A Company,1st Bde, 101st Airborne Division

• Founding and Lineage: A Company is part of the storied 1st Brigade ("Bastogne"), 101st Airborne Division, which traces its heritage to World War II and has played a pivotal role in many major conflicts. • Normandy Landings: The 101st Airborne Division, including A Company’s predecessors, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day (June 6, 1944), playing a crucial role in securing the flanks for the Allied beach landings. • Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge: During the winter of 1944, the 1st Brigade (then part of the 506th PIR), including A Company, famously held the town of Bastogne against German forces, earning the nickname "Bastogne Bulldogs." • Vietnam War Service: A Company, as part of the 1st Brigade, was among the first Army units deployed to Vietnam, participating in major operations such as Operation Hawthorne and Operation Apache Snow (Hamburger Hill). • Airmobile Pioneers: The 101st Airborne transitioned to an airmobile (air assault) division in the 1960s, with A Company participating in innovative helicopter-borne assaults that changed modern warfare. • Gulf War Contributions: During Operation Desert Storm (1991), the 101st, including A Company, conducted the longest and deepest air assault in history, moving over 155 miles behind enemy lines. • Operation Iraqi Freedom: A Company, as part of the 1st Brigade, was among the first units into Iraq in 2003, playing a key role in capturing key objectives and stabilizing the region. • Operation Enduring Freedom: The unit deployed multiple times to Afghanistan, conducting counterinsurgency operations in challenging terrain and earning numerous unit citations for valor. • Distinctive Unit Insignia: Members of A Company wear the iconic "Screaming Eagle" patch, a symbol of elite airborne and air assault capabilities recognized worldwide. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Soldiers from A Company and the 1st Brigade have included Medal of Honor recipients, such as Staff Sergeant David Bellavia (Iraq) and World War II heroes, exemplifying extraordinary bravery and sacrifice.