[Operation Overlord]] (the [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings]] and [[American airborne landings in Normandy|airborne landings]] on 6 June 1944, in [[Normandy]], [[France]]); [[Operation Market Garden]]; the liberation of the [[Netherlands]]; and its action during the [[Battle of the Bulge]] around the city of [[Bastogne]], [[Belgium]]. During the [[Vietnam War]], the 101st Airborne Division fought in several major campaigns and battles, including the [[Battle of Hamburger Hill]] in 1969 and the [[Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord]] in 1970. In mid-1968, the division was reorganized and redesignated as an [[airmobile]] division and in 1974, the division was again redesigned as an air assault division. The titles reflect the division's shift from airplanes to helicopters as the primary method of delivering troops into combat.

At the height of the [[War on Terrorism]], the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) had over 200 aircraft.<ref name="Restoring the 101st"/> This shrank to just over 100 aircraft with the inactivation of the [[159th Combat Aviation Brigade]] in 2015.<ref name="Restoring the 101st"/>  In 2019, media reports suggested the Army was working to restore the 101st's aviation capabilities so it can return to lifting an entire brigade in one air assault.<ref name="Restoring the 101st"/>

The 101st's headquarters is at [[Fort Campbell]], [[Kentucky]]. Many members of the 101st are graduates of the [[United States Army Air Assault School|U.S. Army Air Assault School]], which is co-located with the division. The school is known as one of the Army's most difficult courses; only about half of those who begin it will graduate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0109/20/se.42.html |title=Air Assault School, 10 Toughest Days in the Army |date=September 20, 2001 |website=CNN.com}}</ref>

The Screaming Eagles was referred to as "the tip of the spear" by former [[U.S. Secretary of Defense]], [[Robert Gates]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencenews-online.com/land/gates-praises-101st-airborne-as-%e2%80%9ctip-of-the-spear%e2%80%9d/ |title=Gates Praises 101st Airborne As 'Tip Of The Spear' |date=8 December 2010 |website=Defence News |access-date=27 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709211238/http://www.defencenews-online.com/land/gates-praises-101st-airborne-as-%E2%80%9Ctip-of-the-spear%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref> and the most potent and tactically [[Mobility (military)|mobile]] of the U.S. Army's divisions by General [[Edward C. Meyer]], then [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/02/15/reconfigure-army-divisions-to-make-military-stronger/ |title=Reconfigure Army divisions to make military stronger |last=Kelly |first=Jack |date=15 February 2002 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123170647/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-02-15/news/0202150101_1_tactical-mobility-airborne-division-heavy-divisions |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of the 101st Airborne Division}}

=== World War I ===

On 23 July 1918, the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] directed the organization of the 101st Division in the [[National Army (USA)|National Army]] at [[Camp Shelby]], [[Mississippi]], under the supervision of camp commander Brigadier General [[Roy Hoffman (United States Army officer)|Roy Hoffman]].<ref>{{cite news |date=October 31, 1918 |title=New Division Forming at Shelby |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-division/129874333/ |work=[[The Daily Herald (Gulfport)|The Daily Herald]] |location=Gulfport, MS |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Plans called for the division to include a headquarters, headquarters troop, the 201st Infantry Brigade (401st and 402nd Infantry Regiments and 377th Machine Gun Battalion), 202nd Infantry Brigade (403rd and 404th Infantry Regiments and 378th Machine Gun Battalion), 376th Machine Gun Battalion, 176th Field Artillery Brigade (376th-378th Field Artillery Regiments and 27th Trench Mortar Battery), 326th Engineers, 626th Field Signal Battalion, and 326th Train Headquarters and Military Police (Ammunition, Engineer, Sanitary, and Supply Trains). It was intended that the 201st Infantry Brigade would be organized in France from the 58th and 59th Pioneer Infantry Regiments.

The 27th Trench Mortar Battery was formed at [[Camp Bowie]], [[Texas]], in August 1918 and was assigned to the 176th Field Artillery Brigade, but never ended up joining. The organization of the division began in October and Colonel Patrick H. Mullay was named division chief of staff on 2 November, but organization never progressed beyond the formation of the division headquarters and preliminary preparations for the receipt of [[Selective Service Act of 1917|Selective Service men]]. After the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918]], the 101st Division was ordered demobilized on 30 November 1918, being completed on 11 December.<ref>{{cite book |date=1988|title=Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War |volume=3, Part 2|location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army |pages=669–670}}</ref><ref name="101HHClineage">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/101abd.htm |title=Lineage and Honors Information: Divisions |website=U.S. Army Center of Military History |access-date=14 March 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001223529/https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/101abd.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Interwar period ===

In 1921, pursuant to the [[National Defense Act of 1920]], the 101st Division was reconstituted in the [[United States Army Reserve|Organized Reserve]], allotted to the Sixth [[Corps Area]], and assigned to the [[XVI Corps (United States)|XVI Corps]], and further allotted to the state of [[Wisconsin]]. The division headquarters was organized on 10 September 1921 in Room 412 of the [[Federal Building (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)|Federal Building]] in [[Milwaukee]], moving in July 1922 to the Pereles Building, where it remained until activated for World War II. The designated mobilization and training station for the division was [[Fort Custer Training Center|Camp Custer]], [[Michigan]], where much of the division's annual training activities occurred in the interwar years. The headquarters and staff usually trained with the staff of the [[6th Infantry Division (United States)|12th Infantry Brigade]] either at Camp Custer or [[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]], while the infantry regiments trained primarily with the [[2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|2nd Infantry Regiment]] at Camp Custer. The special troops, artillery, engineers, aviation, medical, and quartermaster units trained at various posts in the Sixth and Seventh Corps Areas. In addition, division personnel also conducted the [[Citizens' Military Training Camp]]s in the division's home area as an alternate form of annual training. The division's primary "feeder" schools for newly commissioned Reserve lieutenants were the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison|University of Wisconsin]], [[Ripon College (Wisconsin)|Ripon College]], and [[St. Norbert College]].

Division personnel sometimes participated in the Sixth Corps Area and [[Second United States Army|Second Army]] command post exercises with other Regular Army, National Guard, and Organized Reserve units, but the division did not participate as a unit in the various Sixth Corps Area maneuvers and the Second Army maneuvers of 1937, 1940, and 1941, because of a lack of enlisted personnel and equipment to use. Instead, the officers and a few enlisted reservists were assigned to Regular Army and National Guard units to fill vacant slots, and some officers were assigned duties as umpires or support personnel.<ref name="101HHClineage"/><ref>{{cite book |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf |title=US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941, Volume 1 The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919–41 |first=Steven E. |last=Clay |date=2010 |publisher=[[Combat Studies Institute Press]] |location=Fort Leavenworth, KS |page=278 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622090734/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf |archive-date=2017-06-22}}{{source-attribution}}</ref>

It was at this time that the [[Old Abe|"Screaming Eagle" mascot]] became associated with the division, as a successor to the traditions of the Wisconsin volunteer regiments of the [[American Civil War]].<ref name="101ETOOrder">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/101ABN-ETO.htm |title=U.S. Army Divisions in the ETO |website=U.S. Army Center of Military History |access-date=14 March 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001223810/https://history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/101ABN-ETO.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{command structure
|name= 101st Division<ref>{{cite book |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf |title=US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941, Volume 1 The Arms: Major Commands and Infantry Organizations, 1919–41 |first=Steven E. |last=Clay |date=2010 |publisher=[[Combat Studies Institute Press]] |location=Fort Leavenworth, KS |page=278 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622090734/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/OrderOfBattle/OrderofBattle1.pdf |archive-date=2017-06-22}}</ref>
|date= 1939
|parent= 101st Division
|subordinate=
* Headquarters, 101st Division (Milwaukee)
* Headquarters, Special Troops, 101st Division (Milwaukee)
** Headquarters Company, 101st Division (Milwaukee)
** 101st Military Police Company (Milwaukee)
** 101st Signal Company (Milwaukee)
** 326th Ordnance Company (Medium) (Milwaukee)
** 101st Tank Company (Light) (Milwaukee)
* 201st Infantry Brigade (Milwaukee)
** 401st Infantry Regiment (Milwaukee)
** 402nd Infantry Regiment ([[Fond du Lac, Wisconsin|Fond du Lac]])
* 202nd Infantry Brigade ([[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]])
** 403rd Infantry Regiment (Madison)
** 404th Infantry Regiment ([[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]])
* 176th Field Artillery Brigade (Milwaukee)
** 376th Field Artillery Regiment (Milwaukee)
** 377th Field Artillery Regiment ([[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]])
** 572nd Field Artillery Regiment ([[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]])
** 326th Ammunition Train (Milwaukee)
* 326th Engineer Regiment (Milwaukee)
* 326th Medical Regiment (Milwaukee)
* 426th Quartermaster Regiment (Milwaukee)
}}

=== World War II and Cold War era ===
{{command structure
|name=101st Airborne Division ''"Screamin' Eagles"''
|date=1942–1945
|parent=
|subordinate=
* [[327th Infantry Regiment (United States)|327th Glider Infantry Regiment]]
* [[501st Infantry Regiment (United States)|501st Parachute Infantry Regiment]]
* [[502nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment]]
* [[506th Infantry Regiment (United States)|506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]]
* [[326th Airborne Engineer Battalion]]
* [[321st Field Artillery Regiment|321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion]]
* [[377th Field Artillery Regiment|377th Glider Field Artillery Battalion]]
* [[907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion]]
}}

[[File:Eisenhower d-day.jpg|thumb|[[General (United States)|General]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] speaking with [[First lieutenant|1st Lieutenant]] [[Wallace Strobel (United States Army officer)|Wallace C. Strobel]] and men of Company E, [[502nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment]] on 5 June. The placard around Strobel's neck indicates he is the jumpmaster for chalk No.&nbsp;23 of the 438th TCG.]]

On 30 July 1942, the [[Army Ground Forces]] ordered the activation of two airborne divisions by 15 August 1942. The 82nd Division, an Organized Reserve division ordered into active military service in March 1942, was ordered to provide cadre to the 101st Division, the other division that was selected for the project, for all elements except parachute infantry. As part of the reorganization of the 101st Division as an airborne division, the unit was disbanded in the Organized Reserve on 15 August 1942 and reconstituted and reactivated in the [[Army of the United States]].<ref name="101HHClineage"/> On 19 August 1942, its first commander, Major General [[William C. Lee]], read out General Order Number 5:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.campbell.army.mil/Pages/Default.aspx |title=Official Website of Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) |website=U.S. Army |access-date=11 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110044433/http://www.campbell.army.mil/Pages/Default.aspx |archive-date=10 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<blockquote>The 101st Airborne Division, which was activated on 16 August 1942, at [[Camp Claiborne]], [[Louisiana]], has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Due to the nature of our armament, and the tactics in which we shall perfect ourselves, we shall be called upon to carry out operations of far-reaching military importance and we shall habitually go into action when the need is immediate and extreme. Let me call your attention to the fact that our badge is the great American eagle. This is a fitting emblem for a division that will crush its enemies by falling upon them like a thunderbolt from the skies.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The history we shall make, the record of high achievement we hope to write in the annals of the American Army and the American people, depends wholly and completely on the men of this division. Each individual, each officer and each enlisted man, must therefore regard himself as a necessary part of a complex and powerful instrument for the overcoming of the enemies of the nation. Each, in his own job, must realize that he is not only a means, but an indispensable means for obtaining the goal of victory. It is, therefore, not too much to say that the future itself, in whose molding we expect to have our share, is in the hands of the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mil/media/11942 |title=General Order Number 5, 101st Airborne Division, Camp Claiborne, LA., Aug. 16, 1942 |website=U.S. Army Military History Institute |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016203751/http://www.army.mil/media/11942 |archive-date=2013-10-16}}</ref></blockquote>

==== Operation Overlord ====
{{Main|Mission Albany}}
[[File:Paratrooper applies war paint 111-SC-193551cropped.jpg|thumb|Private Ware applies last second war paint to Private Plaudo in England June 1944.]]

The [[Pathfinder (military)|pathfinders]] of the 101st Airborne Division led the way on [[Normandy landings|D-Day]] in the night drop before the invasion. They left from [[RAF North Witham]], having trained there with the [[82nd Airborne Division]]. These night drops caused a lot of trouble for the gliders. Many crashed and equipment and personnel were lost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warchronicle.com/dday/utah/all_american_eagles.htm |title=The Airborne Assault |website=War Chronicle |access-date=23 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518103556/http://warchronicle.com/dday/utah/all_american_eagles.htm |archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

The 101st Airborne Division's objectives were to secure the four causeway exits behind [[Utah Beach]] between [[Saint-Martin-de-Varreville]] and [[Pouppeville]] to ensure the exit route for the 4th Infantry Division from the beach later that morning.<ref name="Guard 2007">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J0R-YBfWeT8C |last=Guard |first=Julie |title=Airborne: World War II Paratroopers in Combat |year=2007 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-1-84603-196-0 |page=184 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The other objectives included destroying a German coastal artillery battery at Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, capturing buildings nearby at [[Les Mézières, Manche|Mézières]] believed used as barracks and a command post for the artillery battery, capturing the [[Douve]] river lock at [[La Barquette]] (opposite [[Carentan]]), capturing two footbridges spanning the Douve at La Porte opposite [[Brévands]], destroying the highway bridges over the Douve at [[Saint-Côme-du-Mont]], and securing the Douve River valley. Their secondary mission was to protect the southern flank of [[VII Corps (United States)|VII Corps]]. They destroyed two bridges along the Carentan highway and a railroad bridge just west of it. They gained control of La Barquette locks, and established a bridgehead over the Douve which was located north-east of Carentan.<ref name="Guard 2007"/>

In the process, units also disrupted German communications, established roadblocks to hamper the movement of German reinforcements, established a defensive line between the beachhead and [[Valognes]], cleared the area of the drop zones to the unit boundary at Les Forges, and linked up with the 82nd Airborne Division.

===== Drop Zone Able =====
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}

The paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division jumped between 00:48 and 01:40 [[British Double Summer Time]] of 6 June. The first wave, inbound to Drop Zone A (the northernmost), was not surprised by the cloud bank and maintained formation, but navigating errors and a lack of [[Rebecca/Eureka transponding radar|Eureka signal]] caused the first error{{clarify|what first error?|date=March 2024}}. Although the 2nd Battalion, [[502nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment]] was dropped as a compact unit, it jumped on the wrong drop zone, while its commander, Lt. Col. Steve A. Chappuis, came down virtually alone on the correct drop zone. Chappuis and his [[paratrooper]] captured the coastal battery soon after assembling, and found that it had already been dismantled after an air raid.

