Officials within the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell will be focused on the unit’s 80th birthday this year, when the “Week of the Eagles” commences May 20-26.
Under the theme of “80 Years of Getting It Done With the 101!”, visitors will be able to observe and partake in a number of events celebrating the history of the 101st.
Activated on August 16, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, the 101st’s inaugural commanding general Maj. Gen. William C. Lee is credited with stating his division had “no history,” but that it had a “rendezvous with destiny” and would habitually be called into action when the need was “immediate and extreme” — falling on enemies “like a thunderbolt from the skies.”
The first “Week of the Eagles” was held in May 1973 and hosted by Maj. Gen. J.H. Cushman, just one year after the division returned from the Vietnam War. It was first planned as a celebration of the division’s combat readiness — and even then featured displays, tours, reviews and unit-on-unit military skills competitions.
KEY EVENTS
May 20, 6:30 a.m. – Division Run.
The 101st Abn. Div will conduct a large-scale run as a division. The run route encompasses several roads on the installation.
May 20, 3 p.m. – Boot Display Opening Ceremony at the 101st Abn. Div. headquarters.
Fallen service members since 9/11 are represented by nearly 8,000 boots lining the division headquarters’ front lawn. Senior leaders will make remarks during this event.
May 21, 1:30 p.m. – Air Assault Demonstration and Static Displays.
This event features a live demonstration of air assault tactics involving both aircraft and Soldiers. It will be held at The Sabalauski Air Assault School.
May 21, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Outdoor Festival & Concert.
Singer-songwriter Cassadee Pope is set to be the very special guest for the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Division Parade Field on Fort Campbell. The event is open to DOD ID cardholders and authorized guests.
May 23, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. – Soldier Recovery Unit Eagle Warrior Memorial Garden Rededication Ceremony.
A memorial plaque with names of those lost since the last rededication ceremony will be rededicated and unveiled during the ceremony at the SRU Garden, 2311 Kentucky Avenue, Fort Campbell.
May 23 – 24, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Culinary Competition.
Soldiers from across the Division will compete in a live cooking competition featuring required ingredients, judging and elimination rounds. The competition begins 9 a.m.
May 24, 9:30 a.m. – Gold Star Families Memorial Dedication Ceremony.
A memorial ceremony will be conducted to honor the families of our fallen Soldiers. The ceremony will take place across from the Dreyer Field House at 2699 Kentucky Avenue, Fort Campbell.
May 25, 1:30 p.m. – 101st Abn. Div. Mass Re-enlistment Ceremony.
Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding general of the 101st Abn. Div., will re-enlist more than 100 Soldiers at The Sabalauski Air Assault School.
May 25 (multiple times throughout the day) – Boxing Competition Finals and Combatives Finals.
This event involves both boxing and Army combatives, which is similar to mixed martial arts. Final bouts will be fought this day.
May 26, 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – Division Review.
The 101st Abn. Div. will conduct a review ceremony involving a large number of Soldiers at the division parade field. During this event, the winners of the division’s Best Air Assault Competition and Commander’s Cup will be announced.
May 26, 2 p.m. – Honorary Air Assault Award Ceremony.
The 101st Abn. Div. will present Vietnam veterans then-assigned to the division with an honorarium award recognizing their service. The ceremony will be held at The Sabalauski Air Assault School.
