101st Airborne facts

While investigating facts about 101st Airborne, I found out little known, but curios details like:

In 1957 a governor used the national guard to block black students entering a desegregated school. Elizabeth Eckford mistakenly arrived on her own and was hounded by an angry mob. The 101st airborne was summoned by the president who protected her and 8 other black students while at school.

Geraldo Rivera was traveling with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army in Iraq as a war correspondent for Fox News and ended up drawing a map in the sand during a live broadcast pinpointing his exact location and revealing the time and details of an upcoming military operation

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 21 of the best facts about 101st Airborne I managed to collect.

1. Jimi Hendrix served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's elite 101st Airborne division from 1961-62

2. A 9 year-old schoolgirl and current Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust sent a letter to President Eisenhower in 1957 to affirm him of her support in sending in the 101st Airborne in the "Little Rock Nine."

3. The 101st Airborne was not actually the first division to reach Hitler's Eagle's Nest, and that Stephen E Ambrose mistakenly perpetuated the myth that they were in Band of Brothers

4. The WWII movie "The Dirty Dozen" was inspired by the Filthy Thirteen, a 101st Airborne Demolition Section founded by full-blooded Indians who swore not to bathe until they jumped into combat and were described as "the orneriest, meanest group of paratroopers" on their base

5. Richard Nixon was almost killed by an angry mob during a 1958 goodwill tour of Latin America. President Eisenhower mobilised the USMC, the 101st Airborne and a carrier battlegroup to invade Venezuela if it became necessary in what was called "Operation Poor Richard"

6. Joseph Liebgott, a US Soldier in the famous Easy Company (101st Airborne) of World War II. Joseph went after a former German concentration camp leader after discovering what the Germans had done. The Nazi camp leader was interrogated and fatally shot by Joseph and his men in his home.

7. In 1944 182 US Army paratroopers held off a Waffen SS division preventing them from reinforcing the garrison of Carentan before the 101st airborne division secured the town

8. Tiger Force, a Long-range reconnaissance patrol unit part of the 101st Airborne Division that committed war crimes such as the routine practice of intentionally killing unarmed civilians, wearing necklaces made of human ears, killing infants, and scalping.

9. 24 hours before the invasion of mainland Italy, Brigadier General Maxwell Tayor infiltrated into enemy territory, met with the Italian head of state, and secured Italy's capitulation to the allies. He then went on to command the 101st Airborne Devision's invasion of Europe.

10. Jimi Hendrix served 1 year in the 101st Airborne before being discharged due to "Unsuitability".

What is true about 101st airborne?

You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.

101st Airborne Easy Company, main company in Band of Brothers, only has 14 members still alive.

Jimi Hendrix was "apprehended masturbating in platoon area" while serving in the 101st Airborne Division. - source

Not a single member of "Easy Company", 101st Airborne attended the funeral of Herbert Sobel, their original CO, despite many crediting his harsh training with saving their lives during WW2 - source

There is only one surviving member of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne, Colonel Robert Shames.

During the Siege of Bastogne in December 1944, the German commander sent a letter to the encircled 101st Airborne asking them to honourably surrender. The American Commander simply replied: "NUTS!" - source

Jimi Hendrix was a veteran. In 1961, he enlisted in the US Army and trained as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division

When the Germans offered surrender to the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne the response from Gen. McAuliffe was "Aw, nuts", which his staff sent back as "NUTS!"

In 1957, Arkansas Gov. Faubus fought the SCOUS ruling to desegregate, ignored a plea from the POTUS, closed schools, and sent Nat. guard to prevent integration. Even continued his fight after Pres. Eisenhower federalized (took) his Guard and sent the 101st Airborne to ensure integration.

Gary Johnson dad fought with the 101st airborne division (The one they follow in band of brothers) and was paratrooped into normandy.