Most of the remainder of the 502nd (70 of 80 paratroopers) dropped in a disorganized pattern around the impromptu drop zone set up by the pathfinders near the beach. The battalion commanders of the 1st and 3rd Battalions, Lt. Col. Patrick J. Cassidy (1/502) and Lt. Col. [[Robert G. Cole]] (3/502), took charge of small groups and accomplished all of their D-Day missions. Cassidy's group took Saint Martin-de-Varreville by 06:30, sent a patrol under S/Sgt. [[Harrison C. Summers]] to seize the "XYZ" objective, a barracks at Mésières, and set up a thin line of defense from [[Foucarville]] to [[Beuzeville]]. Cole's group moved during the night from near [[Sainte-Mère-Église]] to the Varreville battery, then continued on and captured Exit 3 at 07:30. They held the position during the morning until relieved by troops moving inland from Utah Beach. Both commanders found Exit 4 covered by German artillery fire and Cassidy recommended to the [[U.S. 4th Infantry Division|4th Infantry Division]] that it not use the exit.

The division's parachute artillery did not fare nearly as well. Its drop was one of the worst of the operation, losing all but one howitzer and dropping all but two of 54 loads four to {{convert|20|mi|km|spell=in}} to the north, where most ultimately became casualties.

===== Drop Zone Charlie =====
The second wave, assigned to drop the [[506th Infantry Regiment (United States)|506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR)]] on Drop Zone C {{convert|1|mi}} west of [[Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche|Sainte Marie-du-Mont]], was badly dispersed by the clouds, then subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire for {{convert|10|mi}}. Three of the 81&nbsp;C-47s were lost before or during the jump. One, piloted by 1st Lt. Marvin F. Muir of the [[439th Troop Carrier Group]], caught fire. Muir held the aircraft steady while the stick jumped, then died when the plane crashed immediately afterward, for which he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. Despite the opposition, the 506th's 1st Battalion<ref name=turner group=notes>Lt. Col. William L. Turner, Colorado. Col. Turner was killed in action the next day.</ref> (the original division reserve) was dropped accurately on DZ C, landing two-thirds of its sticks and regimental commander Col. [[Robert Sink|Robert F. Sink]] on or within a mile of the drop zone.

Most of the 2nd Battalion had jumped too far west, near Sainte-Mère-Église. They eventually assembled near Foucarville at the northern edge of the 101st Airborne's objective area. It fought its way to the hamlet of Le Grand Chemin near the Houdienville causeway by mid-afternoon, but found that the [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Division]] had already seized the exit hours before. The 3rd Battalion of the [[501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (United States)|501st PIR]], led by Lt. Col. [[Julian Ewell|Julian J. Ewell]] (3/501), also assigned to jump onto DZ C, was more scattered, but took over the mission of securing the exits. An ad hoc [[company (military unit)|company]]-sized team that included division commander Maj. Gen. [[Maxwell D. Taylor]] reached the Pouppeville exit at 06:00.<ref name="utahii">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.history.army.mil/BOOKS/WWII/utah/utah2.htm |url=https://www.history.army.mil/BOOKS/WWII/utah/utah.htm |id=CMH Pub 100-12 |series=American Forces in Action |title=Utah Beach to Cherbourg |chapter=The Airborne Assault |date=1990 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |access-date=5 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916101848/http://www.history.army.mil/BOOKS/WWII/utah/utah2.htm |archive-date=16 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After a six-hour house-clearing battle with elements of the German 1058th Grenadier Regiment, the group secured the exit shortly before 4th Division troops arrived to link up.

===== Drop Zone Dog =====
The third wave also encountered severe [[flak]], losing six aircraft. The troop carriers still made an accurate drop, placing 94 of 132 sticks on or close to the drop zone, but part of the DZ was covered by pre-registered German machine gun and mortar fire that inflicted heavy casualties before many troops could get out of their chutes. Among the killed were two of the three battalion commanders and the executive officer of the 3/506th.<ref group=notes>Lt. Col. Robert C. Carroll (1/501), Lt. Col. Robert L. Wolverton (3/506th), and Major George S. Grant (3/506).</ref>

The surviving battalion commander, Lt. Col. Robert A. Ballard, gathered 250 troopers and advanced toward Saint Côme-du-Mont to complete his mission of destroying the highway bridges over the Douve. Less than half a mile from his objective at les Droueries he was stopped by elements of battalion III/1058 Grenadier-Rgt. Another group of 50 men, assembled by the regimental S-3, Major Richard J. Allen, attacked the same area from the east at Basse-Addeville but was also pinned down.

The commander of the 501st PIR, Col. Howard R. Johnson, collected 150 troops and captured the main objective, la Barquette lock, by 04:00. After establishing defensive positions, Col. Johnson went back to the DZ and assembled another 100 men, including Allen's group, to reinforce the bridgehead. Despite naval gunfire support from the cruiser {{USS|Quincy|CA-71|2}}, Ballard's battalion was unable to take Saint Côme-du-Mont or join Col. Johnson.<ref group=notes>Col. Johnson was killed in action in the Netherlands on 8 October 1944.</ref>

The S-3 officer of the 3rd Battalion 506th PIR, Capt. Charles G. Shettle, put together a [[platoon]] and achieved another objective by seizing two foot bridges near la Porte at 04:30 and crossed to the east bank. When their ammunition drew low after knocking out several machine gun emplacements, the small force withdrew to the west bank. It doubled in size overnight as stragglers came in and repulsed a German probe across the bridges.

===== Other actions =====
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}

Two other noteworthy actions took place near Sainte Marie-du-Mont by units of the 506th PIR, both of which involved the seizure and destruction of [[Artillery battery|batteries]] of [[10.5&nbsp;cm leFH 18|105 mm guns]] of the [[91st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)#Organization (June 1944)|German III Battalion-191st Artillery Regiment]]. During the morning, a small patrol of troopers from Company E 506th PIR under (then) 1st Lt. [[Richard D. Winters]] overwhelmed a force 3–4 times its size and destroyed four guns at a farm called [[Brécourt Manor Assault|Brécourt Manor]], for which Winters was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the assault troops given Silver and Bronze Stars. This was later documented in the book ''[[Band of Brothers (book)|Band of Brothers]]'' and the [[Band of Brothers (miniseries)|miniseries of the same name]].

[[File:101st Airborne Division - WW2 01.jpg|thumb|101st Airborne troops posing with a captured [[Nazi]] vehicle air identification sign two days after landing at Normandy.]]
Around noon, while reconnoitering the area by [[jeep]], Col. Sink received word that a second battery of four guns had been discovered at Holdy, a manor between his CP and Sainte Marie-du-Mont, and the defenders had a force of some 70 paratroopers pinned down. Capt. Lloyd E. Patch (Headquarters Company 1st/506th) and Capt. Knut H. Raudstein (Company C 506th PIR)<ref group=notes>Patch became acting commander of the 1st Battalion on 7 June, and later commanded the 3/506 as a lieutenant colonel. Both Patch and Raudstein were awarded the DSC.</ref> led an additional 70 troops to Holdy and enveloped the position. The combined force then continued on to seize Sainte Marie-du-Mont. A platoon of the 502nd PIR, left to hold the battery, destroyed three of the four guns before Col. Sink could send four jeeps to save them for the 101st's use.

At the end of D-Day, Gen. Taylor and division artillery commander Brig. Gen. [[Anthony C. McAuliffe]] returned from their foray at Pouppeville. Taylor had control of approximately 2,500 of his 6,600 men, most of whom were in the vicinity of the 506th CP at Culoville, with the thin defense line west of Saint Germain-du-Varreville, or the division reserve at Blosville. Two [[Mission Chicago|glider airlifts]] had brought in scant reinforcements and had resulted in the death of his assistant division commander (ADC), Brig. Gen. [[Don F. Pratt]], his neck broken on impact. The 327th Glider Infantry had come across Utah Beach but only its third battalion (1st Battalion 401st GIR) had reported in.

The 101st Airborne Division had accomplished its most important mission of securing the beach exits, but had a tenuous hold on positions near the Douve River, over which the Germans could still move armored units. The three groups clustered there had tenuous contact with each other but none with the rest of the division. A shortage of radio equipment caused by losses during the drops exacerbated his control problems. Taylor made destroying the Douve bridges the division's top priority and delegated the task to Sink, who issued orders for the 1st Battalion 401st Glider Infantry to lead three battalions south the next morning.

===== Carentan =====
On 10 June the division launched an assault to seize the town of Carentan, a major road and rail hub that served as a critical junction between Utah and Omaha beaches. As such Carentan was heavily defended by the 2nd Fallschirmjäger-Division, 91st Luftlande-Infanterie-Division and elements of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division. Deliberate flooding of the Douve River floodplain north of the town left the elevated causeway linking [[Saint-Côme-du-Mont]] and Carentan, later named [[Purple Heart Lane]], as the most expedient route to Carentan.

The 502nd PIR was assigned the task of assaulting down this highway while the 327th GIR crossed the Douve north of Carentan and attacked from the northeast. 3rd Battalion, 502nd PIR led the 502nds attack, with a reconnaissance patrol reaching the fourth and final bridge on the causeway into Carentan on the morning of 10 June. The rest of 3/502 attempted to reach the fourth bridge during the day, but damage to the preceding bridges on the causeway, as well as artillery, dive bomber, machine gun and sniper fire, stalled the battalion until the next day and inflicted heavy casualties.

Early on 11 June, 3/502 resumes its attack and attempts to seize a farmhouse just beyond Bridge No.4, but is halted by heavy German fire. Using a  smoke screen, the 3/502nd's battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel [[Robert G. Cole]], led a bayonet charge that secured the farmhouse, allowing the 506th PIR to pass the 502nds lines and seize Carentan. For his bravery and leadership, LTC Cole was awarded the first of two [[Medal of Honor|Medals of Honor]] earned by Screaming Eagle soldiers in WWII.

As the regular troops moved in from the beachheads and strengthened the paratrooper positions, the 101st was relieved and returned to England to rest and refit for the next airborne operation. The first elements of the division returned to Southampton, England on 12 July 1944 in the presence of Secretary of War [[Henry L. Stimson]] according to the private papers of Lt. Gen. [[John C. H. Lee]], commanding general of the [[Communications Zone]], ETO who received the Secretary's visit. After the [[Operation Cobra|American breakout from Normandy]] and subsequent liberation of France, [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force|SHAEF]] planned several jumps for the 101st ahead of the advancing armies, but all were cancelled prior to launch due to the rapid advance of Allied ground troops.

===== Operation Market Garden =====
[[File:101st Airborne inspecting broken glider in Holland army.mil-2007-09-12-112355.jpg|thumb|Men of the 101st Airborne Division inspect a broken glider, September 1944.]]

On 17 September 1944, the 101st Airborne Division became part of [[XVIII Airborne Corps]], under [[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Matthew Ridgway]], part of the [[First Allied Airborne Army]], commanded by [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Lewis H. Brereton]]. The division took part in [[Operation Market Garden]] (17–25 September 1944), an unsuccessful Allied military operation under [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Bernard Montgomery]], commander of the Anglo-Canadian [[21st Army Group]], to capture Dutch bridges over the Rhine. It was fought in the Netherlands, and is the largest airborne operation of any war.<ref name="WrightGreenwood2007">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fi3Q-YvWB9kC&pg=PT50 |last1=Wright |first1=Robert K. |last2=Greenwood |first2=John T. |name-list-style=amp |title=Airborne Forces at War: From Parachute Test Platoon to the 21st Century |year=2007 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-028-3 |page=62}}</ref>

The plan, as outlined by Montgomery, required the seizure by airborne forces of several bridges on the [[A50 motorway (Netherlands)|Highway 69]] across the Maas ([[Meuse River]]) and two arms of the [[Rhine]] (the [[Waal (river)|Waal]] and the [[Nederrijn|Lower Rhine]]), as well as several smaller [[canal]]s and [[tributary|tributaries]]. Crossing these bridges would allow British armoured units to [[flanking manoeuvre|outflank]] the [[Siegfried Line]], advance into northern Germany, and encircle the [[Ruhr Area|Ruhr]], Germany's industrial heartland, thus ending the war. This meant the large-scale use of Allied [[airborne forces]], including both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, along with the [[1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|British 1st Airborne Division]].

The operation was initially successful. Several bridges between [[Eindhoven]] and [[Nijmegen]] were captured by the 82nd and 101st. The 101st met little resistance and captured most of their initial objectives by the end of 17 September. However, the demolition of the division's primary objective, a bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal at [[Son en Breugel|Son]], delayed the capture of the main road bridge over the Maas until 20 September. Faced with the loss of the bridge at Son, the 101st unsuccessfully attempted to capture a similar bridge a few kilometers away at [[Best, Netherlands|Best]] but found the approach blocked. During the fighting near Best, Private First Class [[Joe E. Mann]] of 3rd Battalion, 502nd PIR posthumously earned the division's second and last Medal of Honor during WWII for throwing his body unto a German grenade he was too badly wounded to throw back, saving several of his fellow soldiers. Other units continued moving to the south and eventually reached the northern end of Eindhoven.

At 06:00 on 18 September, the [[Irish Guards]] of the [[Guards Armoured Division|British Guards Armoured Division]] resumed the advance while facing determined resistance from German infantry and tanks.<ref name="Gill">{{Cite book |last1=Gill |first1=Ronald |last2=Groves |first2=John |name-list-style=amp |title=Club Route in Europe: The History of 30 Corps from D-Day to May 1945 |publisher=MLRS Books |year=2006 |orig-year=1946 |isbn=978-1-905696-24-6}}</ref>{{Rp|p71}} Around noon the 101st Airborne were met by the lead reconnaissance units from [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|British XXX Corps]]. At 16:00 radio contact alerted the main force that the Son bridge had been destroyed and requested that a replacement [[Bailey bridge]] be brought forward. By nightfall the Guards Armoured Division had established itself in the Eindhoven area<ref name="Randall, p. 33">Randall, p. 33</ref> however transport columns were jammed in the packed streets of the town and were subjected to German aerial bombardment during the night. XXX Corps engineers, supported by German prisoners of war, constructed a class 40 Bailey bridge within 10 hours across the Wilhelmina Canal.<ref name="Gill"/>{{Rp|p72}} The longest sector of the highway secured by the 101st Airborne Division later became known as "Hell's Highway".

Due to Operation Market Garden significantly extending the 21st Army Groups line, the 101st was attached to 21st Army Group to prevent its lines from being undermanned. The 101st reinforced the Nijmegen salient and relieved the British [[43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division|43rd Wessex Division]] to defend against the [[Battle of the Nijmegen salient|German counter offensive]] against the salient in early October. The division was relieved in late November 1944 and returned to SHAEF reserve for rest and refit.

===== Battle of the Bulge =====
{{Main|Siege of Bastogne}}
[[File:Bastogne resupply1944 sm.jpg|thumb|101st Airborne Division troops watch as [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47s]] drop supplies over Bastogne.]]

The Ardennes Offensive (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945) was a major German offensive launched towards the end of World War II through the forested [[Ardennes|Ardennes Mountains region]] of Belgium. Germany's planned goal for these operations was to split the British and American Allied line in half, capturing [[Antwerp]], Belgium in the process, and then proceeding to [[encirclement|encircle and destroy]] the entire [[British 21st Army Group]] and all [[Twelfth United States Army Group|12th U.S. Army Group]] units north of the German advance, forcing the Western Allies to negotiate a [[peace treaty]] in the [[Axis powers of World War II|Axis Powers]]' favor as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1753.html |title=Battle of the Bulge |website=U.S. History.com |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223203343/http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1753.html |archive-date=23 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> In order to reach Antwerp before the Allies could regroup and bring their superior air power to bear, German mechanized forces had to seize all the major highways through eastern Belgium. Because all seven of the main roads in the Ardennes converged on the small town of [[Bastogne]], control of its crossroads was vital to the success or failure of the German attack.

