So you have just learned that you will be stationed in the illustrious Fort Campbell Kentucky and are on your way to the 101st Airborne decision. The first thing that runs through your head is great, I’m definitely going to have to go to Air Assault school and I’m in for a ton of running on the post that borders Tennessee and Kentucky.
What you don’t know is that you are about to become a member of one of the most decorated and proud units that the United States Army has. The birthday of this proud unit is approaching and I thought it only fitting that we discuss their current operations, and rich history on this day of celebration.
The 101st was not initially concentrated on the Air Assault missions. The Screaming Eagles as they are still known as today would conduct operations and jump into enemy territory, many times behind enemy lines to give the US military a strategic advantage in battle. They were involved in D-Day and the beaches of Normandy and performed exceptionally in the famous Battle of the Bulge. They have continued to participate in every major conflict or war since WWII Receiving numerous unit awards and citations in the process. Here is a current list of those citations:
* [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] (Army) for NORMANDY (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DAK TO, VIETNAM 1966 (1st Brigade only)
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for DONG AP BIA MOUNTAIN (3rd Brigade only)
* Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011 (2nd Brigade only)
* Valorous Unit Award for THUA THIEN PROVINCE (3rd Brigade and DIVARTY only)
* Valorous Unit Award for TUY HOA (1st Brigade only)
* Valorous Unit Award for AN NAJAF (1st Brigade only)
* Valorous Unit Award for AFGHANISTAN 2010 (3rd Brigade only)
* Valorous Unit Award for AFGHANISTAN 2010–2011 (2nd Brigade only)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1965–1966 (1st Brigade only)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968 (3rd Brigade only)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2003–2004 (1st Brigade only)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for IRAQ 2005–2006 (4th Brigade only)
* French Croix de guerre with Palm, World War II for NORMANDY (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Belgian Croix de guerre 1940 with Palm for BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only);
* Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at BASTOGNE (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Belgian [[Fourragère]] 1944 (Division and 1st Brigade Only)
* Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in FRANCE AND BELGIUM (Division and 1st Brigade only)
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1966–1967 (1st Brigade only)
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968 (2d Brigade only)
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1968–1969 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm for VIETNAM 1971 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1968–1970 (Except 159th Aviation Brigade)
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1970 (DIVARTY only)
* Navy/Marine Unit Commendation (Army) for Iraq 2005–2006 (4th Brigade only)
* [[Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for Afghanistan 2008–2009 (5–101 AVN only) Joint Meritorious Unit Award for Haiti Operation Uphold Democracy (101st MP CO only)
Today the 101st Screaming Eagles have been re-organized and have a similar but very different mission. The division has ditched the classic means of entering enemy territory and no longer utilizes planes as its primary aircraft. The Screaming Eagles can insert up to 4,000 troops 150 kilometers into enemy territory utilizing rotary aircraft (helicopters for civilians). They continue to answer the calls of our Army, and our nation and we should all wish them a very happy birthday.
I would personally like to wish a happy birthday to one of the most historic and decorated units in our Armed Forces. The 82nd Airborne’s motto of “death from above” is extremely fitting for the only infantry unit that continues to stand ready to drop into enemy territory via parachute. Let us all think about the type of soldier that it takes to do this for a moment. The first thing to realize is that all of them are willing to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. That sounds crazy enough right, but the second thing is that they don’t train to drop into some secure drop zone somewhere, they actually train to drop into enemy controlled territory and bring the fight from above.
This light infantry units training is rigorous, and the unit is located in FT Bragg, NC. They all must attend airborne training in FT Benning, GA to be qualified for their tasks. This school is a grueling 3 week course that will test the soles of your boots as well as your patience. One you have graduating and make it to FT Bragg you must jump at least once every 3 months to maintain your airborne status and these jumps take a toll on the body. There are plenty of soldiers with busted knees and backs due to the impact of all the jumps performed throughout a career. I have witnessed soldiers who have literally lost inches in their height presumably due to the compression of their spine throughout their careers. They do all of this to stay sharp and call themselves a member of the prestigious 82nd Airborne division.
The units nickname of the All American division is displayed on the flag as well as the unit patch that is proudly displayed by the soldiers who have deployed and served under them, as well as the current members of the unit. What many of those soldiers may not be aware of is that in the early days of the unit’s operations there were two distinctly different airborne soldiers. The first type were the traditional airborne soldiers of today who provide death from above, but another group of soldiers dropped in via military glider, and they had a distinctly different badge that was worn for this skill. The unit no longer has gliders but a photo of this distinctive badge can be seen below.
The unit has had many important leaders including General Omar Bradley throughout the years that have not only shaped the unit itself but have also shaped our Army and our military as a whole. They performed in exemplary fashion numerous times during WWII, and in all of the US Army’s conflicts that followed. They have a rich history and tradition that distinguishes them from other units in the Army. On this day I would like to recognize that distinction and wish them a very happy birthday. Current and former members may be interested in the coin below.
