The Screaming Eagle insignia of the @101stAASLTDIV is perhaps the most recognized and famous shoulder sleeve insignia in the United States Army.
However the history and symbolism of the patch is often forgotten. The eagle on your shoulder is not just any American Bald Eagle, but instead, it commemorates the most famous animal mascot that ever served in the United States Army.
In 1861, an American Indian named Ahgamahwegezhig cut down a tree in an attempt to capture two American Bald Eaglets in their nest. Chief Sky later traded the surviving eaglet to Daniel McCann of Eagle Point, Wisc., for a bushel of corn.
McCann took the bird to Eau Claire, Wisc., and briefly kept it as a family pet. Caged inside an oaken cask, the bird grew larger and quickly became too expensive to feed.
McCann actively sought to sell the as yet unnamed bird to the many units of Wisconsin troops passing through the area enroute to their muster site at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisc.
After many unsuccessful attempts to rid himself of the bird, McCann eventually sold the eagle for $2.50 to Capt. John E. Perkins, commanding officer of a militia company called the "Eau Claire Badgers."
In light of their newly acquired mascot, the unit renamed themselves the "Eau Claire Eagle."
Perkins' unit entered federal service and was re-designated as Company C, 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The Eau Claire Eagles' mascot was adopted by the new Regiment which was nicknamed the “Eagle Regiment.”
During its time awaiting muster into Federal service at Camp Randall, the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment purchased a special, shield-shaped perch to carry their mascot.
It was here, in Madison, Wisconsin where “Old Abe” was named in honor of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln.
The 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment spent its entire military service in what was then known as the Western Theater of the American Civil War.
“Old Abe” was present during all the 8th Wisconsin's battles and was carried into combat by a sergeant on a special perch alongside the 8th Wisconsin's National and Regimental colors.
Seeing “Old Abe” atop his perch during the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Confederate General Sterling Price remarked, “that bird must be captured or killed at all hazards, I would rather get that eagle than capture a whole brigade or a dozen battle flags.”
During his service, the 8th Wisconsin participated in many battles. Among these were the battles of: Iuka; Corinth; Island Number 10; Big Black; Champion's Hill; the Red River and Meridian expeditions; and the Battle of Nashville.
"Old Abe" was there every step of the way.
The 8th Wisconsin's most famous fight came in June 1863, when the regiment participated in a futile frontal assault along Vicksburg's Graveyard Road.
"Old Abe" and his regiment, then part of Mower's Brigade, failed to penetrate the center of the Confederate fortifications near a 90-degree bend in the Confederate defensive positions known as Stockade Redan.
Their enlistments having expired, the men of the 8th Wisconsin were mustered out of federal service in late-1864. The 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment was no more.
On Sept. 26th, 1864, a contingent of 70 8th Wisconsin veterans marched "Old Abe" to the state and presented him to Governor James Lewis. "Old Abe" was donated to the people of Wisconsin by the loving comrades alongside whom he had fought for four years.
In 1865 an enterprising Chicagoan, capitalizing on "Old Abe's" fame, sought to enlist him in support of the United Sanitary Commission's efforts to provide aid and comfort to wounded Veterans.
Thus the "Army of the American Eagle" was formed. Children were "enlisted" to sell paper photographs of "Old Abe" in much the same way that schools raise funds today. Proceeds from the sale of these photographs went to benefit local veteran's charities.
The Wisconsin War Eagle's postwar life was punctuated by frequent nationwide travel in support of veteran reunions, patriotic gatherings, Soldier relief benefits, and special exhibitions during which he achieved a rock-star like status.
In 1876, "Old Abe" again toured the country as part of America's Centennial Exposition.
"Old Abe" lived out the remainder of his life in an aviary in the Capitol building. In 1881, a fire broke out in a paint storage area near "Old Abe's" aviary. A month later the famous Wisconsin War Eagle, weakened by fumes, died in the arms of his handler, George Gilles.
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Staff Sgt. Lafayette Pool, nicknamed "War Daddy" by his fellow Soldiers, was a lanky Texan and golden gloves boxer who became one of America's deadliest tank aces in WWII.
Pool and his crew destroyed hundreds of German vehicles and killed 1000 enemy troops from June 29 to Sept. 19, 1944.
In honor of the Army’s 250 years of service, learn more about this storied hero below.
Photo: Graphic Illustration of Lafayette Pool by U.S. Army Digital Management Division
On June 23, 1944, Pool and his close-knit crew landed in Normandy with the 32nd Armored Regiment. They faced intense fighting six days later in Villiers-Fossard. Here, Pool lost his first Sherman tank, which he named “In the Mood.”