Despite several notable signs in the weeks preceding the attack, the Ardennes Offensive achieved virtually complete surprise. By the end of the second day of battle, it became apparent that the [[28th Infantry Division (United States)|28th Infantry Division]] was near collapse. Maj. Gen. [[Troy H. Middleton]], commander of [[VIII Corps (United States)|VIII Corps]], ordered part of his armored reserve, Combat Command B of the [[U.S. 10th Armored Division|10th Armored Division]] to Bastogne.<ref name=ccb group=notes>CCB consisted of the 3rd Tank Battalion, [[54th Infantry Regiment (United States)|20th Armored Infantry Battalion]], C Company 21st Tank Battalion, B Company [[54th Infantry Regiment (United States)|54th Armored Infantry Battalion]], C Company 609th Tank Destroyer Battalion, 420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, and three companies of support troops.</ref> Meanwhile, Gen. [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] ordered forward the [[SHAEF]] reserve, composed of the 82nd and 101st Airborne, which were stationed at [[Reims]].

Both divisions were alerted on the evening of 17 December, and not having organic transport, began arranging trucks for movement forward, the weather conditions being unfit for a parachute drop. The 82nd, longer in reserve and thus better re-equipped, moved out first. The 101st left Camp Mourmelon on the afternoon of 18 December, with the order of march the division artillery, division trains, 501st PIR, [[506th Infantry Regiment|506th PIR]], 502nd PIR, and [[327th Infantry Regiment (United States)|327th Glider Infantry]]. Much of the convoy was conducted at night in drizzle and sleet, using headlights despite threat of air attack to speed the movement, and at one point the combined column stretched from [[Bouillon, Belgium|Bouillon]], Belgium, back to Reims.

The 101st Airborne was routed to Bastogne, located {{convert|107|mi|km}} away on a {{convert|1463|ft|m}} high [[plateau]], while the 82nd Airborne took up positions further north to block the critical advance of ''[[Kampfgruppe Peiper]]'' toward Werbomont, Belgium. The [[705th Tank Destroyer Battalion]], in reserve sixty miles to the north, was ordered to Bastogne to provide anti-tank support to the armorless 101st Airborne on the 18th and arrived late the next evening. The first elements of the [[501st Infantry Regiment (United States)|501st PIR]] entered the division assembly area four miles west of Bastogne shortly after midnight of 19 December, and by 09:00 the entire division had arrived.

By 21 December, the German forces had surrounded Bastogne, which was defended by both the 101st Airborne and [[Combat Command]] B of the 10th Armored Division. Conditions inside the perimeter were tough—most of the medical supplies and medical personnel had been captured on 19 December.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Killblane |first=Richard E. |title=A Christmas Present For Bastogne |magazine=World War II |volume=18 |number=3 |pages=36–44 |date=September 2003 |issn=0898-4204}}</ref> CCB of the 10th Armored Division, severely weakened by losses in delaying the German advance, formed a mobile "fire brigade" of 40 light and medium tanks (including survivors of CCR of the [[9th Armored Division (United States)|9th Armored Division]], which had been destroyed while delaying the Germans, and eight replacement tanks found unassigned in Bastogne). Three artillery battalions, including the all-black [[969th Artillery Battalion (United States)|969th Field Artillery Battalion]], were commandeered by the 101st and formed a temporary artillery group. Each had twelve 155&nbsp;mm howitzers, providing the division with heavy firepower in all directions restricted only by its limited ammunition supply (by 22 December artillery ammunition was restricted to 10 rounds per gun per day). The weather cleared the next day, however, and supplies (primarily ammunition) were dropped over four of the next five days.

[[File:McAuliffeBastogneChristmasLetter101Airborne.jpg|thumb|150px|A letter from General [[Anthony McAuliffe|McAuliffe]] on [[Christmas Day]] to the 101st Airborne troops defending [[Bastogne]]]]
Despite several determined German attacks, the perimeter held. The German commander, Generalleutnant [[Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz]],<ref>Marshall, p.177.</ref> requested Bastogne's surrender.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedropzone.org/europe/Bulge/kinnard.html |title="NUTS!" Revisited: An Interview with Lt. General Harry W. O. Kinnard |last=O'Donnell |first=Patrick |website=The Drop Zone |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308031947/http://thedropzone.org/europe/Bulge/kinnard.html |archive-date=8 March 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> When [[Brigadier General|General]] [[Anthony McAuliffe]], now acting commander of the 101st, was told, he commented : "Nuts!" After turning to other pressing issues, his staff reminded him that there should be a reply to the German demand. One officer (Harry W. O. Kinnard, then a lieutenant colonel) recommended that McAuliffe's reply would be "tough to beat". Thus, McAuliffe wrote on the paper delivered to the Germans: "NUTS!" That reply had to be explained, both to the Germans and to non-American Allies.<ref group=notes>'' [[wikt:Nuts|Nuts]]'' can mean several things in [[American English]] slang. In this case, however, it signified rejection, and was explained to the Germans as meaning "Go to Hell!"</ref>

Both of the two panzer divisions of the XLVII Panzer Corps moved forward from Bastogne after 21 December, leaving only one panzergrenadier regiment of the [[Panzer-Lehr-Division]] to assist the [[26th Volksgrenadier Division (Wehrmacht)|26th Volksgrenadier Division]] in attempting to capture the crossroads. The 26th VG received additional armor and panzergrenadier reinforcements on Christmas Eve to prepare for its final assault, to take place on Christmas Day. Because it lacked sufficient armor and troops and the 26th VG Division was near exhaustion, the XLVII Panzer Corps concentrated the assault on several individual locations on the west side of perimeter in sequence rather than launching one simultaneous attack on all sides. The assault, despite initial success by German tanks in penetrating the American line, was defeated and virtually all of the German tanks involved were destroyed. The next day, 26 December, the spearhead of [[George S. Patton|General George S. Patton's]] [[Third United States Army|U.S. Third Army]] relief force, the [[4th Armored Division (United States)|4th Armored Division]], broke through the German lines and opened a corridor to Bastogne, ending the siege. The division got the nickname "The Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne".

With the encirclement broken, the men of the 101st expected to be relieved, but were given orders to resume the offensive. The 506th attacked north and recaptured [[Recogne]] on 9 January 1945, the Bois des Corbeaux (''Corbeaux Wood''), to the right of Easy Company, on 10 January, and Foy on 13 January. The 327th attacked towards Bourcy, northeast of Bastogne, on 13 January and encountered stubborn resistance. The 101st Airborne Division faced the elite of the German military which included such units as [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]], [[Führerbegleitbrigade]], [[12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend]], and the [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen]].<ref>Bando, p.188.</ref> The 506th retook Noville on 15 January and Rachamps the next day. The 502nd reinforced the 327th, and the two regiments captured Bourcy on 17 January, pushing the Germans back to their point of advance on the day the division had arrived in Bastogne. The next day the 101st Airborne Division was relieved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwar2facts.org/battle-of-bastogne.html |title=Battle of Bastogne Facts |first=Will |last=Harney |date=December 2, 2012 |website=World War 2 Facts |access-date=16 December 2013}}</ref>
[[File:PZ IV Ardenne3.jpg|thumb|A Panzer IV of [[Kampfgruppe Peiper]] of the [[1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler]]. The 101st Airborne Division fought this elite [[Waffen SS]] division when the 101st attacked towards Bourcy, northeast of Bastogne, on 13 January 1945.]]
{{clear left}}

===== Liberation of Kaufering =====
In April 1945, the 101st moved into the Rhineland and eventually reached the Bavarian Alps. As the 101st drove into Southern Germany they liberated Kaufering IV, one of the camps in the [[Kaufering concentration camp|Kaufering complex]]. Kaufering IV had been designated as the sick camp where prisoners who could no longer work were sent. During the typhus epidemic of 1945 in Germany, Kaufering prisoners with typhus were sent there to die. Kaufering IV was located near the town of Hurlach, which the [[12th Armored Division (United States)|12th Armored Division]] occupied on 27 April, with the 101st arriving the next day. The soldiers found over 500 dead inmates and the Army ordered the local townspeople to bury the dead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006152 |title=The 101st Airborne Division During World War II |website=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |access-date=28 August 2016}}</ref>

==== Composition ====
[[File:SUPPLY BY AIR 2.jpg|thumb|right|101st Airborne troops retrieving air dropped supplies during the [[Battle of Bastogne|siege of Bastogne]].]]

The division was composed of the following units:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/101ABN-ETO.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225225913/http://www.history.army.mil/documents/ETO-OB/101ABN-ETO.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 December 2007 |title=Order of Battle of the US Army - WWII - ETO - 101st Airborne Division |website=US Army Center of Military History  |access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> 
* 327th Glider Infantry Regiment
* 401st Glider Infantry Regiment (disbanded 1 March 1945, 1st Battalion became the 3rd Battalion, 327th GIR, while the 2nd Battalion became the 3rd Battalion, [[325th Glider Infantry Regiment|325th GIR]], [[82nd Airborne Division]])
* 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment
* 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (attached 15 September 1943 to 1 March 1945, thereafter assigned)
* 81st Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
* 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion
* 101st Parachute Maintenance Company (assigned 1 March 45)
* [[326th Medical Battalion (United States)|326th Airborne Medical Company]]
* 101st Airborne Division Artillery
** [[321st Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion]] (75&nbsp;mm)
** [[377th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion]] (75&nbsp;mm)
** 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (75&nbsp;mm) (assigned 1 March 1945)
** 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (75&nbsp;mm)
* Special Troops (Headquarters activated 1 Mar 45)
** Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division
** 101st Airborne Signal Company
** 426th Airborne Quartermaster Company
** 801st Airborne Ordnance Company
** Reconnaissance Platoon (assigned 1 March 45)
** Military Police Platoon
** Band (assigned 1 March 45)

Attached paratrooper units:
* 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (attached January 1944 – past 9 May 1945)

==== Casualties ====
* '''Total battle casualties:''' 9,328<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953">Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953)</ref>
* '''Killed in action:''' 1,766<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953" />
* '''Wounded in action:''' 6,388<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953" />
* '''Missing in action:''' 207<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953" />
* '''Prisoner of war:''' 967<ref name="Nonbattle Deaths 1953" />

==== Awards ====
During World War II the division and its members were awarded the following awards:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/101abd.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608081247/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/101abd.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |title=101st Airborne Division |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Distinguished Unit Citation]]s: 13
* [[Medal of Honor]]: 2
** Lieutenant Colonel [[Robert G. Cole]]<sup>([[Killed in action|KIA]])</sup>
** Private First Class [[Joe E. Mann]]<sup>([[Killed in action|KIA]])</sup>
* [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]: 56
* [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Distinguished Service Medal]]: 2
* [[Silver Star]]: 456
* [[Legion of Merit]]: 20
* [[Soldier's Medal]]: 4
* [[Bronze Star Medal]]: 9,488
* [[Air Medal]]: 48

=== Post-war ===
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}

On 1 August 1945, the 501st PIR was moved to France, while the rest of the division was based around [[Zell am See]] and [[Kaprun]] in the Austrian Alps. Some units within the division began training for redeployment to the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theatre of War]], but the war ended before they were needed. The division was inactivated 30 November 1945. For their efforts during World War II, the 101st Airborne Division was awarded four campaign streamers and two Presidential Unit Citations.

=== Helmet insignia ===
The 101st was distinguished partly by its tactical helmet insignia. [[Suit (cards)|Card suits]] (diamonds, spades, hearts, and clubs) on each side of the helmet denoted the regiment to which a soldier belonged. The only exception was the 187th which was added to the division later. Divisional headquarters and support units were denoted by use of a square and divisional artillery by a circle. Tick marks at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock indicated to which battalion the individual belonged, while the tick mark at 12 o'clock indicated a headquarters or headquarters company assignment.<ref name="helmet insignia">{{cite web |url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-is-why-screaming-eagles-wear-cards/ |title=This is why Screaming Eagles wear cards on their helmets |last1=Milzarski |first1=Eric |date=21 December 2021 |website=WeAreTheMighty |access-date=18 August 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222143019/https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/this-is-why-screaming-eagles-wear-cards/ |archive-date=22 December 2021}}</ref>
* These insignia were first seen in World War II, and can still be seen on 101st Division soldiers today.
** 327th: Clubs (♣) (Currently worn by the 1st Brigade Combat Team; depicted in the 1949 film ''[[Battleground (film)|Battleground]]'')
** 501st: Diamonds (♦) (Currently 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment is part of the 2nd Brigade, 11th Airborne Division in Alaska.) (The diamond is currently used by both 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment and the 101st [[Combat Aviation Brigade]])
** 502nd: Hearts (♥) (Currently worn by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team)
** 506th: Spades (♠) (Formerly worn by 4th Brigade Combat Team before their inactivation in 2014; depicted in the mini-series ''Band of Brothers''; currently worn by 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment)
** [[187th Infantry Regiment|187th]]: [[Torii]] ([[File:Torii.svg|10px]]) (Currently worn by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team; not during World War II, when the 187th Infantry Regiment was part of the [[11th Airborne Division]].)

===Postwar training and pentomic reactivation===
The 101st Airborne was allotted to the Regular Army in June 1948<ref name="101HHClineage" /> and reactivated as a training unit at [[Morganfield, Kentucky#Camp Breckenridge|Camp Breckenridge]], [[Kentucky]] the following July, only to be inactivated the next year.<ref name="101HHClineage" /> It was reactivated in 1950 following the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], again to serve as a Training Center at Camp Breckenridge until inactivated in December 1953. During this time it included the [[53rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|53rd Airborne Infantry Regiment]].

It was reactivated again in May 1954 at [[Fort Jackson (South Carolina)|Fort Jackson]], [[South Carolina]]<ref name="101HHClineage" /> and in March 1956, the 101st was transferred, less personnel and equipment, to [[Fort Campbell, Kentucky|Fort Campbell]], Kentucky, to be reorganized as a combat division. Using the personnel and equipment of the 187th ARCT and the 508th ARCT,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.red-devils.org/_regthist/abn_1951.shtml |title=508th Airborne Chapter – Regt. History |website=Red-devils.org |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330212619/http://www.red-devils.org/_regthist/abn_1951.shtml |url-status=dead}}</ref> the 101st was reactivated as the first "[[pentomic]]" division with five [[Battlegroup (army)|battle groups]] in place of its World War II structure that included regiments and battalions. The reorganization was in place by late April 1957 and the division's battle groups were:
* 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 187th Infantry
* 1st Airborne Battle Group, 327th Infantry
* 1st Airborne Battle Group, 501st Infantry
* 1st Airborne Battle Group, 502nd Infantry
* 1st Airborne Battle Group, 506th Infantry

Division artillery consisted of the following units:
* Battery D, 319th Artillery
* Battery E, 319th Artillery
* Battery A, 321st Artillery
* Battery B, 321st Artillery
* Battery C, 321st Artillery
* Battery A, 377th Artillery

Other supporting units were also assigned.

