Band of Brothers: Part ten

Points

July, 1945 Zell Am See, Austria. Captain Nixon arrives in the lake when Major Winters try for morning swim. Captain Nixon brought a package about 506^th photograph from all way back to Toccoa.

Easy Company had entered Bavaria in early may with hope to town is called Berchtesgaden. This famous town high in Alps which is the Nazi Party Symbolic home. Although Hitler was dead, he apparently orders the Nazi Special Forces to make their last stand and the first step was blocking the road. After the road block is clear Easy Company was ordered by Major Winters to take the Eagle Nest. The Eagle Nest was a surprise birth present for Hitler build with Nazi party money. A mountain top stone retreat 8.000 feet up access full by gold plate elevator. It is one of the crown jewels of his empire.

About point. Each soldier in regiment has to collect 85 point to discharge. Is not very clear where the point coming from. But General Taylor knows that is many veterans including Normandy veteran still do not have the 85 point to require to be discharge and the anniversary of D-day he authorize the lottery that is one man of each Company be in effect immediately. For Easy Company the winner is Sergeant Darrell C. Powers or is called Shifty. A few moths later, after President Truman receives the Japanese surrender, the war is truly end.

Regardless points, medal or wounds each men on 101^st airborne will be going home. Each of them wills forever connected by their share experience and each would join the world that best he could.

There is not a days goes by and they do not think the men their serve with who never got to enjoy the world without war. Henry V says “from this day to the ending of this world we and it shall be remembered, we lucky few, we band of brothers. For he who today shared his blood with me, shall be my brother.”

“Easy Company is a Hero Company” that’s what I think.

The End

Band of Brothers: Part nine

Why We Fight?

April 11, 1945 Thalem, Germany. One month earlier Sturzelberg, Germany. The regiment just arrives in Sturzelberg Germany and waits for orders to jump in Berlin. Then they got news that 300.000 of German army are surrender and then they move out to Alps.

When the regiment is on the way to Alps, they meet without stopping the German’s army. After the regiment arrives at Alps, Major Winters give an order to patrol. Dog Company is patrolling in the town then Easy and Fox Company in the woods. When Easy Company is in the middle of patrol they found a camp. A worker camp. Many of them were killed by the Germans.

Major Winters give an order to taking care of them. According to the division, they found camp like this all over the German and Russia found the lot worse, ten times big, execution chamber and ovens. A local claims the camp existence. General Tailors declare marshal law and give an order to everybody in town that 14 to 80 starts barring the dead body and ten armories can supervise the cleanup.

During the following moths, Allied Forces discovered numerous POW, concentration and death camps.

These camps were part of the Nazi attempt to affect the ‘Final Solution’ to the ‘Jewish Question.’

Between 1942 and 1945 five million ethnic minorities and six million Jews were murdered – many of them in the camps.

To be continue………..

Band of Brothers: Part eight

The Last Patrol

February 9, 1945 Haguenau, France. 101^st airborne have been famous by what they did at the battle of the Bastogne. Newspaper calls them “the battle bastard from the Bastogne.” They have been through the hell on earth and now pulling them to Haguenau. The heaven on earth.

Captain Winters receive an order from Colonel Sink to make a patrol crossing the river. The mission is to capture prisoner from the German observation post. The patrol is about 15 men and all of them are the rest of the original Easy Company.

After briefing at lately afternoon, the patrol team prepare their equipment for that mission. In that patrol they succeed to capture a prisoner but they lost one man who hit by his own grenade. After the firs patrol succeeds, Colonel Sink wants the second. But the patrol’s never happen, Captain Nixon wrote a false report and the regiment accepts it.

When Easy Company is pulled out from Haguenau Captain Winters got his promotion to be a Major.

By the time they left Haguenau, Easy Company’s European Campaign had taken them from England to France, Holland and Belgium.

Soon they will be entering Germany.

To be continue…….

