I thought this may be of interest to some of the 101 fans - I just saw a picture of the 101 in Iraq, and it seems that they are using the regimental "playing cards" insignia on their helmets again, just like in WWII. Well, not exactly. I saw soldiers with a patch of "clubs" on the side of his helmet, which used to be the 327th Glider. Not sure what it is exactly now adays. I think the whole division is actually air assult rather than paratrooper.
I got this explination off of the "GI44" site - "One of the distinctive forms of insignia worn by the 101st Airborne in WW2 was Helmet Stencils. After the chaos of an Airborne landing, with personnel of various sub units mixed together on the ground, quick assembly by units was essential for carrying out a mission. Symbols readily visible on helmets were expected to facilitate the re-assembly process. Each regiment and the support battalions had a symbol stenciled in white paint on the left and right side of the helmet. In England before the Normandy Invasion, these were first applied to the steel pots only. Later, stencils were also applied to helmet liners. Although some regimental stencils were applied without a battalion 'tic', a small dash was usually added at the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, or 9 o'clock positions, to designate battalions, in clockwise order. HQ was at the top. 1st Bn at the 3 o'clock position, 2d battalion at the 6 o'clock position, and 3rd Bn at the 9 o'clock position. In the case of the 326th Engineer Bn, Hq was a tic at the top, with A, B, and C, companies being designated by clockwise tics. The Engineers wore a large 'E' stencil, with company tics as described above. The Infantry regiments were represented by playing card symbols. Diamonds for 501. Hearts for 502. Spades for 506th. Clubs for the 327th Glider Infantry. Due to a foul-up the entire 3rd Bn of the 506th jumped into Normandy with their Bn tic in the 1st Bn position (3 o'clock. instead of 9 o'clock). This was corrected later in WW2. All units also utilized the standard ETO stencils of vertical and horizontal bars along the rear of the helmet for officers and non corns These markings were clear signals to enemy snipers and were sometimes covered or eliminated in combat. The members of divisional HQ wore a square stencil with tics to designate Signal Co., MPs, Ordinance, etc. Small units within the 101st had their own esoteric helmet symbols. All divisional artillery units had a white circle, representing a cannonball, with tics in the following order: top (12 o'clock) Division (HQ)Artillery, 3 o'clock: 321st Glider Field Artillery (GFA) Bn, 6 o'clock: 377th Parachute Field Artillery (PFA) Bn, 9 o'clock: 907th GFA Bn. The 463rd PFA Bn. attached just prior to the Bulge, wore two parallel tics below the circle at 6 o'clock. The 326th medical company wore a white Geneva Cross. The 81st Airborne Anti Aircraft and Anti Tank Artillery Bn wore a white triangle, The Division Recon platoon wore a white 'R' and the divisional band wore a white Lyre."
I know the Screamin' Eagles insignia of the 101st came from the 8th Wisconsin Regiment in the Civil War who carried a bald eagle into battle as their mascot. URL is attached showing "Old Abe" in 1865. Old Abe Greg
YES-Captain Michael Seifert of the 101st 1st Brigade had a 'Clubs' patch on his helmet at his memorial service. As I see it-nowadats, whole brigades have been assigned the old stencils of the 101st PIRs in WW2. Clubs-1st, is all I know-I would love to know what brigade the 'Spades' has been attached to! It is great to see that the proud traditions of the 101st are being carried on...
"Speaking of 101 insignia"... I learned from a gulf vet I know that they also make a 101 patch with the eagle looking to the right. He was in the 101st in the gulf war and wears it as his former combat patch on his right shoulder. If you buy this right-facing abe, he will always be looking forward. Kind of symbolic to the 101 guys, I guess.
I have just read from www.tircuit.com that families and veterans from Easy Company are sending food and other aid to US troops in the Gulf.
My buddy overseas said that they are not allowed any more packages - I guess they are worried about getting mail-bombs or something.
