The 101st Airborne Division, made famous in popular culture through many movies and series such as "Band of Brothers", first saw action during World War Two. The unit was designated an "airborne" division, which meant it had paratroopers and glider elements meant for operations behind enemy lines. Paratroopers were trained to jump from aircraft, drift with their parachutes to a landing zone (often times landing elsewhere), rendezvous with their unit, and complete the mission. Paratroopers were also issued some different weapons and equipment from regular infantrymen. A few notables being the M3 fighting knife, the M1 Carbine, and Hawkins mine.
During WW2, the 101st Airborne famously participated in battles such as the Operation Overlord (D-Day), Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge (Battle of Bastogne).