===Civil rights===
The "[[Little Rock Nine]]" were a group of African-American students who were enrolled in [[Little Rock Central High School]] in September 1957, as a result of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]'s ruling in the historic ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' case. Elements of the division's 1st Airborne Battle Group, 327th Infantry were ordered to [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] by President Eisenhower to escort the students into the formerly segregated school during the crisis. The division was under the command of Major General [[Edwin Walker]], who was committed to protecting the black students.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cobb |first=Osro |author-link=Osro Cobb |editor-first=Carol |editor-last=Griffee |date=1989 |title=Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance |location=[[Little Rock, Arkansas]] |publisher=Rose Publishing Company |page=238 |isbn=978-0-914546818}}</ref> The troops were deployed from September until Thanksgiving 1957, when [[153rd Infantry Regiment|Task Force 153rd Infantry]], (federalized [[Arkansas Army National Guard]]) which had also been on duty at the school since 24 September, assumed the responsibility.

===STRAC===
In 1958 the US Army formed the [[Strategic Army Corps]] consisting of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions with a mission of rapid deployment on short notice.

===Vietnam War===
{{Main|Vietnam War}}
[[File:101st Airborne Division - Vietnam 01.jpg|thumb|Men of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, fire from old Viet Cong trenches.]]

On 29 July 1965, the 1st Brigade deployed to [[II Corps (South Vietnam)|II Corps]], [[South Vietnam]] with the following units:
* 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry
* 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry
* 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry
* [[2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment|2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery]]
* [[17th Cavalry Regiment|Troop A, 2nd Squadron 17th Cavalry]]
* 101st Support Battalion (Provisional)
* Company A, 326th Engineer Battalion
* Company D, [[326th Medical Battalion (United States)|326th Medical Battalion]]
* Company B, 501st Signal Battalion
* 20th Chemical Detachment
* 181st Military Intelligence Detachment
* 406th Army Security Agency Detachment<ref name=Stanton>{{cite book |last=Stanton |first=Shelby |title=Vietnam Order of Battle |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-811700719 |page=85}}</ref>

From 1965 to 1967, the 1st Brigade operated independently as sort of a fire brigade and earned the reputation as being called the "Nomads of Vietnam." They fought in every area of South Vietnam from the [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] up north all the way down the [[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]].<ref name="fortcampbellcourier.com">{{cite news |url=http://fortcampbellcourier.com/news/commentary/article_bcd86ea2-06b8-11df-a6f1-001cc4c03286.html |title=101st combat record in Vietnam 'unmatched' |first=Mary L. |last=Gonzalez |date=21 January 2010 |newspaper=The Fort Campbell Courier |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002174246/http://fortcampbellcourier.com/news/commentary/article_bcd86ea2-06b8-11df-a6f1-001cc4c03286.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 1967 the 1st Brigade operated as part of [[Task Force Oregon]].<ref name=Stanton/>

Within the United States, the 101st, along with the 82nd Airborne Division, was sent in to quell the [[1967 Detroit riot]].

The rest of the 101st was deployed to Vietnam in November 1967 and the 1st Brigade rejoined its parent division.<ref name=Stanton/> The 101st was deployed in the northern [[I Corps (South Vietnam)|I Corps]] region, operating against the [[People's Army of Vietnam]] (PAVN) infiltration routes through [[Laos]] and the [[A Shau Valley]] for most of the war. Notable among these were the [[Battle of Hamburger Hill]] in 1969 and [[FSB Ripcord|Firebase Ripcord]] in 1970.

During the war, the division's bald eagle patch resulted in the North Vietnamese Army referring to 101st Airborne soldiers as "chicken men."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Kristin M. |title=Storied 101st Airborne marks 70th anniversary |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/storied-101st-airborne-marks-70th-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |agency=The Associated Press |date=2012-08-12 |quote=Page said records captured during the war showed the North Vietnamese Army warned troops to be cautious when encountering the 'chicken men,' referring to the division's bald eagle patch.}}</ref>

====Tiger Force====
[[Tiger Force]] was the nickname of a [[long-range reconnaissance patrol]] unit<ref>{{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon L. |date=2008 |title=US Army Long-Range Patrol Scout in Vietnam 1965–71 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=33 |isbn=978-1-846032509}}</ref> of the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade (Separate), 101st Airborne Division, which fought in the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>Sallah & Weiss, ''Tiger Force'', pp. 22–23.</ref> The platoon-sized unit, approximately 45 [[paratroopers]], was founded by Colonel [[David Hackworth]] in November 1965 to "outguerrilla the guerrillas".<ref>Sallah & Weiss, ''Tiger Force'', pp. 13–14, 23, 224.</ref> Tiger Force (Recon) 1/327th was a highly decorated small unit in Vietnam, and paid for its reputation with heavy casualties.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/SRTIGERFORCE/40328015 |title=Unit's founder says he didn't know of atrocities |last=Mahr |first=Joe |date=March 28, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|The Blade]] |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107233127/http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F99999999%2FSRTIGERFORCE%2F40328015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 1968, Tiger Force's parent battalion was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] by President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], which included a mention of Tiger Force's service at [[Đắk Tô]] in June 1966.<ref name=101stPUC>{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/matrix/101abd/101abd-dec.html |title=101st Airborne Division, Unit Decorations |website=U.S. Army |access-date=3 July 2016 }}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The unit was accused of committing multiple war crimes.<ref>Sallah & Weiss, ''Tiger Force'', pp. 335, 339–346, 350–352, 354–355, 359, 361–362, 367–369, 374–375, 376.</ref> Investigators concluded that many of the war crimes indeed took place.<ref>Sallah & Weiss, ''Tiger Force'', p. 383.</ref> Despite this, the Army decided not to pursue any prosecutions.<ref>Sallah & Weiss, ''Tiger Force'', p. 306.</ref> By the end of the war, Tiger Force had killed approximately 1,000 enemy soldiers.<ref name="socialistworker.org">{{cite web |url=http://socialistworker.org/2003-2/476/476_05_WarCrimes.shtml |title="We killed anything that walked", Vietnam war crimes |website=Socialist Worker |date=14 November 2003 |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref>

====Lam Son 719====
In 1971, elements of the division supported [[Operation Lam Son 719]], the South Vietnamese invasion of southern Laos, but only aviation units actually entered Laos.

The division began withdrawing from South Vietnam on 15 May 1971 with the departure of the 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry.<ref name=MACV1971>{{cite report |url=https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/reports/images.php?img=/images/1683/168300010817.pdf |title=Command History 1971 Volume II |publisher=Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam |date=1971 |access-date=7 June 2020}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>{{rp|F-1–8}} Most major units of the Division had redeployed by January 1972.<ref name=MACV1971/>{{rp|F-1–22}}

In the seven years that all or part of the division served in Vietnam it suffered 4,011 killed and 18,259 wounded in action.<ref>Sharpe & Dunstan, p.90.</ref> The division, during this time, participated in 12 separate campaigns and 17 of the division's Medal of Honor recipients are from this period of time – all this giving the 101st Airborne Division a combat record unmatched by any other division.<ref name="fortcampbellcourier.com"/>

===Post-Vietnam===
[[File:US Army 326th Brigade Engineering Battalion carimony-circa 1970s.png|thumb|150px|An officer with the 101st Airborne Division wearing dark-blue beret with 326th Engineer Battalion [[United States military beret flash|Beret Flash]] and Airmobile Badge, 1977]]
In 1968, the 101st took on the structure and equipment of an airmobile division. Following its return from Vietnam, the division was rebuilt with one brigade (3d) and supporting elements on jump status, using the assets of what had been the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The remaining two brigades and supporting units were organized as airmobile. With the exception of certain specialized units, such as the pathfinders and parachute riggers, in early 1974 the Army terminated jump status for the division. Concurrently the 101st introduced the Airmobile Badge (renamed later that year as the [[Air Assault Badge]]), the design of which was based on the Glider Badge of World War II. Initially the badge was only authorized for wear while assigned to the division, but in 1978 the Army authorized it for service-wide wear. Soldiers continued to wear the garrison cap with glider patch, bloused boots, and their specific unit's airborne background trimming behind their Air Assault or Parachute Badge, as had division paratroopers before them. A [[blue beret]] was authorized for the division in March or April 1974 and worn until revoked at the end of 1979.<ref name="82nd Podcast 25">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOZGkh_621o |title=All American Legacy Podcast Ep.25 - The French Hat |author=82nd Airborne Division |date=26 June 2017 |website=YouTube |access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="101st Blue Berets">{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/82ndAirborneDivision/posts/10158970798165387 |title=82nd Airborne Division |date=28 June 2017 |website=Facebook |access-date=23 March 2020 |quote=On episode 25 of the All American Legacy Podcast, we mention the blue beret of the 101st Airborne Division in the 1970s. Well, here is the proof.}}</ref>

The division also was authorized to wear a full color (white eagle) shoulder patch insignia instead of the subdued green eagle shoulder patch that was worn as a combat patch by soldiers who fought with the 101st in Vietnam. While serving with the 101st, it was also acceptable to wear a non-subdued patch as a combat patch, a distinction shared with the 1st and 5th Infantry divisions.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

[[File:M60 101st Airborne Division Exercise 1972.jpg|thumb|A member of the 101st Airborne Division, armed with an [[M60 machine gun]], participates in a field exercise in 1972. [[M16 rifle|M16A1 rifle]] in background with each soldier wearing an [[M1 helmet]].]]
In the late 1970s, the division maintained one battalion on a rotating basis as the division ready force (DRF). The force was in place to respond to alerts for action anywhere in the world. After alert notification, troopers of the "hot" platoon/company, would be airborne, "wheels-up" within 30 minutes as the first responding unit. All other companies of the battalion would follow within one hour. Within 24 hours there would be one brigade deployed to the affected area, with the remainder of the division deploying as needed.

In September 1980, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 2nd Brigade, took part in [[Operation Bright Star]] '80, an exercise deployment to Egypt. In 1984, the command group formed a full-time team, the "Screaming Eagles", Command Parachute Demonstration Team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.campbell.army.mil/units/AAS/PDT/Pages/PDT.aspx |title=Screaming Eagles Parachute Demonstration Team |website=Fort Campbell |access-date=23 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212071900/http://www.campbell.army.mil/units/AAS/PDT/Pages/PDT.aspx |archive-date=12 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However the team traces its history to the late 1950s, during the infancy of precision free fall.

On 12 December 1985, a civilian aircraft, [[Arrow Air Flight 1285R|Arrow Air Flight 1285]], chartered to transport some of the division from peacekeeping duty with the [[Multinational Force and Observers]] on the [[Sinai Peninsula]] to Kentucky, crashed just a short distance from [[Gander International Airport]], [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]], [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]]. All eight air crew members and 248 US servicemen died, most were from the 3d Battalion, 502d Infantry. [[Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board]] investigators were unable to determine the exact sequence of events which led to the accident, but determined that the probable cause of the crash was the aircraft's unexpectedly high drag and reduced lift condition, most likely due to [[Atmospheric icing|ice contamination]] on the wings' leading edges and upper surfaces, as well as underestimated onboard weight.<ref name="CASB Report">{{cite report |url=http://flightopsresearch.org/data/files/arrow1285.pdf |title=Aviation Occurrence Report, Arrow Air Inc. Douglas DC-8-63 N950JW, Gander International Airport, Newfoundland, 12 December 1985 |publisher=[[Canadian Aviation Safety Board]] |date=14 November 1988 |access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref> A [[Dissenting opinion|minority report]] stated that the accident could have been caused by an onboard explosion of unknown origin prior to impact.<ref name="CASB Minority Report">{{cite report |url=http://flightopsresearch.org/data/files/arrow1285.pdf |title=Dissenting Opinion, Arrow Air Inc. Douglas DC-8-63 N950JW, Gander International Airport, Newfoundland, 12 December 1985 |publisher=[[Canadian Aviation Safety Board]] |date=14 November 1988 |access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="CASB 85-H50902">{{cite report |url=http://www.sandford.org/gandercrash/investigations/minority_report/html/_cover_page.shtml |title=Dissenting Opinion, Arrow Air Inc. Douglas DC-8-63 N950JW, Gander International Airport, Newfoundland, 12 December 1985 |publisher=[[Canadian Aviation Safety Board]] |date=14 November 1988 |access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref> At the time it was [[List of accidents and disasters by death toll#Aviation|17th most disastrous]] aviation accident in terms of fatalities. President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy traveled to Fort Campbell to comfort grieving family members.

On 8 March 1988, two U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters assigned to the 101st Aviation Brigade collided while on a night training mission at Fort Campbell. All 17 soldiers aboard were killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/10/us/17-die-in-collision-of-army-copters.html |title=17 Die in Collision of Army Copters |date=10 March 1988 |work=The New York Times |access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> The dead included four helicopter crewmen and 13 members of the 502d Infantry Regiment. The Army's accident investigation attributed the crash to pilot error, aircraft design, and the limited field of view afforded pilots using night vision goggles (NVGs).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/1988-07-02/news/26236842_1_pilot-error-helicopter-collision-night-vision-goggles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214148/http://articles.philly.com/1988-07-02/news/26236842_1_pilot-error-helicopter-collision-night-vision-goggles |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2014 |title=Pilot Error, Design Cited in Air Crash |website=Inquirer Wire Services |access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref> Numerous improvements have been made in NVG technology since the accident occurred.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schmickley |first=Dennis |title=The Avionics Handbook |date=2001 |publisher=CRC Press LLC |chapter=Chapter 7 – Night Vision Goggles |chapter-url=http://nvgsafety.com/NVG_Support/Night_Vision_Goggles/Night_Vision_Goggles_Chap7.pdf}}</ref>

===Air assault operations===
In 1974, the 101st Airborne was reorganized as an [[air assault]] division. The foundation of modern-day air assault operations was laid by the German Army’s development of air mobility during World War II.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://semo.edu/pdf/showmegold-AA-guide.pdf |title=Warrior Training Center Air Assault School Handbook |publisher=Army National Guard Warrior Training Center |date=2013 |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref> Specifically, the [[Fallschirmjäger (World War II)|Fallschirmjäger]], [[Brandenburgers]], and the [[22nd Air Landing Division (Wehrmacht)|22nd Air Landing Division]] played key roles in refining these tactics.<ref>Ailsby, pp.18,19,91.</ref> In 1941 the U.S. Army quickly adopted this concept of offensive operations initially utilizing wooden gliders before the development of helicopters.<ref name="semo.edu">{{cite book |url=http://semo.edu/pdf/showmegold-AA-guide.pdf |title=Warrior Training Center Air Assault School Handbook |publisher=Army National Guard Warrior Training Center |date=2013 |via=[[Southeast Missouri State University]] |access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> Air Assault operations consist of highly mobile teams covering extensive distances and engaging enemy forces behind enemy lines and often by surprise, as they are usually masked by darkness.<ref name="Bryant">{{cite book |last1=Bryant |first1=Russ |last2=Bryant |first2=Susan |name-list-style=amp |title=Screaming Eagles: 101st Airborne Division |date=2007 |publisher=MBI Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-760331224}}</ref>{{rp|63}}