Band of Brothers: Part seven

The Breaking Point

January 2, 1945 Ardennes forest, Belgium. After holding the line in Bastogne, Easy Company was once again called on help to push the Germans back to their territory. Easy Company was sent again to clear the Bois Jacques, the woods near the town of Foy in preparation to attack the Foy itself.

Lately afternoon on January 3, Easy Company return to the old position in the woods over looking Foy. When they are in the process to prepare their hole, Germans attack from the town with mortar, one soldier got hit and lost his leg. In the second attack is worse. Easy Company cleared the woods east of Foy then few days later Easy Company and rest of 506^th cleared out the woods west of Foy and there is a little resistance.

After that, Easy Company will lead the attack of Foy. But the attack is not going well because and Captain Winters give an order to Lieutenant Speirs to take over the lead from Lieutenant Dike. Lieutenant Speirs just running through the Germans to the other side of the town that others Company is waiting for sign to attack.

Beyond the wounded and killed, every man at Bastogne suffered. Men unhit by shrapnel or bullet were nevertheless casualties (Stephen E. Ambrose)

“I’m not sure that anybody who lived through that one hasn’t carried with him, in some hidden ways, the scar. Perhaps that is the factor that helps keep Easy men bonded so unusually close together.” (Capt. Richard Winters)

To be continue…….

Band of Brothers: Part six

Bastogne (The Hell on Earth)

Bastogne is a snowing area and Easy Company has to defense this area from Germans invasion. They prepared with digging a hole that using as a cover from Germans mortar and artillery. They are who get wounded were brought to one place like a shelter there’s not too far from the line.

In this part, the medic has an important position because Easy Company is not going to attack but defense the line. It means, they can be attacked by the Germans anytime and one man who lead Easy Company, Lieutenant Dike. It seems like he doesn’t really serious to lead this Company.

One day, a few soldiers of Easy Company got an order to patrol. In the middle of that patrol they met with Germans, contact happen and they lost one man. The next day Easy Company gets supplies that brought by airplane, they got blanket, ammo, medicine and others stuff. After gets a supplies Easy Company prepare for Germans attacking using mortar and tanks but is not to long. A few days later at night Easy Company got attacked by the Germans again and the shelter was destroyed.

On December 26, 1944, General Patton’s Third Army broke through the German lines, allowing supplies to flow in and the wounded to be evacuated.

The story of ‘The Battle of the Bulge’ as told today, is one of Patton coming to the rescue of the encircled 101^st Airborne.

No member of 101^st has ever agreed that the division needed to be rescued.

To be continue……..

Enemy at the Gates

This movie tells a story about war between Russia and Nazi. The Germans mission is to take over the Russia. Stalingrad city is the last stand of Russia and all of the Russian troops are placed in that city. This movie also tells a story about Vassili Zaitev the ordinary soldier but he has a good skill in shooting and joins the Sniper Division.

The Russian soldiers seem desperate in this war and have no hope to win this war. But the amazing action that came from Vassili Zaitev by killing the Germans Officers. The action has blown up by Danilov who works in media and made him as a hero. This is just a politics to raise the war spirit of soldiers.

Because of loosing too many officers, the Germans General calling for help to the headquarters. Then they sent him a veteran Sniper who called Major Konig. His job is to find and kill Vassili Zaitev.

When Vassili knows about the German Sniper who specially comes to after him, he tries to more carefully. It seems that Vassili had the good fortune because his entire partner got shot by the Major. There is one kid who has a job to clean the soldier’s shoes and he is too close with the Major. He told the Major everything about Vassili and he does the same thing to Vassili. One day he told Vassili about the Major’s position, the Major has no choice to kill him.

When the German almost take over the city, all civilian got order to evacuate and war between the two snipers still on. Until one moment, Danilov decide to become a bait to make the Major come out from his hiding place. The plan is work but as the return is Danilov’s life. When the Major come out, Vassili is waiting for him in the railway track. Vassili Zaitev shot him right in the head.

For them who like sniper action, watch this movie…………!