Over the next 80 days and 21 assaults through France and Belgium, Pool lost two more tanks, but every new one kept the same name.
In total, Pool and his crew destroyed 258 German vehicles (including tanks) over the nearly 12 weeks of action.
On September 19, 1944, Pool's intrepid campaign came to a halt.
Pictured: Pool and the crew of In The Mood at Liege, Belgium, September 8, 1944 via Texas State Historical Association
While fighting near Munsterbusch, Germany Pool spotted a German anti-tank gun. When he tried to engage, their 76 mm gun jammed.
Before they could safely reverse, Pool's tank was shelled twice and he was thrown from the vehicle.
Pool's right leg was severely shattered and later amputated 8 inches above the knee. His Army story, however, didn't end there.
Pictured: One of Pool’s tanks via Warfare History Network
Philippines, 1942. Shot twice in the chest and his left hand, Cpt. Willibald C. Bianchi still jumped on a tank and doggedly fought off machine gun fire on a mission he volunteered for. 🧵
Today, @SecWar announced the identification and return of Bianchi's remains on National POW and MIA Day.
Read more about this Medal of Honor recipient's story of heroism, fortitude, and courage below.
Graphic illustration by Army Digital Management Division
On Feb. 3, 1942, Bianchi voluntarily joined and led another company’s rifle platoon ordered to take out two enemy machine gun nests in the Bataan Peninsula.
Early in the fight, Bianchi was shot twice in his left hand. While most would get first aid, Bianchi chose to swap his rifle with a pistol and continue fighting.
Shortly after, Bianchi found a machine gun nest and silenced it with two grenades. But his heroism didn’t stop there.
In the fray, Bianchi was shot twice more, this time in the chest. Again, he didn’t seek medical help, but jumped on a tank, manned the anti-aircraft machine gun, and rained fire on the second enemy position. He continued fighting until he was shot once more and knocked off the tank.
Bianchi recovered for a month before returning to duty and was promoted to Captain. When the Philippines fell to Japanese forces on April 9, 1942, Bianchi and 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers were captured as prisoners of war.
Pictured: Map showing the location of the three pockets where Japanese infantry dug in behind the US line on Bataan in later January/early February 1942 during the Battle of the Pockets.
Aug. 28, 2013. Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan. A massive blast tore a 60-foot hole in the wall of an American Forward Operating Base. Ten insurgents wearing suicide vests stormed through the breach.
Then-Staff Sgt. Earl Plumlee and five other Soldiers raced toward the chaos to defend their base and rescue wounded teammates.
What unfolded next would earn Plumlee the highest award for valor in the U.S. military.
In honor of the Army’s 250 years of service, read about this extraordinary hero. 🧵
Plumlee and his driver charged straight into the battle. The driver maneuvered their vehicle to shield injured Soldiers while Plumlee instinctively protected his teammate from incoming rounds.
Armed with only a pistol, Plumlee dismounted and began engaging an insurgent just 15 meters away.
He pressed the attack without cover, completely disregarding his own safety.
Plumlee continued his relentless assault, engaging insurgents in brutal close-quarters combat. One detonated a vest just seven meters from his position.
Undeterred, he kept advancing under heavy fire alongside a teammate. When a wounded insurgent triggered his explosive vest, the blast hurled Plumlee against a wall.
Sgt. Maj. Mike Vining: The Man. The Meme. The Army Legend.
An EOD technician and founding member of multiple elite units, Vining made his mark on Army history early in his career when he helped destroy a weapons cache with over 7 million rounds of ammunition.
He gained fame online as the subject of Army memes, thanks to his unassuming demeanor and stack of medals.
In honor of his birthday, here’s a small part of his incredible story.
Inspired by WWII movies, Vining wanted to defuse bombs from a young age.
He joined the Army in 1968 at just 17 years old, graduating from EOD training two years later.
Soon after, he volunteered to deploy to Vietnam with the 99th Ordnance Detachment.
Pictured: Sgt. Maj. Vining in the bottom left corner.
In May 1970, Vining deployed with the @1stCavalryDiv to a site that would become known as Rock Island East, the largest enemy weapons cache discovered by U.S. forces during the war.
The cache included:
▶️ 932 individual weapons
▶️ 85 crew-served weapons
▶️ 7,079,694 small arms and machine gun rounds
▶️ Nearly 1,000 rounds of 85 mm artillery shells for D-44 howitzers and T-34 tanks