The 101st Airborne had earned a place in the U.S. Army's [[AirLand Battle]] doctrine.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|63}} This doctrine is based on belief that initiative, depth, agility, and synchronization successfully complete a mission.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|63}} First all soldiers are encouraged to take the initiative to seize and exploit opportunities to gain advantages over the enemy. Second, commanders are urged to utilize the entire depth of the battlefield and strike at rear targets that support frontline enemy troops. Third, agility requires commanders to strike the enemy quickly where most vulnerable and to respond to the enemy's strengths. Fourth, synchronization calls for the commander to maximize available combined arms firepower for critical targets to achieve the greatest effect.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|63}}

=== Organization 1989 ===
[[File:101st US Airborne Division 1989.png|upright=1.35|thumb|101st Airborne Division 1989 (click to enlarge)]]

At the end of the [[Cold War]] the division was organized as follows:
* '''101st Airborne Division''', [[Fort Campbell]], Kentucky<ref>{{Cite book |first=Gordon L. |last=Rottmen |title=Inside the US Army Today |publisher=Osprey Publishing |date=1988 |isbn=978-0-850458558}}</ref>
** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
** '''1st Brigade'''
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in001bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112541/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in001bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in002bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112546/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in002bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in003bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112551/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0327in003bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** '''2nd Brigade'''
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in001bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112606/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in001bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in002bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112612/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in002bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in003bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112618/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0502in003bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** '''3rd Brigade'''
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0187in001bn.htm |title=1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*** 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0187in002bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112516/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0187in002bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0187in003bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324112521/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/inf/0187in003bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2008 |title=3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** '''[[Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division|Aviation Brigade]]'''
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 2d Squadron, [[17th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|17th Cavalry]] (Reconnaissance)<ref name="Ogan">{{cite thesis |last=Ogan |first=David |date=15 December 2009 |title=The Logistics of the 101st Airborne Division in the First Gulf War |type=MA |publisher=[[Austin Peay State University]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Br3wAwAAQBAJ |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/armor-cav/017cv002sq.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617034622/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/armor-cav/017cv002sq.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2015 |title=2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 1st Battalion, [[101st Aviation Regiment (United States)|101st Aviation]] (Attack)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av001bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621043425/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av001bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2008 |title=1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 2d Battalion, 101st Aviation (Inactive between 16 November 1988 and 16 August 1991)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av002bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620021926/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av002bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 3d Battalion, 101st Aviation (Attack)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av003bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619234037/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av003bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 June 2008 |title=3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation (Assault)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av004bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620003104/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av004bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation (Assault)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av005bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620214205/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av005bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation (General Support)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av006bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620214210/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av006bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation (Medium Lift)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av007bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621043429/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av007bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2008 |title=7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation (Assault - constituted 16 December 1989)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av009bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620214215/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av009bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** '''[[101st Airborne Division Artillery|Division Artillery]]'''<ref name="Field Artillery 1987">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3qQrAAAAYAAJ |title=The Red Book |magazine=Field Artillery |page=22 |date=December 1987 |publisher=US Field Artillery Association |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Field Artillery 1989">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6UrAAAAYAAJ |title=The Red Book |magazine=Field Artillery |page=33 |date=December 1989 |publisher=US Field Artillery Association |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="Field Artillery 1990">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rqUrAAAAYAAJ |title=The Red Book |magazine=Field Artillery |page=27 |date=December 1990 |publisher=US Field Artillery Association |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Battery
*** 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery (18 × [[M102 howitzer|M102]] 105&nbsp;mm towed howitzer)<ref name="Field Artillery 1987"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1989"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1990"/><ref name="McKenney - 2">{{cite book |url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-11_pt2/CMH_Pub_60-11_pt2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227105809/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-11_pt2/CMH_Pub_60-11_pt2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2012 |title=Field Artillery - Army Lineage Series - Part 2 |last1=McKenney |first1=Janice E. |publisher=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa01bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421190157/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa01bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2008 |title=1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
*** 2d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery (18 × M102 105mm towed howitzer)<ref name="Field Artillery 1987"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1989"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1990"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa02bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109140159/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa02bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 November 2010 |title=2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="McKenney - 2"/>
*** 3d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery (18 × M102 105mm towed howitzer)<ref name="Field Artillery 1987"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1989"/><ref name="Field Artillery 1990"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa03bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421190201/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/fa/0320fa03bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2008 |title=3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="McKenney - 2"/>
*** Battery C, 5th Battalion, [[8th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|8th Field Artillery]] (attached 18th Field Artillery Brigade [[M198 howitzer|M198]] 155&nbsp;mm towed howitzer unit)<ref name="Field Artillery 1990"/>
** '''[[82nd Sustainment Brigade|Division Support Command]]'''
*** Headquarters & Headquarters Company
*** 326th Medical Battalion
*** 426th Supply & Transportation Battalion<ref name="Ogan"/>
*** 801st Maintenance Battalion
*** 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation (Maintenance)<ref name="Ogan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av008bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620025948/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/av/101av008bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=8th Battalion, 101st Aviation Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** 2nd Battalion, [[44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment|44th Air Defense Artillery]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/ada/0044ada02bn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608032156/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/ada/0044ada02bn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |title=2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** [[326th Engineer Battalion (United States)|326th Engineer Battalion]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0326enbn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620035307/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/eng/0326enbn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=326th Engineer Battalion Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
** 501st Signal Battalion<ref>{{cite book |url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-15-1/CMH_Pub_60-15-1.pdf |last1=Raines |first1=Rebecca Robbins |title=Signal Corps |publisher=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829215227/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-15-1/CMH_Pub_60-15-1.pdf |archive-date=29 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/sc/0501scbn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620195813/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/sc/0501scbn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=501st Signal Battalion Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
** 311th Military Intelligence Battalion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/mi/0311mibn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620012512/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/mi/0311mibn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |title=311th Military Intelligence Battalion Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** 101st Military Police Company
** 63rd Chemical Company<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/chem/063cmco.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621043515/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/chem/063cmco.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2008 |title=63rd Chemical Company Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>
** 101st Airborne Division Band<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/bands/band-101abd.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617030528/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/bands/band-101abd.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2015 |title=101st Airborne Division Band Lineage |website=US Army Center of Military History |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>

===Gulf War===
{{Main|Gulf War}}
[[File:DesertStormMap v2.svg|upright=1.35|thumb|Ground operations during [[Operation Desert Storm]], with the 101st Airborne Division positioned at the left flank]]

On 17 January 1991, the 101st Aviation Regiment fired the first shots of the war when eight [[AH-64]] helicopters successfully destroyed two Iraqi early warning radar sites.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|85}} In February 1991, the 101st once again had its "Rendezvous with Destiny" in [[Gulf War|Iraq]] during the combat air assault into enemy territory. The 101st Airborne Division struck {{convert|155|mi}} behind enemy lines.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|85}} It was the deepest air assault operation in history.<ref name="cnn.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/07/sprj.irq.101st.history/index.html?_s=PM:US |title='Screaming Eagles' of 101st have valiant history |date=7 February 2003 |website=CNN |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref>

Approximately 400 helicopters transported 2,000 soldiers into Iraq, where they destroyed Iraqi columns trying to flee westward and prevented the escape of Iraqi forces.<ref name="Anderson P.8">Anderson, p.8.</ref> The Screaming Eagles would travel an additional {{convert|50|–|60|mi}} into Iraq.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|85}} By nightfall, the 101st had cut off Highway 8, which was a vital supply line running between Basra and the Iraqi forces.<ref name="Bryant" />{{rp|85}} The 101st lost 16 soldiers in action during the 100-hour war and captured thousands of the enemy.

==Post-Cold War to present==
===Humanitarian aid===
The division has supported humanitarian relief efforts in [[Rwanda]] and [[Somalia]], then later supplied peacekeepers to [[Haiti]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]].

===Kosovo===
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2017}}

From February through August 2000, 3rd Brigade 1/187 deployed to Kosovo for peacekeeping operations as part of Task Force Falcon in support of [[Operation Joint Guardian]].

In August 2000, the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, as well as some elements from the 502nd Infantry Regiment, helped secure the peace in Kosovo and support the October elections for the formation of the new Kosovo government. They were replaced in February 2001 with 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment along with 2nd Brigade HQ and elements of 3rd Battalion.

===Montana forest fires===
In September and October 2000, the 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, helped fight fires on the [[Elk Bath|Bitterroot National Forest]] in Montana. Designated Task Force Battle Force and commanded by Lt. Col. Jon S. Lehr, the battalion fought fires throughout the surrounding areas of their Valley Complex near Darby, Montana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nifc.gov/pres_visit/military.html |title=Military Support in Wildland Fire Suppression, 1988–2003 |website=[[National Interagency Fire Center]] |access-date=25 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608001609/http://www.nifc.gov/pres_visit/military.html |archive-date=8 June 2007}}</ref>

===Operation Enduring Freedom===
{{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Operation Enduring Freedom}}
The 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division brigade performed counterinsurgency operations within Afghanistan, consisting mostly of raids, ambushes and patrolling. The 101st also performed combat air assaults throughout the operation.<ref name="cnn.com" />

The 2nd Brigade, "Strike", built around the 502nd Infantry, was largely deployed to Kosovo on peacekeeping operations, with some elements of 3rd Battalion, 502nd, deploying after 9/11 as a security element in the U.S. [[United States Central Command|CENTCOM]] AOR with the Fort Campbell-based [[5th Special Forces Group (United States)|5th Special Forces Group]]. They had been positioned in Jordan providing security for 5th SF Group's exercise prior to 9/11.

The division quickly deployed its 3rd Brigade, the 187th Infantry's ''Rakkasans'', as the first conventional unit to fight as part of [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Operation Enduring Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG593.html |title=Networked forces in stability operations: 101st Airborne Division, 3/2 and 1/25 Stryker brigades in northern Iraq |first1=Daniel |last1=Gonzales |first2=John S. |last2=Hollywood |first3=Jerry M. |last3=Sollinger |first4=James |last4=McFadden |first5=John |last5=DeJarnette |first6=Sarah |last6=Harting |first7=Donald |last7=Temple |date=15 October 2007 |website=RAND Corporation |access-date=28 June 2011}}</ref>

After an intense period of combat in rugged Shoh-I-Khot Mountains of eastern [[Afghanistan]] during [[Operation Anaconda]] with elements of the [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]], the ''Rakkasans'' redeployed to Fort Campbell only to find the 101st awaiting another deployment order. In 2008, the 101st 4th BCT Red and White "Currahee" including the 1st and the 2nd Battalions, 506th Infantry were deployed to Afghanistan. Elements of 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment participated in joint operations with [[U.S. Army Special Forces]] particularly in the Northern province of Kapisa in the outpost Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kutchsbach. Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment performed joint operations with 5th Special Forces Group and [[20th Special Forces Group]] in 2011. The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade deployed to Afghanistan as Task Force Destiny in early 2008 to Bagram Air Base. [[159th Combat Aviation Brigade]] deployed as Task Force Thunder for 12 months in early 2009, and again in early 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/52243/Task_Force_Thunder_rolls_into_Afghanistan/ |title=Task Force Thunder rolls into Afghanistan |last=Carl |first=Stephanie L. |date=23 February 2011 |website=US Army |access-date=24 September 2012 }}</ref>

In March 2010, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade deployed again to Afghanistan as Task Force Destiny to Kandahar Airfield to be the aviation asset in southern Afghanistan.

===Operation Iraqi Freedom===
{{Main|Iraq War}}
[[File:Airborne and Special Forces Uday-Qusay raid, 2003.jpg|thumb|The 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment alongside [[Task Force 121]] at [[Uday Hussein|Uday]] and [[Qusay Hussein]]'s hideout.]]

In 2003, Major General [[David H. Petraeus]] ("Eagle 6") led the Screaming Eagles to war during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] ([[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]). General Petraeus led the division into Iraq saying, "Guidons, Guidons. This is Eagle 6. The 101st Airborne Division's next Rendezvous with Destiny is North to Baghdad. Op-Ord Desert Eagle 2 is now in effect. Godspeed. Air Assault. Out."<ref name="BroadwellLoeb2012">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/allineducationof00broa |last1=Broadwell |first1=Paula |author-link1=Paula Broadwell |last2=Loeb |first2=Vernon |author-link2=Vernon Loeb |name-list-style=amp |title=All In: The Education of General David Petraeus |date=24 January 2012 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-101-55230-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/allineducationof00broa/page/147 147] |url-access=registration |access-date=31 October 2012}}</ref>

The division was in [[U.S. V Corps|V Corps]], providing support to the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] by clearing Iraqi strongpoints which that division had bypassed. 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry (3rd Brigade) was attached to 3rd Infantry Division and was the main effort in clearing Saddam International Airport. The division then served as part of the occupation forces of Iraq, using the city of [[Mosul]] as their primary base of operations. 1st and 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment (1st Brigade) oversaw the remote airfield [[Qayarrah West]] {{convert|30|mi|km}} south of Mosul. The 502d Infantry Regiment (2d Brigade) and 3d Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment were responsible for Mosul itself while the 187th Infantry Regiment (3d Brigade) controlled [[Tal Afar]] just west of Mosul. The 101st Airborne also participated in the [[Battle of Karbala (2003)|Battle of Karbala]]. The city had been bypassed during the advance on Baghdad, leaving American units to clear it in two days of street fighting against [[Saddam Fedayeen|Iraqi irregular forces]]. The 101st Airborne was supported by the 2nd Battalion, [[70th Armor Regiment]] with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, [[41st Infantry Regiment (United States)|41st Infantry Regiment]], [[1st Armored Division (United States)|1st Armored Division]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irontigers.org/index.html |title=2nd Battalion 70th Armor "Iron Tigers" |website=Irontigers.org |access-date=27 August 2016 |archive-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731012146/http://www.irontigers.org/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 3d Battalion, [[502d Infantry Regiment]], 101st Airborne Division was awarded a [[Valorous Unit Award]] for their combat performance.

