HHB, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) – “Gladiators”
Operational Information:
Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (HHB), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) – “Strength of the Eagle”
During World War II, the Headquarters Special Troops of the 101st Airborne Division was activated as of 1 March 1945 in France, where they fought honorably and received credit for campaigns in the Rhineland and Central Europe. The Headquarters Special Troops was deactivated on 30 November, 1945 in France.
On 18 June, 1948 the Headquarters Special Troops was redesignated as the 101st Replacement Company, an element of the 101st Airborne Division. On 15 May, 1954 the unit was activated at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The unit served admirably during the Vietnam Conflict, earning the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal and its first Meritorious Unit Commendation.
On 16 September, 2004 the unit was designated as the Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division and activated at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Simultaneously, the 501st Signal Battalion and the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion were deactivated and used as two of the core organizations forming the 101st Division Special Troops Battalion.
In September 2005, the Battalion deployed to Iraq as Task Force Gladiator in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battalion took control of Continuing Operation Base Speicher outside of Tikrit and held responsibility for the security and life support of COB Speicher. After a year of long hours and widely varied missions, the Division Special Troops Battalion returned to Fort Campbell in September 2006, earning its second Meritorious Unit Commendation during this deployment.
In March 2008, the Battalion deployed to Afghanistan as Task Force Gladiator where it secured Bagram Airfield and the CJTF-101 Headquarters and conducted full spectrum combat operations in Parwan and Kapisa Provinces.
The Battalion returned to Fort Campbell in May 2009 and in September 2009 received orders to deploy again to Bagram Airfield to support the Headquarters, CJTF-101/Regional Command-East (RC-E) for Operation Enduring Freedom XI. Task Force Gladiator deployed once again and supported over 2,300 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coalition and Civilians that comprised the Headquarters, CJTF-101/RC-E.
The Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the “Strength of the Eagle,” continues to train, re-equip and reset it prepares for its next Rendezvous with Destiny.
HHB, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) Units:
- Headquarters Support Company (HSC)
- Operations Company (OPS)
- Intelligence and Sustainment Company (I&S)
- Division Signal Company (DSC)
- Division Band