U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Multi-Functional Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Mobile Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and defense contractors prepare and launch an Aerosonde unmanned aircraft system during a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, Louisiana, April 9, 2026. The Aerosonde provides continuous aerial surveillance and real-time reconnaissance, supporting mission planning and tactical operations for ground units. (U.S. Army video by Spc. Mariam Diallo)
For Gen. Richard A. Cody, the “Screaming Eagle” patch of the 101st Airborne Division is more than an insignia. It’s a connection to a legacy that traces back to the moonlit skies over Normandy.
His career spans from Operation Desert Storm to helping shape today’s all-volunteer Army.
“I’m a bit of a historian,” Cody said in a recent interview, reflecting on what he called the “unbelievable bravery” of the World War II generation.
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The words of Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, the first commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division, have attained a near-mythical status amongst the Screaming Eagles. Oft quoted is his assertion that “The 101st has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny.” Much is made of the second clause; the ”Rendezvous with Destiny” the Division has faced and continues to stare down. The first half, however,...
