Honorary Ait Assault Award Ceremony

Bill Harpel & Mike Oates Charles & Jennifer Whitbeck Michael Lumma & Paul Arca

Billy Orsak & Bob Supak

CSM Veronica Knapp & MG JP McGee

Story & Photography by Tony Centonze

One of the highlights of Fort Campbell’s 2021 Week of the Eagles was the Honorary Air Assault Ceremony which took place at Sabalauski Air Assault School.

A series of tents were set up for an afternoon Pinning of Wings ceremony honoring Vietnam Veterans. The front nine rows were reserved for the soldiers who would receive their long-overdue Air Assault wings.

In August, 1968 the Screaming Eagles shed their parachutes in favor of helicopter-borne operations, earning a new designation – the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). In February, 1974, then MG Sidney Berry signed Division General Order 179 authorizing wear of the new Airmobile (later Air Assault) qualification badge.

Retired MG Brian Winski was instrumental in organizing this honorarium for Vietnam Veterans then- assigned to the Division. At the ceremony, more than 450 were in attendance. They were supported by hundreds of family members and friends.

Fort Campbell Commanding General MG JP McGee

Bob Von Almen & James Owens

David Hindel & Douglas MacArthur

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