On the afternoon of 22 July 2003, troops of the 101st Airborne 3/327th Infantry HQ and C-Company, aided by U.S. Special Forces killed Qusay Hussein, his 14-year-old son [[Mustapha Hussein|Mustapha]], and his older brother Uday, during a raid on a home in Mosul.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/23/world/after-the-war-iraq-hussein-s-2-sons-dead-in-shootout-us-says.html?ref=qusayhussein&pagewanted=all |title=After the war: Hussein's 2 Sons Dead in Shootout, U.S. Says |first=Neil |last=MacFarquhar |date=23 July 2003 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> After Task Force 121 members were wounded, the 3/327th Infantry surrounded and fired on the house with a [[TOW missile]], [[Mk 19 grenade launcher|Mark 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher]], [[M2 Browning|M2 50 Caliber Machine guns]] and small arms. After about four hours of battle (the whole operation lasted six hours), the soldiers entered the house and found four dead, including the two brothers and their bodyguard. There were reports that Qusay's 14-year-old son Mustapha was the fourth body found. Brig. Gen. [[Frank Helmick]], the assistant commander of 101st Airborne, commented that all occupants of the house died during the fierce gun battle before U.S. troops entered.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31549-2003Jul22?language=printer |title=Hussein's Two Sons Killed In Firefight With U.S. Troops |first1=Sudarsan |last1=Raghavan |first2=Greg |last2=Miller |date=22 July 2003 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20100309052542/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31549-2003Jul22?language=printer |archive-date=9 March 2010}}</ref>

Once replaced by the first operational [[Stryker]] Brigade, the 101st was withdrawn in early 2004 for rest and refit. As part of the Army's modular transformation, the existing infantry brigades, artillery brigade, and aviation brigades were transformed. The Army also activated the 4th [[Brigade Combat Team]], which includes the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 506th Infantry Regiment and subordinate units. Both battalions were part of the 101st in Vietnam but saw their colors inactivated during an Army-wide reflagging of combat battalions in the 1980s.

As of December 2007, 143 members of the division have died while on service in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://icasualties.org/oif/Divisions.aspx |title=Iraq Coalition Casualties: U.S. Fatalities – By Divisions |website=[[iCasualties.org]] |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109002540/http://icasualties.org/oif/Divisions.aspx |archive-date=9 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{update inline|reason=archived source doesn't allow lookup for this division, and the number has likely changed anyway|date=March 2017}}

===Second deployment to Iraq===
The division's second deployment to Iraq began in the late summer of 2005. The division headquarters replaced the [[42d Infantry Division (United States)|42d Infantry Division]], which had been directing security operations as the headquarters for Task Force Liberty. Renamed Task Force Band of Brothers, the 101st assumed responsibility on 1 November 2005 for four provinces in north central Iraq: Salah ad Din, As Sulymaniyah.

During the second deployment, 2d and 4th Brigades of the 101st Airborne Division were assigned to conduct security operations under the command of Task Force Baghdad, led initially by [[U.S. 3d Infantry Division|3d Infantry Division]], which was replaced by 4th Infantry Division. The 1st Battalion of the 506th Infantry (4th Brigade) was separated from the division and served with the Marines in Ramadi, in the Al Anbar province. 3d Brigade was assigned to [[Salah ad Din Governorate|Salah ad Din]] and [[Bayji]] sectors and 1st Brigade was assigned to the overall [[Kirkuk]] province which included [[Hawijah]].

Task Force Band of Brothers' primary mission during its second deployment to Iraq was the training of Iraqi security forces. When the 101st returned to Iraq, there were no Iraqi units capable of assuming the lead for operations against Iraqi and foreign terrorists. As the division concluded its tour, 33 battalions were in the lead for security in assigned areas, and two of four Iraq divisions in northern Iraq were commanding and controlling subordinate units.

Simultaneously with training Iraqi soldiers and their leaders, 101st soldiers conducted numerous security operations against [[clandestine cell system|terrorist cells]] operating in the division's assigned, six-province area of operations. [[Operation Swarmer]] was the largest air assault operation conducted in Iraq since 22 April 2003. 1st Brigade conducted [[Operation Scorpion]] with Iraqi units near Kirkuk.

Developing other aspects of Iraqi society also figured in 101st operations in Iraq. Division commander [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[Thomas R. Turner II|Thomas Turner]] hosted the first governors' conference for the six provinces in the division's area of operations, as well as the neighboring province of Erbil.<ref name="iraqsnewambassador">{{cite web |url=http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=18 |title=Iraq's new ambassador addresses Washington |date=13 April 2006 |work=Operation Iraqi Freedom |access-date=21 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112060156/http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=18 |archive-date=12 January 2007}}</ref>

===Return to Afghanistan===
While the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams were deployed to Iraq 2007–2008, the division headquarters, 4th Brigade Combat Team, the 101st Sustainment Brigade, and the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade followed by the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade were deployed to Afghanistan for one-year tours falling within the 2007–09 window.

==== 2010 Afghanistan ====
The Division Headquarters, [[101st Combat Aviation Brigade]], 1st Brigade Combat Team, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and 4th Brigade Combat Team, and the 101st Sustainment Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. This is the first time since returning from Iraq in 2006 where all four infantry brigades (plus one CAB, SUSBDE) have served in the same combat theater.

On 15 September 2010, the 101st Airborne began a major operation known as [[Operation Dragon Strike]]. The aim of the operation was to reclaim the strategic southern province of Kandahar, which was the birthplace of the Taliban movement. The area where the operation took place has been dubbed "The Heart of Darkness" by Coalition troops.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/27/operation-dragon-strike-battle-for-kandahar-begins/ |title=Operation Dragon Strike: Battle for Kandahar Begins |last=Hastings |first=Deborah |date=27 September 2010 |website=[[AOL News]] |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004071016/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/27/operation-dragon-strike-battle-for-kandahar-begins |archive-date=4 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

By the end of December 2010, the operation's main objectives had been accomplished. The majority of Taliban forces in Kandahar had withdrawn from the province,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/world/asia/16south.html?pagewanted%3Dall%26_r%3D0 |title=NATO Push Deals Taliban a Setback in Kandahar |last1=Gall |first1=Carlotta |last2=Khapalwak |first2=Ruhullah |date=15 December 2010 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=25 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127033826/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/world/asia/16south.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=27 November 2011}}</ref> and much of their leadership was said to have been fractured.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/22/us-military-make-taliban-flee |title=Afghan Taliban leadership splintered by intense US military campaign |first=Jon |last=Boone |date=22 December 2010 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref>

As of 5 June 2011, 131 soldiers had been killed during this deployment, the highest death toll to the 101st Airborne in any single deployment since the Vietnam War.<ref name="Associated Press">{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ic2nmvd_mbYYlD_pqRf5ue0vgVMQ?docId=2c3c9238014a4f7aabf7975d65d73970 |title=Army's 101st pays high price for Afghan surge year |last=Hall |first=Kristin M. |date=5 June 2011 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=1 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610173717/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ic2nmvd_mbYYlD_pqRf5ue0vgVMQ?docId=2c3c9238014a4f7aabf7975d65d73970 |archive-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

==== 2011 Afghanistan ====
[[File:BarawalaKalay.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, return fire during a firefight with Taliban forces in [[Battle of Barawala Kalay Valley|Barawala Kalay Valley]] in Kunar province, Afghanistan, 31 March 2011.]]

The 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment conducted a major combat operation in Barawala Kalay Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan in late March–April 2011. It is known as the [[Battle of Barawala Kalay Valley]]. It was an operation to close down the Taliban supply route through the Barawala Kalay Valley and to remove the forces of Taliban warlord [[Qari Ziaur Rahman]] from the Barwala Kalay Valley. The 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment would suffer 6 killed and 7 wounded during combat operations. It would inflict over 100 casualties on the Taliban and successfully close down the Taliban supply route.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/videos/2011/04/no_slack_battalion_in_barawala.php |title="No Slack Battalion" in Barawala Kalay |website=Long War Journal |access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> ABC News correspondent [[Mike Boettcher]] was on scene and he called it the fiercest fighting he has ever seen in his 30 years of being in war zones.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/101st-airborne-battalion-takes-taliban-afghanistan/story?id=13291090 |title=The 101st Airborne Takes on the Taliban |date=4 April 2011 |work=ABC News |access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>

Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom 166 101st Airborne soldiers have died while serving in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/base.php |title=Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom – Listed by base |website=Fallen Heroes Memorial |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref>

===Operation United Assistance===
In 2014, the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters deployed to west Africa to help contain the spread of Ebola, as part of [[Operation United Assistance]].

Earlier in April 2014, 4th Brigade Combat Team had been inactivated as part of the Army's 2020 BCT restructuring program.<ref name="4th bct 2014 inact">{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/124784/storied_currahees_prepare_to_inactivate |title=Storied 'Currahees' prepare to inactivate |last1=Moeller |first1=Justin A. |date=1 May 2014 |website=U.S. Army |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216091828/https://www.army.mil/article/124784/storied_currahees_prepare_to_inactivate |archive-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

===5th Special Forces Group===
In 2015, [[5th Special Forces Group]] held five training sessions with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.<ref name="soc.mil">{{cite web |url=http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2015/January/150123-01/150123-01.html |title=SF, Bastogne Soldiers combine forces for training |first=Jacob |last=Mahaffey |date=23 January 2015 |website=[[United States Army Special Operations Command]] |access-date=25 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922230420/http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2015/January/150123-01/150123-01.html |archive-date=22 September 2016}}</ref> The classes covered communications and the operation of all-terrain vehicles. There was also a training session on the operation of TOW missiles.<ref name="soc.mil"/> Prior to these sessions training between U.S. Special Forces and U.S. conventional forces had been uncommon.<ref name="soc.mil"/>

===Operation Inherent Resolve===
It was announced 14 January 2016 that soldiers of the 101st Airborne would be assigned rotations in Iraq, to train members of the Iraqi ground forces in preparation for action against the Islamic State.<ref name="AutoRef2">{{Cite web |last=Dickstein |first=Corey |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Carter to Army's 101st: You will prepare Iraqis to retake Mosul |url=https://www.stripes.com/carter-to-army-s-101st-you-will-prepare-iraqis-to-retake-mosul-1.388603#.WdbFreSWzIU |website=Stars & Stripes}}</ref> [[United States Secretary of Defense|Defense Secretary]] [[Ash Carter]] told the 101st Airborne that "The Iraqi and Peshmerga forces you will train, advise and assist have proven their determination, their resiliency, and increasingly, their capability.<ref name="AutoRef2" /> But they need you to continue building on that success, preparing them for the fight today and the long hard fight for their future. They need your skill. They need your experience."<ref name="AutoRef2" />

In spring 2016, 2nd Brigade deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a US-led coalition with the mission of defeating the Islamic State. The Strike Brigade conducted precision surface-to-surface fires and supported a multitude of intelligence and logistical operations for coalition and Iraqi forces. They also provided base security throughout more than 12 areas of operations. The Brigade also aided in the clearance of ISIS from Fallujah, the near elimination of suicide attacks in Baghdad, and the introduction of improved tactics that liberated more than 100 towns and villages. The 2nd Brigade also played a significant role in the liberation of Mosul.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stoffregen |first=Samantha |date=23 February 2018 |title=101st Airborne Division's Strike Brigade receives Operation Inherent Resolve streamer following Iraq deployment |url=http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2018/02/23/101st-airborne-divisions-strike-brigade-receives-operation-inherent-resolve-streamer-following-iraq-deployment/ |access-date=7 June 2018 |website=Clarksville Online}}</ref>

200 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigades field artillery battalion, replaced a unit of the [[26th Marine Expeditionary Unit|26th MEU]] at [[Firebase Bell]]; they used M777 155mm howitzers to provide support to Iraqi forces attacking IS-occupied villages between Makhmour and Mosul.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/apache-helicopters-used-for-first-time-against-islamic-state-in-iraq-1.414484 |title=Apache helicopters used for first time against Islamic State in Iraq  |website=Stars & Stripes |date=14 June 2016}}</ref>

On 26 June 2016, it was announced that Iraq had successfully taken back full control of Fallujah from the [[Islamic State of Iraq]] (ISIS).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4062564-iraq-takes-full-control-fallujah-islamic-state-military-says |title=Iraq takes full control of Fallujah from Islamic State, military says |last=Al |first=Fadel |date=26 June 2016 |newspaper=[[Duluth News Tribune]] |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref> Iraqi ground troops have been under the direction of the 101st Airborne since early 2016.<ref name="AutoRef2" /> In summer 2016, ''Stars and Stripes'' reported that about 400 soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team will deploy to Iraq as part of 11 July 2016 announcement by Defense Secretary Ash Carter of the presidential approved deployment of an additional 560 U.S. troops to Iraq to help establish and run a logistics hub at [[Qayyarah Airfield West]], about 40 miles south Mosul, to support Iraqi and coalition troops in the [[Battle of Mosul (2016)|Battle of Mosul]].<ref name="stars and stripes">{{cite web |last=Dickstein |first=Corey |date=5 August 2016 |title=101st Airborne soldiers tapped to fight Islamic State group |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/101st-airborne-soldiers-tapped-to-fight-islamic-state-group-1.422639 |website=Stars & Stripes}}</ref>

On 26 August 2016, an article from the website War is Boring shows a photo of a 101st Airborne Division [[M777 howitzer]] crew conducting fire missions during an operation to support Iraqi forces at Kara Soar Base in Iraq on 7 August 2016.<ref name="warisboring.com">{{Cite web |url=https://warisboring.com/american-artillery-is-pounding-islamic-state-in-iraq-and-syria/ |title=American Artillery is Pounding Islamic State in Iraq and Syria |date=26 August 2016 |website=War is Boring}}</ref> The article also confirms that American artillery has been supporting Iraqi forces during its campaign against ISIS.<ref name="warisboring.com"/>
[[File:101st-Airborne-Soldiers-build-elite-Iraqi-force-with-Ranger-Training-7-480x319.jpg|thumb|right|A trainer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, 101st Airborne Division, assists Iraqi army ranger students during a room clearing drill at [[Camp Taji]], Iraq 18 July 2016.]]

