THE WWII CHALLENGE: EASY COMPANY
Currahee! We Stand Alone, Together.
Twenty-five years after Band of Brothers brought the story of Easy Company to millions, the WWII Challenge invites you to experience their remarkable journey in a whole new way.
Presented by the Crescent City Classic in partnership with The National WWII Museum, this year’s virtual challenge honors the paratroopers of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
Your journey begins where theirs did: Camp Toccoa, Georgia. From there, you’ll follow Easy Company across 13 historic milestones, from airborne training in the United States to Normandy, Holland, Bastogne, and, ultimately, Berchtesgaden, Germany.
Participation runs from 10/1/26 to 2/28/27.
This year, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of HBO’s iconic WWII miniseries “Band of Brothers,” participants will retrace portions of the historic journey of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from its beginnings in the United States through its deployment overseas and participation in some of the most consequential campaigns of World War II. Based on the best-selling book by Museum Founder Stephen Ambrose, the series continues to inspire audiences worldwide with the stories of the men of Easy Company.
The WWII Challenge: Easy Company virtual course begins at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, where members of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment trained before deploying overseas. Participants will virtually follow the unit’s journey to England and across Europe, including Normandy, where Easy Company parachuted into France as part of the D-Day invasion; the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden; Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge; Haguenau, France; and ultimately the Bavarian Alps, where Easy Company saw the end of the war in Europe. Participants can run, walk, or bike to track their miles as they virtually progress along the route.
Registration Info
$50.00
*Entry Fees are non-refundable.
*Entry fees are $50 per person for individual and team registrations.
All participants receive:
- WWII Challenge T-shirt
- WWII Challenge Finishers Medal
- Commemorative WWII Challenge Race bib
- Virtual Bib which can be printed by the participant
- 25% discount off your admission ticket into The National WWII Museum
Team Discount
Invite your friends to join you for this year’s WWII Challenge!
Teams of 10+ receive a $5/participant discount off of registration.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
During registration, the initial member of the group will be able to create the team and team name. As other members of the group register, they will select that team name from the drop-down menu to join that group. The first 9 team members will pay the regular registration price. When the 10th member joins the team, he/she will receive the $5 discount. As soon as the 10th registration is complete, the first 9 team members will receive a $5 refund applied to their original form of payment.
TEAM MILES:
Teams will work together to complete their course. Each team member’s miles completed will go towards the team’s total. All team members receive milestone badges and emails as the team reaches each point of the course.
Easy Company Campaign Information
This year, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of HBO’s iconic WWII miniseries “Band of Brothers,” participants will retrace portions of the historic journey of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from its beginnings in the United States through its deployment overseas and participation in some of the most consequential campaigns of World War II. Based on the best-selling book by Museum Founder Stephen Ambrose, the series continues to inspire audiences worldwide with the stories of the men of Easy Company.
The WWII Challenge: Easy Company virtual course begins at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, where members of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment trained before deploying overseas. Participants will virtually follow the unit’s journey to England and across Europe, including Normandy, where Easy Company parachuted into France as part of the D-Day invasion; the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden; Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge; Haguenau, France; and ultimately the Bavarian Alps, where Easy Company saw the end of the war in Europe. Participants can run, walk, or bike to track their miles as they virtually progress along the route.
Challenge Options
Easy Company Campaign 730-mile Course: Individuals or teams virtually complete the 730 miles from the United States, England, and throughout Europe. As you complete the course, you will virtually visit 11 sites traveled by Easy Company during their legendary WWII combat journey. Lace up your running shoes, to retrace their path from grueling stateside training camps, onto Aldbourne for D-Day preparations, through the battlefields of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and across the finish line into the heart of Germany. 103-mile Course: Individuals or teams visit each site along the course from the United States to Berchtesgaden in smaller mile segments. This challenge course is designed for those that want a shorter challenge but still get to follow Easy Company’s entire journey from training the Currahee Mountain all the way to capturing the Eagle’s Nest in the heart of Nazi Germany. |
How It Works
HOW IT WORKS:
Step 1: Register as an individual or start a team in honor of the brave men who fought in WWII.
Step 2: Track your progress by logging your daily mileage and activity (walk/run/bike/treadmill). You have from 10/1/26 until 2/28/27 to complete the challenge!
Step 3: Receive your WWII Challenge gear and National WWII Museum perks. All participants will receive:
- WWII Challenge T-shirt
- WWII Challenge Finishers Medal
- Commemorative WWII Challenge Race bib
- Virtual Bib which can be printed by the participant
- 25% discount off your admission ticket into The National WW II Museum
TEAM MILES:
Teams will work together to complete their course. Each team member’s miles completed will go towards the team’s total. All team members receive milestone badges and emails as the team reaches each point of the course.
Learn As You Go
History unfolds with every mile. As you virtually reach each milestone along the Easy Company Campaign, you’ll earn a milestone badge and receive an email that brings that location—and Easy Company’s journey—to life.
Discover the places, battles, and challenges faced by the paratroopers of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment as you retrace their legendary WWII journey from training grounds to battlefields and, ultimately, into Germany.
Keep moving. Keep learning. Keep following in their footsteps.
Get Your Gear!
RACE PACKET OPTIONS:
• LOCAL PACKET PICK-UP: Local (for those in the New Orleans area) participants can choose to pick up their packet. Details with times and location will be emailed once the venue is confirmed. We expect the date to be in January 2027.
• SHIPPING: During registration, choose to have your packet shipped to you for a cost of $18.00. Packets expect to be shipped in January 2027. Shipping outside of US will incur additional charges.
FAQ's
Who benefits from this event?
This event benefits the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. 100% of donations and part of all registration proceeds support the Museum ad its mission.
What is a virtual challenge?
A virtual challenge is a unique fitness movement to keep people active! Individuals or team members can walk, jog, run, bike, or use a treadmill to complete the challenges.
How many people can I have on my team?
Teams can be made up of as many participants as you like!
Can my challenge packet be mailed?
US SHIPPING: You can have your packet shipped to you. Shipping and handling costs are $18.00/person. Packets will be shipped in January 2027.
There is also an option for local pick up.
What do I get with my registration fee?
All participants receive a commemorative challenge race bib, an exclusive virtual bib (printable .pdf), t-shirt, finishers medallion, and 25% discount admission to the National WWII Museum.
When can I start logging my miles? How do I submit results?
Registration opens on 9/9/26. Particpants can begin submitting their completed miles on 10/1/26. For instructions on how to submit miles, CLICK HERE.