Well, that's what he told me. Guess it just goes to show ya. Maybe he was in something else, but I really didn't think so. He used to wear his 502 shirt to work all of the time. Well, either way, this is a bit of what their website says under history - "In January 1991, the 101st once again had its "Rendezvous with Destiny" in Iraq during the deepest combat air assault into enemy territory in the history of the world. Miraculously, the 101st sustained no soldiers killed in action during the 100-hour war and captured thousands of enemy prisoners of war." [ 08. April 2003, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: Doc Raider ]
Nothing personal DOC The 101st isn't alone. The Marines or 82nd boys didn't see any action either. So if a guy is talking about how much action he saw and wasn't part of either 1st AD, 2nd Cav or 3rd AD he's talking out his arse. Only about 1% of the troops over there actually saw an Iraqi soldier or fired their weapon at anything more than a pop-up target. And if he has pictures of dead bodies, blown up tanks and he's not in them.......HE BOUGHT THEM I served in the 1st AD...and later on was assigned to the 101st in 92. I know all the scams, and all the lies. Same goes for this "war", the only action the 101st has seen so far was when that crazy Sgt. fragged his command. [ 08. April 2003, 09:31 AM: Message edited by: Kampfgruppe - von Root ]
I just read your Edit Doc. I know the "Strike & Kill" boys from the 502nd very well. They didn't see anything. Yes the unit did an air assault into "enemy territory", and yes they rounded up prisoners that had already been left for them by the armored units. Many CIB's and combat patches have been awarded to soldiers for "being there" especially during Panama, GW1, Kosovo, and Blood for Oil 2. It is possible for senior officers and NCO's to have served in three different campaign's been awarded three different combat patches and CIB's but have never fired their weapon in anger.
I suppose I can see both sides here....Didnt the 101 go up on the left to protect the flank of the Armoured inf divisions? Together with the French Light division? 82nd as well? Suppose even if they didnt get into the fighting like the armour and inf guys that they were not to know that when their mission was envisigaed or when put on the ground..But yes didnt see the main actions like the guys kamp says.. 101 seem to be doing clear up behind the main untis in this one if Im seeing this right? And the marines are getting their fair share this time..enough to make up for the decoy op in the Gulf on the last occasion. Although the marines did make the thrust up the right flank into Kuwait city with their own air supprt guys too. That was where the Brit armour was intially deployed to support the marines but General De La Billiere wasnt having any of it and got Swhartzkopf to move em.. Our paras and marines didnt get to see the main axis of the actions on that occasion either. But both making up for it today it seems.
Not a bad thing...I was in Brit forces for 14 years and never fired a shot in anger.. Yet on leaving..my nephew joined up and in 3 years had been in more dangerous situations and place than most generals. Knew a guy at time of Falkalnds (anniversarry this month again) who had been sent on a duty with my unit to Germany..a navy guy who was missing his ship..HMS Fearelss a landing and control ship...with floating dock..who was trying to get back when it all started but had to stay with us...He could be seen in bars in Germany crying into his pint with a newspaper clipping of 3 young guys only 17 years old..who dressed up in all thier anti flash rigging were proudly holding the remains of a Mirage glass canopy standing next to their Bofors or Okleion anti aircraft gun..after shooting it down...his ship..his trainees..and he had nearly done 22 years..these gusy had done barely 8 months....He was devestated..should have been me crying into his beer..
The 101st was used to cut the main supply route from Highway 8. They made a deep helicopter operation and held the left flank to prevent any reinforcements from getting in to hit the VII Corps from behind when they swung to engage the Republican Guard. They were going to be used to cut Highway 6 and prevent the fleeing Republican Guards from getting away while the VII Corps mopped up and the 82nd took Basra but that plan never happened as the war ended. They allocated the Tiger Brigade from the 2nd Armor Division to supplement the US Marines when the Brit 1st Armour was moved further West. In addition the 101st Apaches took out radar stations on the first night of the war to clear the way for the aircraft. Great book on this is Rick Atkinson's "Crusade" Greg
Yep Greg,,Crusade,,,Excellent book, describes the apache attack in the first few hours in great detail..Good map section in back too if anyone want a good read on the Gulf war.
