Camp Campbell
The look of Clarksville changed forever on Feb. 4, 1942, when construction
began on Camp Campbell. By the end of the year, the reservation was
developed and able to accommodate about 23,000 troops – one armored division and various support troops. The following summer, the post’s initial cadre – consisting of one officer and 19 enlisted men – arrived from Fort Knox, Ky. The post served as a training ground for the 12th, 14th and 20th Armored Divisions, Headquarters IV Armored Corps and the 26th Infantry Division. The camp was redesignated  Fort Campbell on April 15, 1950, and became a
permanent installation. The post’s most famous unit – the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) – was activated on Aug. 15, 1942. Four days later, the unit’s first commander, Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, promised his new recruits that although the unit had no history it had a “rendezvous with destiny.” Over the years, Fort Campbell soldiers have been deployed to many parts of the world and have taken part in every war since World War II. In early 2003, the division deployed for its first one-year tour in Iraq for “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” About 20,000 Screaming Eagles returned from a second tour in August and September of 2006. This fall, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigades of the 101st are deploying to Iraq. The 4th Brigade and 101st Airborne Division headquarters are deploying to Afghanistan early in 2008.
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