On 21 September 2016, an article from ''The Leaf-Chronicle'' reported that Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division had been successfully conducting artillery raids against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Battery C is said to have executed hundreds of missions and fired thousands of rounds in support of ISF operations since arriving in theatre in late May.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/fort-campbell/2016/09/21/fort-campbell-soldiers-thrive-battle-iraq-front-lines/90748714/ |title=101st Airborne soldiers thrive in battle on Iraq front lines |date=21 September 2016 |website=[[The Leaf-Chronicle]] |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref>

On 17 October 2016, an article from ''The Leaf-Chronicle'' stated that the 101st Airborne was leading a coalition of 19 nations to support the liberation of Mosul from ISIL. Under the direction of the 101st Iraqi forces have taken back a significant amount of geography from the control of ISIS. This included the liberation of [[Hīt District|Hit]], [[Fallujah]], and [[Qayyarah]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/fort-campbell/2016/10/17/101st-airborne-leading-coalition-mosul-fight-against-isil/92281138/ |title=101st Airborne leading coalition in Mosul fight against ISIL |date=17 October 2016 |website=The Leaf-Chronicle |access-date=15 January 2017}}</ref>

On 3 November 2016, it was reported that U.S. Army combat engineers were seen just west of the Great Zab River about halfway between the Kurdish city of Irbil and Mosul. They were searching for improvised bombs. They were wearing 101st Airborne Division patches. The soldiers said they were not allowed to talk to the media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/11/03/army-to-deploy-1700-paratroopers-to-iraq.html |title=Army to Deploy 1,700 Paratroopers to Iraq |last=Abdul |first=Qassim |date=3 November 2016 |website=Military.com |access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref>

On 17 November 2016, sources reported that the 101st Airborne Division was headed home after a nine-month deployment to Iraq. Over the course of nine months, soldiers from the 101st Airborne helped train the Iraqi government's security forces. They taught marksmanship, basic battlefield medical care and ways to detect and disarm improvised explosive devices.<ref name="nashvillepublicradio.org">{{cite web |url=http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/101st-airborne-makes-handoff-iraq-during-mosul-offensive |title=101st Airborne Makes Handoff in Iraq During Mosul Offensive |date=13 January 2016 |website=Nashville Public Radio |access-date=15 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165339/http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/101st-airborne-makes-handoff-iraq-during-mosul-offensive |archive-date=3 January 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The division helped authorize 6,900 strikes, meant to destroy ISIS hideouts and staging areas.<ref name="nashvillepublicradio.org"/> The 101st Airborne played a significant role in the liberation of several Iraqi cities during this deployment.<ref name="nashvillepublicradio.org"/>

1st Brigade "Bastogne" deployed troops to Iraq and Syria in January 2019, returning the following September. It was reported that many [[Combat Action Badge]]s had been award, primarily to artillery batteries conducting fire missions against Islamic State fighters, with some [[Combat Infantryman Badge]]s issued to troops in northern Syria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rempfer |first=Kyle |date=2019-10-30 |title=Bastogne brigade returns from Mideast with fresh combat badges |url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/10/30/bastogne-brigade-returns-from-mideast-with-fresh-combat-badges/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Army Times |language=en}}</ref>

===Operation Freedom's Sentinel===
On 6 September 2016, the U.S. Army announced it will deploy about 1,400 soldiers from [[187th Infantry Regiment (United States)|3rd Brigade Combat Team]] to Afghanistan in fall 2016, in support of "Operation Freedom's Sentinel" – the U.S. counter-terrorism operation against the remnants of al-Qaeda, [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|ISIS–K]] and other terror groups,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/06/army-to-deploy-101st-airborne-soldiers-to-afghanistan.html |title=Army to Deploy 101st Airborne Soldiers to Afghanistan |date=6 September 2016 |website=Military.com}}</ref> as part of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]. Senior leadership referred to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team as being exceptional.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/06/army-to-deploy-101st-airborne-soldiers-to-afghanistan.html |title=Army to Deploy 101st Airborne Soldiers to Afghanistan |last=Abdul |first=Qassim |date=6 September 2016 |website=Military.com |access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref> Brig. Gen. Scott Brower stated that the Rakkasans are trained, well-led, and prepared to accomplish any mission given to them.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> During this deployment three Soldiers from 1/187, 3rd Brigade Combat Team died as a result of an insider attack by an Afghan Soldier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/13/politics/afghanistan-us-soldiers-killed/index.html |title=5 children lost their dads in an attack that killed 3 US soldiers |last1=Park |first1=Madison |date=13 June 2017 |website=CNN |access-date=26 November 2017}}</ref>

===Somali Civil War (2009–present)===
In mid-April 2017, it was reported that 40 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division were deployed to Somalia on 2 April 2017 to improve the capabilities of the [[Somali Army]] in combating Islamist militants. [[AFRICOM]] stated that the troops will focus on bolstering the Somali army's logistics capabilities; an AFRICOM spokesman said that "This mission is not associated with teaching counterextremism tactics" and that the Somali government requested the training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/2.1198/101st-airborne-troops-deploy-to-somalia-for-training-mission-1.463504#.WPaKo_WcGUm |title=101st Airborne troops deploy to Somalia for training mission |date=14 April 2017 |website=Stars & Stripes |access-date=18 April 2017 |archive-date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419072000/https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/2.1198/101st-airborne-troops-deploy-to-somalia-for-training-mission-1.463504#.WPaKo_WcGUm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Operation Atlantic Resolve===
In June 2022, Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team rotated in to the U.S. Army V Corps' mission to reinforce NATO's eastern flank and engage in multinational exercises with partners across the European continent in order to reassure allies and deter further Russian aggression during its [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]]. The 101st soldiers deploying to [[Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport|Mihail Kogălniceanu]] in June did not represent additional U.S. forces in Europe, but are taking the place of soldiers assigned to 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division. In all, approximately 4700 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are scheduled to deploy to locations across Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/258008/101st_airborne_division_arrives_in_europe_to_support_nato_allies |title=101st Airborne Division arrives in Europe to support NATO Allies |last=McEwen |first=Karolyn |date=2022-06-29 |website=U.S. Army |access-date=2022-07-06}}</ref>

On 30 July 2022, the Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Brigade Combat Team uncased their colors and conducted an air assault demonstration at the [[RoAF 57th Air Base|57th Air Base "Mihail Kogălniceanu"]] together with the [[9th Mechanized Brigade (Romania)|9th Mechanized Brigade]] of the [[Romanian Armed Forces]]. The event was attended by Maj. Gen. [[Joseph McGee (general)|Joseph P. McGee]] and the [[Prime Minister of Romania]], [[Nicolae Ciucă]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/258916/after_80_years_the_screaming_eagles_return_to_europe |title=After 80 years the Screaming Eagles return to Europe |last=Cohens-Ashley |first=Malcolm |date=2022-07-30 |website=U.S. Army |access-date=2022-08-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://english.mapn.ro/cpresa/5738_CEREMONY-AND-COMBINED-DEMONSTRATIVE-EXERCISE-CONDUCTED-BY-US-ARMY-EUROPE-DEPLOYED-TO-ROMANIA |title=Ceremony and Combined Demonstrative Exercise Conducted by US Army Europe Deployed To Romania |date=2022-07-26 |work=Ministerul Apărării Naționale |access-date=2022-08-10}}</ref>

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team was replaced by the 1st Brigade Combat Team on 31 March 2023. During its 9 months of deployment, the 2nd Brigade conducted training exercises with multiple NATO partners and allies across the continent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.army.mil/article/265582/us_army_brigades_from_the_101st_screaming_eagles_transfer_authority_in_romania |title=US Army brigades from the 101st Screaming Eagles transfer authority in Romania |last=Cohens-Ashley |first=Malcolm |date=2023-04-07 |website=U.S. Army |access-date=2023-05-04}}</ref> On 5 April, the mission authority was transferred from the 101st Division to the 10th Mountain Division. The battle flag of the 101st was also decorated with the [[National Order of Faithful Service]] during the ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.agerpres.ro/english/2023/04/06/smft-head-increase-in-deterrence-and-defense-posture-in-region-possible-increase-in-number-of-us-soldiers--1088454 |title=SMFT head: Increase in deterrence and defense posture in region, possible increase in number of US soldiers |work=[[Agerpres]] |date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2023-05-04 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408004641/http://www.agerpres.ro/english/2023/04/06/smft-head-increase-in-deterrence-and-defense-posture-in-region-possible-increase-in-number-of-us-soldiers--1088454 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.presidency.ro/ro/media/comunicate-de-presa/decret-de-decorare-semnat-de-presedintele-romaniei-klaus-iohannis1680697148 |title=Decret de decorare semnat de Președintele României, Klaus Iohannis |language=ro |website=presidency.ro |date=2023-04-05 |access-date=2023-05-04}}</ref> On 24 November, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasan" replaced the 1st Brigade Combat Team following a transfer of authority ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/458535/us-army-combat-brigade-teams-host-transfer-authority-ceremony-romania |title=U.S. Army Combat Brigade Teams host transfer of authority ceremony in Romania |first=Precious |last=Scott |work=[[DVIDS]] |date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

=== Hurricane Helene response ===
In response to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene, soldiers of the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team "Strike" and 101st Combat Aviation Brigade began deploying on October 5, 2024 to western North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slayton |first=Nicholas |date=2024-10-06 |title=82nd, 101st Airborne send troops to help in Helene recovery efforts |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/helene-recovery-82nd-101st-airborne/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}</ref> The mission was [[Defense Support of Civil Authorities]] under the control of [[United States Army North]]. Soldiers from the 101st provided support to civil authorities in search and rescue, medical aid, route assessment and clearance, traffic control, warehouse management, supply distribution, debris removal, general transportation and equipment maintenance tasks.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2024-10-07 |title=500 soldiers from 101st Airborne Division sent to support Hurricane Helene response - ClarksvilleNow.com |url=https://clarksvillenow.com/local/500-soldiers-from-101st-airborne-division-sent-to-support-hurricane-helene-response/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Clarksville Now |language=en-US}}</ref> Strike Soldiers used newly issued [[M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle|Infantry Squad Vehicles]] and 101 CAB helicopters to access areas with damaged road infrastructure to carry out relief efforts.

== Organization ==
[[File:101st US Airborne Division - Organization 2023.png|thumb|500px|101st Airborne Division organization April 2025.]]
The 101st Airborne Division consists of a division headquarters and headquarters battalion, two infantry brigade combat teams, one mobile brigade combat team, division artillery, a combat aviation brigade, a sustainment brigade.
* [[File:Combat service identification badge of the 101st Airborne Division.png|25px]] '''101st Airborne Division''', [[Fort Campbell]], [[Kentucky]]
** [[File:US Army 101st ABN Div Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101st Airborne Division DUI.png|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion "Gladiators"<ref>{{cite web |title=101st Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/index.php/units/101st/101sthhb |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref>
*** Headquarters and Headquarters Company
*** Operations Company
*** Intelligence and Sustainment Company
*** 101st Airborne Division Band "Pride of the Eagle"
** [[File:US Army 21th Engineer BN Oval.png|30px]] [[File:21 Eng Bn DUI.jpg|20px]] 21st Division Signal Battalion "Rak Solid"<ref name="3MBDE">[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16WrJyhc3P/ 21st Division Signal Battalion, 101st Airborne Division's Post], 21st Division Signal Battalion, 101st Airborne Division official Facebook page, dated 15 February 2025, last accessed 20 April 2025</ref>
** [[File:302MIBnDUI.jpg|25px]] [[302nd Military Intelligence Battalion (United States)|302nd Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion]]<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BTCWm5L4t/ Yesterday, the 302nd Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion (IEW) on Fort Campbell donned the "Old Abe" patch as they align with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)...], 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) official Facebook page, posted 29 October 2024, last accessed 24 January 2025</ref>
** '''1st [[Infantry Brigade Combat Team|Brigade Combat Team]]''' "Bastogne" (♣)<ref>{{cite web |title=1st Brigade Combat Team |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/101st |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 1st INF BCT-101st ABN Div Trimming2.svg|30px]] [[File:327InfRegtDUI.jpg|25px]] [[Headquarters and headquarters company (United States)|Headquarters and Headquarters Company]]
*** [[File:US Army 1st BN-327th Inf Reg Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:327InfRegtDUI.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment "Bulldogs"
*** [[File:US Army 2nd BN-327th Inf Reg Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:327InfRegtDUI.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment "No Slack"
*** [[File:US Army 1st BN-506th INF Reg Oval.png|30px]] [[File:506 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 1st Battalion, [[506th Infantry Regiment (United States)|506th Infantry Regiment]] "Red Currahee"
*** [[File:US Army 326th Bde Eng Bn Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:326 Eng Bn DUI.png|25px]] [[326th Engineer Battalion (United States)|326th Brigade Engineer Battalion]] "Sapper Eagles"
*** [[File:US Army 426th Bde Support BN Trimming.png|30px]] [[File:US 426th BSB insignia.jpg|25px]] 426th Brigade Support Battalion "Taskmasters"
** '''2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team''' "Strike" (♥)<ref>{{cite web |title=2nd Brigade Combat Team |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/101st |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Lt. Col. Jon |title=Is a Mobile Defense a Viable Option for a BCT? |url=https://www.army.mil/article/282906/is_a_mobile_defense_a_viable_option_for_a_bct |publisher=US Army |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurd |first1=Christopher |title=Army brigades embrace change, test new tactics |url=https://www.army.mil/article/280940/army_brigades_embrace_change_test_new_tactics |publisher=US Army |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 2nd INF BCT-101st ABN Div Trimming2.svg|30px]] [[File:502 Parachute Infantry Regiment DUI.PNG|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company<ref>{{Cite web |title=Headquarters, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division - Lineage and Honors |url=https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/101abd2bct.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608031154/http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/div/101abd2bct.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 June 2010 |website=US Army Center of Military History}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 1st BN-502nd Inf Reg Trimming-Corrected.svg|30px]] [[File:502 Parachute Infantry Regiment DUI.PNG|25px]] 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment "First Strike"
*** [[File:US Army 2nd BN-502nd Inf Reg Trimming-Corrected.svg|30px]] [[File:502 Parachute Infantry Regiment DUI.PNG|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment "Strike Force"
*** [[File:Background Trimming 1st Battalion 26th Infantry Regiment.jpg|30px]] [[File:26th INF DUI.svg|25px]] 1st Battalion, [[26th Infantry Regiment (United States)|26th Infantry Regiment]] "Blue Spaders"
*** [[File:US Army 39th Bde Engineer BN Trimming.png|30px]] [[File:39 Eng Bn DUI.jpg|25px]] 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion "Raptor"
*** [[File:US Army 526th Bde Support BN Trimming.png|30px]] [[File:526 Spt Bn DUI.png|25px]] 526th Light Support Battalion "Best by Performance"<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18wg8Mbuv9/ "The 526th LSB (Light Support Battalion) conducted its battalion colors casing ceremony on March 14, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky."], 526 Brigade Support Battalion official Facebook page, dated 14 March 2025, last accessed 20 April 2025</ref>
*** Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8344058/multi-function-reconnaissance-company|title=Multi Function Reconnaissance Company|website=Dvidshub.net|access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://san.com/cc/the-us-armys-multi-functional-reconnaissance-company-weapon-of-the-week/|title=The US Army's Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company: Weapon of the week|first1=Ryan|last1=Robertson|first2=Brett|last2=Baker|first3=Brian|last3=Spencer|first4=Dakota|last4=Piteo|date=4 September 2024|website=San.com|access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref>
** '''3rd Mobile Brigade''' "Rakkasan" ([[File:Torii.svg|12px]])<ref name="3MBDE"/>
*** [[File:US Army 3rd INF BCT-101st ABN Div Trimming2.svg|30px]] [[File:187INF DUI.png|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company
*** [[File:US Army 1st BN-187th Inf Reg Trimming-Corrected.svg|30px]] [[File:187INF DUI.png|25px]] 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment "Leader"
*** [[File:US Army 3rd BN-187th Inf Reg Trimming-Corrected.svg|30px]] [[File:187INF DUI.png|25px]] [[3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment]] "Iron"
*** [[File:US Army 2nd BN-506th INF Reg Oval.png|30px]] [[File:506 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment "White Currahee"
*** Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company "Viper"
** '''[[101st Airborne Division Artillery]]''' "Guns of Glory" (•)<ref>{{cite web |title=101st Airborne Division Artillery |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/index.php/units/101st/101stdivarty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128063330/https://home.army.mil/campbell/index.php/units/101st/101stdivarty |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 101st Airborne Division Artillery background trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101st DIVARTY DUI.png|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Battery "Headhunters"
*** [[File:US Army 1st BN-320th Field Arty Reg Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:320FARegtDUI.jpg|25px]] [[1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment|1st Battalion]], 320th Field Artillery Regiment "Top Guns"
*** [[File:US Army 2nd Bn-32nd Arty Reg Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:32 FA Rgt DUI.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, [[32nd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|32nd Field Artillery Regiment]] "Proud Americans"
*** [[File:US Army 3rd BN-320th Field Arty Reg Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:320FARegtDUI.jpg|25px]] [[3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment|3rd Battalion]], 320th Field Artillery Regiment "Red Knights"
*** [[File:44ADARegtDUI.jpg|25px]] 2nd Battalion, [[44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (United States)|44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment]]
** '''[[101st Combat Aviation Brigade]]''' "Wings of Destiny" (♦)<ref>{{cite web |title=101st Combat Aviation Brigade |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/index.php/101st/101stcab |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101 Avn Rgt DUI.png|25px]] Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade "Hell Cats"
*** [[File:US Army 17th Cavalry Regiment Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:17thCavRegtDUI.gif|25px]] 2nd Squadron (Attack/Reconnaissance), 17th Cavalry Regiment "Out Front" ([[AH-64 Apache|AH-64E Apache]])
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101 Avn Rgt DUI.png|25px]] 1st Battalion (Attack), 101st Aviation Regiment "Expect No Mercy" (AH-64E Apache)
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101 Avn Rgt DUI.png|25px]] 5th Battalion (Assault), 101st Aviation Regiment "Eagle Assault" ([[UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60M Black Hawk]])
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101 Avn Rgt DUI.png|25px]] 6th Battalion (General Support), 101st Aviation Regiment "Shadow of the Eagle" ([[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|CH-47 Chinook]] and UH-60 Black Hawk)
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101 Avn Rgt DUI.png|25px]] Company B, 101st Aviation Regiment ([[General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle|MQ-1C Gray Eagle]])
*** [[File:US Army 101st Aviation Bde Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:US 96th ASB emblem.png|25px]] 96th Aviation Support Battalion "Troubleshooters"
** '''[[101st Sustainment Brigade (United States)|101st Sustainment Brigade]]''' "Life Liners"<ref>{{cite web |title=101st Division Sustainment Brigade |url=https://home.army.mil/campbell/101st/101stsb |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=101st Airborne Division}}</ref>
*** [[File:US Army 101st Sustainment Brigade Background Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:101st Sustainment Bde DUI.png|25px]] 101st Special Troops Battalion "Sustainers"
*** [[File:US Army 101st Sustainment Brigade Background Trimming.svg|30px]] [[File:129 Spt Bn DUI.png|25px]] 129th Division Sustainment Support Battalion "Drive the Wedge"
*** [[File:US Army 626th Bde Support BN Oval.png|30px]] [[File:Distinctive unit insignia of the 626th Support Battalion.png|25px]] 626th Light Support Battalion "Assurgam"<ref name="3MBDE"/>
*** [[File:716MPBnDUI.jpg|25px]] [[716th Military Police Battalion]] "Peacekeepers"

