101st Airborne Division Facts for Kids

The 101st Airborne Division is a special part of the United States Army. It's called an "airborne" division because its soldiers, known as paratroopers, jump from airplanes to go into battle. This division is famous for its brave defense of Bastogne during World War II in a fight called the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne has also fought in many other important conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq.

History of the 101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne in World War II
- D-Day Landings: A Brave Start
- Operation Market Garden: A Huge Airborne Attack
Images for kids
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History of the 101st Airborne Division

The 101st Division was first formed on November 2, 1918, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. However, World War I ended just nine days later, so the unit was quickly disbanded on December 11, 1918.

The unit was brought back on September 10, 1921, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At this time, they were part of the United States Army Reserve. This is when the famous "Screaming Eagle" nickname became linked to the division. They took on traditions from volunteer groups that fought in the American Civil War. To turn the 101st into an airborne division for the regular U.S. Army, the reserve division was disbanded again on August 15, 1942.

The 101st Airborne in World War II

The 101st Airborne Division officially became an active part of the U.S. Army on August 16, 1942. This happened at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. On August 19, 1942, their first commander, Major General William C. Lee, told his new soldiers that the 101st had "no history but had a rendezvous with destiny." This meant they were about to make history.

D-Day Landings: A Brave Start

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the 101st Airborne Division's soldiers parachuted behind enemy lines near Utah Beach in France. Their mission was to clear a path for the soldiers landing on the beaches. They also had to capture several important targets. This was a very dangerous but crucial mission.

Operation Market Garden: A Huge Airborne Attack

The division then took part in Operation Market Garden from September 17 to 25, 1944. This was the largest airborne operation ever. Thousands of paratroopers jumped into the Netherlands to try and capture bridges.

Images for kids

General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking with 1st Lieutenant Wallace C. Strobel and men of Company E, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment on 5 June. The placard around Strobel's neck indicates he is the jumpmaster for chalk No. 23 of the 438th TCG.
Private Ware applies last second war paint to Private Plaudo in England June 1944.
101st Airborne troops posing with a captured Nazi vehicle air identification sign two days after landing at Normandy.
Men of the 101st Airborne Division inspect a broken glider, September 1944.
101st Airborne Division troops watch as C-47s drop supplies over Bastogne.
A letter from General McAuliffe on Christmas Day to the 101st Airborne troops defending Bastogne.
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.
101st Airborne troops retrieving air dropped supplies during the siege of Bastogne.
Men of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, fire from old Viet Cong trenches.
An officer with the 101st Airborne Division wearing dark-blue beret with 326th Engineer Battalion Beret Flash and Airmobile Badge, 1977
A member of the 101st Airborne Division, armed with an M60 machine gun, participates in a field exercise in 1972. M16A1 rifle in background with each soldier wearing an M1 helmet.
101st Airborne Division 1989 (click to enlarge)
The 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment alongside Task Force 121 at Uday and Qusay Hussein's hideout.
U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division return fire during a firefight with Taliban forces in Barawala Kalay Valley in Kunar province, Afghanistan, 31 March 2011.
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.
101st Airborne Division organization 2021