Donald Trump was recently gifted a Purple Heart by a veteran who had earned one for his actions. Trump immediately responded that he had always wanted one (referring to the Purple Heart). Everyone who has heard this comment has rightfully vilified him for his comments doubting that he actually wanted to be wounded or killed in combat, or that any person for that matter would wish to be wounded or killed for their country.
While this may be true since it is the birth month of this prestigious award I think it is only fair that we review the history of the Purple Heart. It is after all the oldest award in our military and immediately identifiable by its purple color and the profile view of the bust of our first president General George Washington. This is extremely fitting considering the award’s origin. Originally known as the Badge of Merit and established by George Washington himself for, “not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way”. Washington himself only handed out 3 of these very prestigious awards himself. If Trump had been referring to the award as it was known during this period I feel that there would have been no backlash towards his comments, since injury or death was not a qualifying characteristic of the award.
So when did the criteria of being wounded and its current utilization come about? Well another great general in our United States Military made it his goal to revive the award. General MacArthur spearheaded the reviving of the award which was announced in 1932. A Soldier could request the award if at any time after 1917 they had been awarded both a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate and an Army wound ribbon. A soldier could also request the award if they had been authorized wound chevrons and not been awarded the Army Wound Ribbon. Once the new criteria had been established MacArthur himself was the first soldier to receive the award.
Regardless of the criteria the Purple Heart has always been a symbol of patriotism and valor to the American people, and for that reason I can understand why a politician like Trump may say that they have always wanted a Purple Heart. Not that for one second I believe that he or anyone else in their right mind would want to be wounded or die for their country in order to receive it, but they would like to be associated with an award and the thoughts that surround a symbol such as the Purple Heart. I know that personally I immediate have a certain level of respect that I give to someone who is driving a vehicle with a Purple Heart license plate. I know that the owner of that vehicle was put in a danger before the enemy and risked their life in some way defending our country, and our freedom. The soldier probably had a family, a mother, a father, wife, husband, or children that they were fighting for and they were wounded ensuring that those people would be safe even though they probably worried about his/her safety every night. The soldier more than likely had downplayed the danger that they were in so as not to worry the family waiting for them at home.
At the end of the day the current Purple Heart exemplifies a military member’s willingness to put the needs of others before their own and acknowledges that the recipient may have lived through the encounter but was willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
Without the men and women in red a US military aircraft might as well be a paper airplane! They can latch, lock, adjust, screw, bolt, turn, operate, fix, elevate, illuminate, translate but never agitate the weapons of devastation they strap to a mach going airplane with a full load of freedom bearing love for some enemy or terrorist organization. So IYAOYAS Warheads On Foreheads leaves a dent when their ordnance drops from an aircraft or weapons system.
It can easily be described as one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States Navy. Because of this the men and women whose US Navy Ratings are aviation ordnance belong to a well known and highly specialized group of brothers and sisters in the US Navy: IYAOYAS. Stories have been written about this highly specialized rating and the work they do so much as to say they deserved a coin. An IYAOYAS coin from the coin craftsmen of Vision-Strike-Wear.Com created one in their honor.
Now for the fun part. We get to present some of the Ordie designs created over recent months for the red shirts! IYAOYAS!
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The Legend. The first design from Vision-Strike-Wear.Com designed specifically for the US Navy IYAOYAS community!
Created for the red shirts at Lemoore, CA for us Navy! Custom cool US Navy!
The USMC kicks in with this IYAOYAS shirt design created for them in Okinawa!
MALS-1 while on deplyment requested this military pinup and design with the unmistakable look and feel of a USMC custom design!
Now for the BOOM BOOM Videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTWvLSmLd6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1lq1JbIZYo
Help Heal Our Vets!
Help Heal Our Vets in collaboration with Vision-Strike-Wear.Com is announcing its efforts to raise awareness of issues and support that help our US military veterans. There are many very important organaizations and military non-profits whose goal it is to support our veterans and put the much needed funds into their hands where it can do our veteran’s the most good. This is what Helphealourvets.Org does.
Your purchase of the Helphealourvets.Org hoodie allows all proceeds to be donated to military charities and organizations who do the job right and take care of the veterans. No more red tape or layers of bureacratic salaries that produce little nothing for our veterans. These dollars go to the veterans. Your purchase of this hoodie makes this possible.
This Veteran’s Day will mark the beginning of the fundraising campaign created by Healp Heal Our Vets and between this Veteran’s Day and next years Veteran’s Day 2015 where we will announce the amount that will be donated to the organizations that do the most good within the veteran community. We are excited to partipcate and be part of a fundraising campaign whose sole purpose is to help heal our veterans.
