[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War II
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Activated: 15 August 1942.
Overseas: 5 September 1943.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central Europe, Normandy, Ardennes-Alsace.
Days of combat: 214.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 13.
Awards: MH-2; DSC-56; DSM-2; SS-456; LM-20; SM-4; BSM-9,488; AM-48.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. William C. Lee (5 August 1942-30 March 1944),
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (31 March 1944-4 December 1944),
Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe (5 December 1944-26 December 1944),
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (27 December 1944-September 1945),
Brig. Gen. William M. Gillmore (September 1945),
Brig. Gen. Gerald St. C. Mickle (September 1945),
Brig. Gen. Stuart Cutler (October to inactivation).
Inactivated: 30 November 1945 in Europe.
Reactivated: 6 July 1948.
Combat Chronicle -
The 101st Airborne arrived in England, 15 September 1943, and received additional
training in Berkshire and Wiltshire. On 6 June 1944, the Division was dropped into
Normandy behind Utah Beach. Against fierce resistance it took Pouppeville, Vierville,
and St. Come du Mont. On the 12th, the stronghold of Carentan fell, and after mopping
up and maintaining its positions, the Division returned to England, 13 July, for rest
and training. On 17 September 1944, taking part in one of the largest of airborne
invasions, the 101st landed in Holland, took Vechel and held the Zon bridge. St. Oedenrode
and Eindhoven fell after sharp fighting on the 17th and 18th. Opheusden changed hands in
a shifting struggle, but the enemy was finally forced to withdraw, 9 October. After
extensive patrols, the Division returned to France, 28 November, for further training. On
18 December, it moved to Belgium to stop the German breakthrough. Moving into Bastogne
under the acting command of Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, it set up a circular
defense and although completely surrounded, refused to surrender on 22 December. Its
perimeter held against violent attacks. The
4th Armored Division finally
reached the 101st on the 26th and the enemy offensive was blunted. Very heavy fighting
continued near Bastogne for the rest of December and January. On 17 January 1945, the
Division moved to Drulingen and Pfaffenhoffen in Alsace and engaged in defensive harassing
patrols along the Moder River. On 31 January, it crossed the Moder in a three-company raid. After
assembling at Mourmelon, France, 26 February 1945, for training, it moved to the Ruhr
pocket, 31 March, patrolling and raiding in April and engaging in military government
at Rheydt and Munchen-Gladbach. The 101st reached Berchtesgaden by the end of the war
and performed occupational duties until inactivation in Germany.
Assignments in the ETO -
22 January 1944: VIII Corps, but attached to First Army. // 13 March 1944: First Army. //
6 June 1944: VII Corps, First Army. // 15 June 1944: VIII Corps. //
15 July 1944: Ninth Army. // 12 August 1944: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Allied (Abn) Army. //
18 September 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the British XXX Corps, British
Second Army. // 21 September 1944: British I (Abn) Corps. //
23 September 1944: British VIII Corps. // 28 September 1944: British XII Corps. //
9 November 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the Canadian II Corps, Canadian
First Army. // 17 December 1944: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the VIII Corps,
Third Army, 12th Army Group. // 26 December 1944: III Corps. //
29 December 1944: VIII Corps. // 19 January 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached
to the Third Army, 12th Army Group. // 20 January 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but
attached to the XV Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. // 26 January 1945: VI Corps. //
28 February 1945: XVIII (Abn) Corps, First Allied (Abn) Army. //
1 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the XXII Corps, Fifteenth Army,
12th Army Group. // 6 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the 12th Army
Group. // 17 April 1945: First Allied (Abn) Army, but attached to the Seventh Army, 6th
Army Group. // 23 April 1945: VI Corps. // 4 May 1945: XXI Corps.
General -
Nickname: Screaming Eagle.
Shoulder patch: Black badge with black arc streaming above; on the badge is white
screaming eagle; appearing on arc, in white, is "Airborne."
Publications: Epic of the 101st Airborne Division; by unit members; 101st Airborne Division
Association; Rendezvous with Destiny; by First Lt. Leonard Rapport and
Lt. Arthur Northwood; The Infantry Journal, Washington, D. C., 1947.
• 101st Airborne Division Links
• 101st Airborne Division Components
• 101st Airborne Division Medal of Honor Recipients
• 101st Airborne Division Commanders
• 101st Airborne Division Videos
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