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101st Airborne Division
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The division insignia is a white eagle's head with a gold beak on a black shield. The design is based on an American Civil War tradition. The black shield recalls the "Iron Brigade", one of the forerunners of the 101st Division. One regiment of the brigade possessed the famous war eagle, "Old Abe", pictured on the shield, that went through 36 battles as a fierce, screaming mascot and was wounded twice. When the division was activated in 1942, the word "Airborne", in gold letters, was placed on a crescent-shaped black background and added to the top of the insignia.
(Text from US Army Center of Military History)
Source: US Army in WWII (picture)
