101st Airborne Celebrating 70th Anniversary
August 14, 2012 6:50 AM 
“Nuts!” That was the response from the 101st Airborne Divisions acting commander General Anthony McAuliffe when ordered to surrender by the Germans at Bastogne during WW2. It is just one of many historic highlights of the 101st Airborne Division which, according to the AP, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this week as part of Fort Campbell’s “Week of the Eagles”. The “Screaming Eagles” have often been featured in various venues of popular culture.
The 101st has been spotlighted in a number of movies, TV shows and best-selling books.
1967 movie The Dirty Dozen, set in World War II sets the “Dirty Dozen” against the “best” of the 101st Airborne to prove their worth
1977 movie A Bridge Too Far features the 101st Airborne
1987 John Irvin movie Hamburger Hill, set in May 1969 during the Vietnam War
1998 movie Saving Private Ryan‘s title character is a soldier in the 101st Airborne division. In addition, Miller’s men encounter pathfinders from the 101st in a village
2001 TV series Band of Brothers, chronicling the exploits of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division, in the Second World War in Europe from Operation Overlord through V-J Day.
2004 video game Conflict: Vietnam
2010 movie Valentine’s Day features Julia Roberts as a captain in the 101st Airborne Division
The books Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose and Biggest Brother by Major Dick Winters
Happy anniversary to my fellow “Screaming Eagles” and “All the Way!”
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