Fact check: What role did the 101st Airborne Division play alongside the federalized Arkansas National Guard during the Little Rock school integration?

1. Summary of the results

The 101st Airborne Division played a pivotal role in enforcing school desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. President Eisenhower deployed approximately 1,000 paratroopers from the division on September 24, 1957 ^[1], while simultaneously federalizing the entire Arkansas National Guard through Executive Order 10730 ^[1]. The troops were specifically tasked with:

• Protecting the Little Rock Nine as they entered and attended Central High School ^[2]
• Maintaining order and ensuring student safety amid racial tensions ^[2]
• Escorting students to and from school ^[3]
• Removing obstruction of justice and ensuring enrollment of black students ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements were not addressed in the original question:

• The deployment was made without black soldiers at the Department of Justice's request ^[2]
• The deployment came in response to a specific plea from Little Rock's mayor ^[4]
• The action was necessary to counter obstruction by local segregationists and Governor Orval Faubus ^[1]
• Veterans report that the mission was professionally executed, with troops maintaining a professional appearance through starched uniforms to help reduce tensions ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's framing might suggest that the Arkansas National Guard and 101st Airborne Division were working as equal partners. However, the analyses reveal a more complex situation:

• The Arkansas National Guard was forcibly federalized by Eisenhower, not voluntarily cooperating ^[5]
• The deployment was a direct response to local resistance, including from state authorities ^[1]
• The situation was serious enough to require federal intervention through an Executive Order ^[1]

This context shows that rather than a cooperative effort, this was a case of federal authority being imposed over state resistance to enforce desegregation.