The End

Band of Brothers: Part five

Crossroads

This is the last operation of Easy Company in Holland and place that Lieutenant Winters got his promotion to be a Captain. On October 17, 1944 Schoonderlogt Holland Captain Winters and Captain Nixon has called by the regiment headquarters for asking their report about operation Market Garden and operation at October 5, 1944 and that will be Captain Winters responsibility.

This action happened at October 5, 1944. The night before one soldier the member of Easy Company got hit by the Germans in the crossroads and Captain Winters makes one group to hit back. In the crossroad Captain Winters and his men saw a few of Germans shooting the regiment headquarters. Contact happens and in that action Captain Winters lost one man and calling for help from the headquarters and the reinforcement comes in the morning.

One thing that Captain Winters knows that the crossroads is nearby the ferry crossing and maybe there is a battalion of Germans. Captain Winters has no choice and prepare the plan to make an ambush. Beyond the expectation Captain Winters met two battalion of Nazi specially forces and succeed to pull them back.

After that action Captain Winters got his second promotion to be an Executive Officer of the Second Battalion and choose Lieutenant Moose Heyliger to lead Easy Company. But an accident happen that Lieutenant Moose Heyliger got shot by his own soldier and that situation makes him to stay on the hospital. Once again Easy Company has to change their leader with somebody else and Lieutenant Dike was chosen.

After that, Easy Company move out to Belgium.

Easy Company moved into the woods near Bastogne without any artillery or air support it was short of food, ammunition and lacked winter clothing.

“Farthest from your mind is the thought of falling back. In the fact, it isn’t there at all. And so you dig your hole carefully and deep, and wait.” (‘Currahee’ Scrapbook of the 506^th PIR)

To be continue……….

Band of Brothers: Part four

Replacements

September 13, 1944 Aldbourne England, after taking a rest for a few days the replacements for Easy Company arrive and then go back to the war. Now, Easy Company has a mission is called operation Market Garden, where Easy Company dropped deep in Holland. The ally’s objective is to take the road between Eindhoven and Arnhem so the two British army divisions can move up to the Arnhem, Easy Company’s job is to liberate Eindhoven and wait for the tanks and if this mission works, the tanks can enter to German and Easy Company can go home before Christmas.

Easy Company really surprised with the present of Captain Sobel as a new supplier officer who responsibility for supplier for the regiment. On September 17, 1944 Easy Company lend in Holland and the same time England tanks arrive and they got rest for one night. In the morning Easy Company move out from Eindhoven. When Easy Company moving near the village is called Nuenen, they got attack by the Germans.

After the contact, Sergeant Randleman is missing and a few replacements are dead. Night after the contact Germans booming Eindhoven. In the morning Easy Company retreating and find out another way to German.

‘Market Garden’ was a high risk operation that failed. The allies plan to end the war by Christmas 1944 was not to succeed

Easy Company’s regiment, the 506^th, lost 180 men while 560 were wounded.

Of the entire 101^st airborne 750 were killed and 2.100 injured.

At Arnhem, the British 1^st airborne lost nearly 8.000 men.

To be continue………

Band of Brothers: Part three

Carentan

After Lieutenant Meehan dead, Easy Company is now under Lieutenant Winters command. I think everyone who going to the war has a fear. Some of them never though that they pass through the D-day in safe. On June 8, 1944 the member of Easy Company almost complete. One by one who comes with their unique souvenir, but there is one man who don’t get his Lugar yet. After getting rest awhile, Easy Company starts to move on to find the loosing Fox Company.

Easy Company arrives in the town is called Carentan that guard by the Germans. When Easy Company try to enter the town, they got attack by the Germans. Easy Company succeeded to take over the town. In that town Lieutenant Winters gets his first bullet wound and he’s taking care by a medic. After the German attack, the medics are busy to look after the wounded soldier.

