101st Airborne Shoulder Insignia
Published on March 07, 2019
The 101st Airborne Divisision or Screaming Eagles is a specialized modular light infantry division of the US Army.
This division is perhaps one of the most famous when discussing World War II history, because of the portrayal of E Company in the HBO series Band of Brothers based on the Stephen E. Ambrose book of the same name.
Soldiers from this division saw action from the very start of the war, with pathfinders parachuting into occupied Europe as part of the night drop before the D-Day invasion.
The devision actively participated throughout the war, amongst others in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Buldge.
The shoulder patch
The eagle featured on the patch is stooped in Wisconsin history. In 1861, Chief Sky of the Chippewa tribe captured a bald eagle near the Flambeau river in north Winsconsin. Through trade, the eagle found it’s way to the 8th Winsonsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, where it became the mascot.
Soon, soldiers named the eagle “Old Abe” after President Lincoln. Old Abe would be carried into battle, screaming at the enemy while thethered to a wooden shield.
It was not until 1921 that the legend of Old Abe and the 101st unit designation merged, leading to the patch on display here.
This patch is a World War II era version of the 101st Airborne Division shoulder insignia.