The Story of

Great story, PFC Roger Goff! The battle cry of my alma mater, Auburn University, is War Eagle and the legend of its origin also dates back to the War of Northern Aggression! Here's the story.

"'War Eagle' is Auburn's battle cry, not a mascot or nickname. The most popular story about the battle cry dates back to the first time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centers around a spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War. In the stands with him that day was an eagle the old soldier had found on a battlefield during the war. He had kept it as a pet for almost 30 years. According to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team's play and taking the bird's presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to yell 'War Eagle' to spur on their team. At the game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground, and died. But the battle cry 'War Eagle' lived on to become a symbol of the proud Auburn spirit."

Before every home game, War Eagle flies around the stadium and lands on the 50 yard line as all the fans yell "War Eagle!" It's the most impressive pregame ceremony in all of college football!

Thanks for sharing the background of Old Abe the eagle PFC Roger Goff. Is it amazing that eagle mascot survived the .60 cal. Minié balls, grape shot, acrid smoke and confusion of Civil War close-combat in the western theater as it was carried by 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment [Eagle Regiment] in the battles of: Iuka; Corinth; Island Number 10; Big Black; Champion's Hill; the Red River and Meridian expeditions; and the Battle of Nashville.
I let Fort Campbell in the summer of 1975. I hope to be able to visit Fort Campbell in the next few years to see the large-scale diorama of the 8th Wisconsin's Color Guard, complete with "Old Abe," in the exhibit in the atrium of the division headquarters building on Fort Campbell.
Thanks fro letting us know SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas

Awesome post....101st was the best unit I was ever in "1-327 IN".