There is a story in Easy Company about Lieutenant Speirs who cross out the 20 Germans. In all the regiment, Lieutenant Speir has become a legend. After getting a rest, Easy Company move out the town and always in the front line of the battalion. On D-day plus 7 in the outskirts of Carentan Easy Company got an ambush by the German until night and in the morning German start the attack with large army and tanks. Easy Company tries hard to defense their line using mortar and bazooka until the Sherman arrives.

After the ambush Easy Company pulled out to the camp north from Utah beach and then back to England. Colonel Sink is appreciating that Easy Company holding the line and General Tailor was pleased.

For those who got wounded in the war receive medal of the Purple Heart.

In the end, Easy Company never back to England but they prepare to go to France.

By the time, Easy Company was pulled off the line on June 29, they had lost 65 men.

To be continue……….

Band of Brothers : Part two

Day of Days

Now Easy Company and the others ready to jump in the drop zone. In the airplane, everyone seems quiet and nervous. When the airplanes reach the drop zone point, everyone prepare to jump. Ready or not, the soldiers must jump. After the jump, the soldiers separated in everywhere in Normandy and many of them don’t have a fully equipment because it’s blown by wind.

In the first time Lieutenant Winters meets a soldier from Able Company. Both of them try to finding the extraction point to join the other Company. On the way to the extraction point Lieutenant Winters finally meet the member of Easy Company. There is an incident when Lieutenant Winter’s group met with the Germans. Then contact happen between them and all the German is dead because they don’t know the enemy is waiting.

After the incident, Lieutenant Winter’s group arrives in the airplane crash area and the airplane is one of their teammate. There is one soldier who very busy to find a Lugar that he promised to his brother. After the airplane crash area they move on until they met a few German that captured by another Company. Finally, Lieutenant Winters arrive to the extraction point and met the other member of Easy Company and after getting rest for awhile Easy Company get order from Major Strayer to take over and destroy the four German guns that firing at Utah beach. The mission is complete and for the last gun Easy Company got help from Dog Company who lead by Lieutenant Speirs. In that mission Lieutenant Winters lost one soldier. Actually, the soldier is not from Easy Company but he volunteer himself for the mission. After destroying the German guns, a few soldier from Easy Company get a medal of honor.

Easy company’s capture of the German battery become a textbook case of an assault on a fixed position, and is still demonstrated at the united state military academy at west point, today.

To be continue…….

Band of Brothers : Part one

Currahee

Hi ho silver……………

Band of brother part one tells us a story about training and preparation of the England army to faced the Germans. There many companies of the England army and one of the Companies are called Easy Company who lead by Lieutenant Sobel. Lieutenant Sobel has a job to prepare Easy Company ready for the war. His training schedule for Easy Company is too hard which march in every Friday night, twelve mils and full pack and in the daylight Easy Company must run to hill three mils up, three mils down even Easy Company in the middle of their lunch. In the regiment Lieutenant Sobel wants to be the best and because of that his training schedule is too hard for Easy Company. He tries to find a mistake that made by soldier even a little. He really likes to punish a soldier who made a mistake. That’s why the Easy Company doesn’t like him. Under Lieutenant Sobel command, Easy Company has the finest performance record in the entire second Battalion and the end Lieutenant Sobel got his promoted to be a Captain.

There one incident that surprise me a lot. In the Makall, N.C. Camp when Easy Company in the middle of strategy training, why a Captain likes Captain Sobel can not read a map? The result of that, 95% of his army is dead. That’s one reason why Easy Company hated him and the effect of that incident there a little conflict in Easy Company. A few soldiers make a statement that they don’t want to follow Captain Sobel to the war. Finally, Captain Sobel got transfer to jump training school as a commander. One thing for sure, he’s losing Easy Company. Then Easy Company gets Lieutenant Meehan as their new leader.

Upottery, England June 4, 1944 Easy Company and others Company prepare to go to the war but it’s canceled because there’s a storm in the drop zone. In the next day they set out to the war.

“Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied Expeditionary Force:

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.”

“Good luck!

And let us all beseech the blessing of almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking” (Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander)

THE BATTLE IS BEGIN!!!

To be continue……