==Honors==

===Campaign participation credit===
* [[File:World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] World War I (2nd and 3rd Brigades only):
# [[Hundred Days Offensive]] (also known as the Battle of Saint-Quentin or the Second Battle of the Somme);
# [[Meuse-Argonne Offensive]];
# Picardy 1918
* [[File:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|50px]] World War II (except 159th Aviation Brigade):
# [[Invasion of Normandy|Normandy]] (with arrowhead);
# Rhineland (with arrowhead);
# [[Battle of the Bulge|Ardennes]]-[[Operation Nordwind|Alsace]];
# Central Europe
* [[File:Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Vietnam War]] (Except 159th Aviation Brigade):
# Defense (1st Brigade only);
# Counteroffensive (1st Brigade only);
# Counteroffensive, Phase II (1st Brigade only)
# Counteroffensive, Phase III;
# Tet Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase IV;
# Counteroffensive, Phase V;
# Counteroffensive, Phase VI;
# [[Tet Offensive|Tet]] 1969/Counteroffensive;
# Summer-Fall 1969;
# Winter-Spring 1970;
# Sanctuary Counteroffensive;
# Counteroffensive, Phase VII;
# Consolidation I;
# Consolidation II
* [[File:Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|50px]] Southwest Asia (Except 159th Aviation Brigade):
# Defense of Saudi Arabia;
# Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
* [[File:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|border|50px]] Haiti
* [[File:Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|border|50px]] Afghanistan
* [[File:Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|border|50px]] Iraq

===Decorations===
* [[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] (Army) for NORMANDY (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* [[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|50px]] Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* [[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|50px]] Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DAK TO, VIETNAM 1966 (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|50px]] Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DONG AP BIA MOUNTAIN (3rd Brigade only)
* [[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|50px]] Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011 (2nd Brigade only)
* [[File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for Afghanistan 2008–2009 (5–101 AVN only)
* [[File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] Joint Meritorious Unit Award for Haiti Operation Uphold Democracy (101st MP CO only)
* [[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Valorous Unit Award]] for THUA THIEN PROVINCE (3rd Brigade and DIVARTY only)
* [[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] Valorous Unit Award for TUY HOA (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] Valorous Unit Award for AN NAJAF (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] Valorous Unit Award for AFGHANISTAN 2010 (3rd Brigade only)
* [[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|50px]] Valorous Unit Award for AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011 (2nd Brigade only)
* [[File:U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Navy Unit Commendation|Navy/Marine Unit Commendation]] for Iraq 2005–2006 (4th Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] (Army) for VIETNAM 1965–1966 (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968 (3rd Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for Iraq 2003–2004 (Division)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2003–2004 (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2005–2006 (4th Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2008–2009 (4th Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011 (4th Brigade only)
* [[File:Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|50px]] Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2012–2013 (3rd Brigade only)
* [[File:Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm (France) - ribbon bar.png|50px]] French [[Croix de Guerre]] with Palm, World War II for NORMANDY (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* [[File:BEL Croix de Guerre 1944 ribbon.svg|50px]]  Belgian [[Croix de guerre (Belgium)|Croix de guerre]] 1940 with Palm for BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only);
* Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Belgian [[Fourragère]] 1944 (Division and 1st Brigade Only)
* Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in FRANCE AND BELGIUM (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam [[Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam)|Cross of Gallantry]] with Palm for VIETNAM 1966–1967 (1st Brigade only)
* [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968 (2d Brigade only)
* [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968–1969 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* [[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1971 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam [[Civil Actions Medal|Civil Actions Honor Medal]], First Class for VIETNAM 1968–1970 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* [[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|50px]] Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1970 (DIVARTY only)
* [[File:ROU Faithful Service Order 2000 Knight BAR.svg|50px]] Romanian [[National Order of Faithful Service]], Knight Rank, Military – Peacetime 2023 (Division)

==Notable members==
{{More citations needed|section|date=November 2022}}
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Naser Jason Abdo]], convicted on charges related to an attempted attack on Ft. Hood soldiers while AWOL.
* [[Ed Austin]], Florida politician and lawyer
* [[Frank K. Berry]], chess administrator and FIDE arbiter
* [[Joseph Beyrle]], the only American soldier to have served with both the United States Army and the Soviet Army in World War II.
* [[John Rusling Block|John R. Block]], [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] under [[Ronald Reagan]]
* [[Allen M. Burdett Jr.]] He served as the Assistant Division Commander from 1968 to 1969.
* [[Donald Burgett]], author of four books on his experiences as a paratrooper during World War II.
* [[Blake Clark]], American actor
* [[2019 Dallas courthouse shooting#Perpetrator|Bryan Isaack Clyde]], attempted mass shooter.
* [[Robert G. Cole]], World War II Medal of Honor recipient.
* [[William C. Coleman Jr.]], Florida politician
* [[Tom Cotton]], Arkansas politician, current junior U.S. Senator from Arkansas.
* [[Randy Couture]], MMA fighter and coach.
* [[Fred Dailey]], Ohio politician
* [[Mark Esper]], 27th [[United States Secretary of Defense]]
* [[Sam Gibbons]], Florida politician
* [[Eugene Goodman]], Capitol Police officer and acting Deputy Senate Sergeant at Arms.
* [[Bob Gunton]], actor
* [[David Hackworth]], writer
* [[Jimi Hendrix]], musician
* [[Bob Kalsu]], University of Oklahoma and Buffalo Bills guard. Killed in action FSB Ripchord South Vietnam, Bronze Star.
* [[Mike Lebowitz]], attorney, pioneer in field of [[military expression]], [[military law]]. He served in Iraq with Pathfinder Company of 101st Airborne Division.
* [[William C. Lee]], General, World War II veteran, considered one of the most important influences behind the establishment of U.S. airborne troops
* [[Dario Lorenzetti]], CIA Officer killed in Afghanistan
* [[Joe E. Mann]], World War II Medal of Honor recipient
* [[Salve H. Matheson]], U.S. Army general (including command of 1st Brigade and later the Division)
* [[James C. McConville]], General, 40th Chief of Staff of the Army, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from 2011 to 2014 and Combined Joint Task Force-101, Operation Enduring Freedom
* [[Jake McNiece]], Acting 1st Sergeant of the 1st Demolition Section, 506th Headquarters Company ([[Filthy Thirteen]])
* [[Tommy Mercer]], professional wrestler, currently signed to TNA Wrestling under the name Crimson
* [[Patrick Nagel]], illustrator.
* [[Hugh Nibley]], scholar and an [[Mormon studies#Apologetics|apologist]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[Jorge Otero Barreto|Jorge Otero-Barreto]]. He received 3 Silver Stars and 5 Purple Hearts in Vietnam.
* [[David H. Petraeus]], General. He commanded 101st Airborne Division in 2003 during V Corp's drive to Baghdad and 3rd Battalion 187th Infantry Regiment "Iron Rakkasans" of the 101st Airborne Division from 1991 to 1993.
* [[Colin L. Powell]], General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1989–1993. He commanded 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division in 1976.
* [[Leslie H. Sabo Jr.]], [[Vietnam War]] Medal of Honor recipient
* [[Joseph F. Sackett]], radiologist and professor of neuroradiology, Company Commander, 326 Med Battalion
* [[Charlie Sayles]], [[Chicago blues]] harmonicist, singer and songwriter<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2020/04/charlie-sayles-raw-harmonica-genius/ |title=Charlie Sayles - Raw Harmonica Genius |website=American Blues Scene |date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=November 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/charlie-sayles-and-the-blues-disciples-album-review/ |title=Charlie Sayles And The Blues Disciples Album Review |first=Marty |last=Gunther |website=Blues Blast |date=November 7, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Louis Simpson]], poet who won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for poetry with his collected works ''At the End of the Open Road''
* [[Robert Sink]]. He commanded the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. He was played by [[Dale Dye]] in the mini-series ''Band of Brothers''.
* [[Vincent Speranza]], private during World War II, famous for carrying beer in his helmet and hero of the [[siege of Bastogne]]. He wrote a book in 2014 called ''NUTS! A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2023/08/03/auburn-iii-resident-vincent-speranza-fought-at-battle-of-the-bulge-dies/70519606007/|title=Vincent Speranza, popular WWII veteran and hero, passes away at 98|author=Steven Spearie|work=[[The State Journal-Register]]|date=3 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/oral-history/collections/speranza-vincent-1-1/interview-detail|title=Vincent Speranza - World War II|work=[[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]]|access-date=5 August 2023}}</ref>
* [[Maxwell Taylor]], division commander during World War II and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
* [[Vincent Viola]], American billionaire businessman and U.S. Army veteran.
* [[Jack Warden]], actor who served with the [[501st Infantry Regiment (United States)|501st Infantry]]; in ''[[That Kind of Woman]]'' Warden played a paratrooper from the [[82nd Airborne Division]].<ref name=msn>{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/shampoo-star-jack-warden-dies-85-wbna13974886 |title='Shampoo' star Jack Warden dies at 85 |date=21 July 2006 |website=Today.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-22-me-warden22-story.html |title=Jack Warden, 85; Prolific Film, TV Actor |last=Nelson |first=Valerie J. |date=22 July 2006 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=12 October 2008}}</ref>
* [[Ernie Wheelwright (running back)|Ernie Wheelwright]], American football player, actor and singer.<ref>''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', Readers letter, 15 June 1970.</ref>
* [[Dan White]], San Francisco supervisor who assassinated San Francisco Mayor [[George Moscone]] and Supervisor [[Harvey Milk]], on Monday, 27 November 1978.
* [[Jesse White (politician)|Jesse White]], Illinois politician
* [[Barry Winchell]], Kansas City soldier who was brutally murdered by two of his fellow soldiers. His story at [[Fort Campbell]] has become a landmark in the debate about the "[[Don't ask, don't tell]]" policy.
* [[Richard D. Winters|Richard Winters]], Major, World War II veteran, portrayed by [[Damian Lewis]] in the TV series ''Band of Brothers''.

==See also==

* [[Arrow Air Flight 1285R|Silent Witness Memorial, Gander]]
* [[List of formations of the United States Army]]
* ''[[A Bridge Too Far (film)|A Bridge Too Far]]'', a 1977 movie featuring the 101st Airborne.
* ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'', a 1998 movie whose title character is a soldier in the 101st Airborne division.
* ''[[Band of Brothers (miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]'', a 2001 miniseries about 101st Airborne Division in WW2.
* ''[[I Am an American Soldier]]'', a 2007 documentary movie that followed C co, 3 BCT during its tour of duty in Iraq in 2006.
* ''[[Battleground (film)|Battleground]]'', a 1949 American war film that follows a company in the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, as they fight in the siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Ailsby |first=Christopher |year=2000 |title= Hitler's Sky Warriors: German Paratroopers in Action, 1939–1945 |publisher=Spellmount Limited| location=Staplehurst, UK |isbn=1-86227-109-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Christopher J. |title=Screaming Eagles The 101st Airborne Division from D-Day to Desert Storm}}
* {{cite book |last=Blackmon |first=Jimmy |date=2016 |title=Pale Horse: Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division |location=News York}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bryant |first1=Russ |last2=Bryant |first2=Susan |name-list-style=amp |title=Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne Division}}
* {{cite book |last=Burns |first=Richard R. |date=2002 |title=Pathfinder: First In, Last Out |location=New York |publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=0804116024}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sharpe |first1=Michael |last2=Dunstan |first2=Simon |name-list-style=amp |title=101st Airborne in Vietnam The 'Screaming Eagles'}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160206210944/http://www.campbell.army.mil/Pages/Default.aspx/official Website of Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)] – [[United States Army]] website
* [https://www.army.mil/101stairborne Army.mil/101stAirborne]
* [http://www.screamingeagle.org/ 101st Airborne Division Association]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbXiTm8wDwk STRIKE on The Military Channel's Warrior POV – Screaming Eagles in Afghanistan] ([[YouTube]])

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |before = [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
|title = [[Train Advise Assist Command - East|Regional Command East]] |years = 2013–Current|after = 10th Mountain Division}}
{{succession box |before = [[82nd Airborne Division]]
|title = [[Train Advise Assist Command - East|Regional Command East]] |years = 2010–2011|after = [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Army Divisions (United States)}}
{{Band of Brothers (miniseries)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:101st Airborne Division| ]]
[[Category:Airborne divisions of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1942]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:United States Army divisions during World War II|Airborne]]
[[Category:Divisions of the United States in Vietnam War|Airborne]]