Easy Company

Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, was a parachute company that Band of Brothers mainly focuses on during World War Two.

History

Easy Company was activated in 1942 for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the U.S. Army at Camp Toccoa, Georgia as part of the airborne infantry. It was used as an experimental unit flying in C-47 transport planes to drop soldiers into hostile territory. It was made of three platoons and a headquarters section. There were three rifle squads in each platoon, a mortar squad in each platoon, and a machine gun attached to each rifle squad. Its commander was 1st Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, later promoted to captain. Its XO was 2nd Lieutenant Clarence Hester, later made 1st lieutenant. 1st platoon was given to 2nd lieutenant Salve H. Matheson. 2nd platoon was given to 2nd Lieutenant Lewis Nixon and 2nd Lieutenant Richard Winters. 3rd platoon was given to 2nd Lieutenant Walter Moore. 1st Sergeant William Evans was made senior NCO of the company. The first privates were Carwood Lipton, Terrence Harris, Myron Ranney, James Diel, Leo Boyle, Bill Guarnere, Robert Rader, John Martin, and Amos Taylor.

Its company commander trained the men harder than any company in the regiment. Sobel made them run three miles up Currahee Mountain and three miles down, more frequently than any other captain of the other companies. He would revoke the weekend pass of a man for the slightest infraction. He trained them to their limits at calisthenics. He made Easy Company.

After activation, Easy Company marched to Fort Toccoa, Georgia, where the members of the company qualified as Paratroopers. It was then dropped off in Camp Mackall for realism training and to regroup with the other companies to head to Aldbourne in England for the planned invasion of Normandy. Herbert Sobel was relieved from duty and sent to Chilton Foliat, and the company was put under command of 1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan. It participated in Operation Overlord, but Meehan was killed when his C-47 was hit and most of the unit was scattered. 1st Lieutenant Richard Winters, not knowing of his CO's death, took temporary command of the scattered company. After the entire company reunited, they learned that Meehan was dead. Winters would be promoted to captain and attain command of the company. He led his unit on the Brécourt Manor Assault to take out four German 105 Howitzer cannons (originally believed to be 88mm cannons). The operation was successful and only four of the men were killed: Private John Hall from Able Company, Warrant Officer Andrew Hill, "Rusty" Houch from Fox Company, and another man. The company stayed for many days when Private Albert Blithe, who got separated, was the last man to regroup.

Members of Easy Company

Officers of the 101st "easy company"

Colonel Clarence Hester (Made Battalion S-3, later made commander of 1st Battalion)
Major Richard Winters (Third commander of Easy; later made Battalion commander)
Captain Lewis Nixon (Made Battalion S-2)
Captain Ronald C. Speirs (Initially in D Company, absorbed into Easy, later became the fifth commander of Easy)
Herbert Sobel (Trainer and first commander of Easy; later transferred, and then moved to Battalion S-4)
1st Lieutenant Harry F. Welsh (Transferred to Headquarters company)
1st Lieutenant Lynn D. Compton (Evacuated because of "severe case of trench foot", actually shell-shock)
1st Lieutenant Robert B. Brewer
1st Lieutenant Thomas Meehan III (Second commander of Easy, KIA 6 June 1944)
1st Lieutenant Robert H. Cowing
1st Lieutenant James K. Davis
1st Lieutenant Norman S. Dike, Jr. (Fourth commander of Easy, transferred to Division headquarters after being relieved of command due to shell-shock in combat)
1st Lieutenant Jack E. Foley (Evacuated after wrist wound infection)
1st Lieutenant Roy Paul Gates
1st Lieutenant Frederick T. Heyliger (Severely wounded in shoulders & thigh from friendly fire)
1st Lieutenant Sterling W. Horner
1st Lieutenant Richard M. Hughes II
1st Lieutenant George Lavenson (Transferred to Battalion HQ)
1st Lieutenant Salve H. Matheson (Made Regimental S-4)
1st Lieutenant Robert I. Matthews (KIA 6 June 1944)
1st Lieutenant Walter L. Moore (Transferred to Pathfinders)
1st Lieutenant Francis L. O'Brien (KIA December 1944)
1st Lieutenant Thomas A. Peacock
1st Lieutenant Ben M. Perkins
1st Lieutenant John E. Pisancin
1st Lieutenant Warren R. Rousch
1st Lieutenant Raymond G. Schmitz (KIA 22 September 1944)
1st Lieutenant Edward D. Shames
1st Lieutenant JB Stokes
1st Lieutenant Patrick J. Sweeney
1st Lieutenant Henry Jones (Transferred to Battalion HQ, Died in Germany 21 July 1947)
2nd Lieutenant C. Carwood Lipton
2nd Lieutenant Archibald Smith Barnwell
2nd Lieutenant James L. Diel (KIA 19 September 1944)
2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Hudson (Wounded)
2nd Lieutenant Charles R. Rexrod

Enlisted men

1st Sergeant William S. Evans (KIA 6 June 1944)
Technical Sergeant Lloyd I. Simpson (MIA 9 June 1944)
Technical Sergeant Burton P. Christenson
Technical Sergeant Donald G. Malarkey (Briefly 1st Sergeant at wars end)
Technical Sergeant Senner T. Tegelrets (Exiled from the US Armed Forces, Deceased 3 September 2003)
Staff Sergeant Floyd M. Talbert (1st Sergeant after Lipton)
Staff Sergeant Mark I. Maunat (Transferred to US Marines to the Pacific, KIA September 19, 1944)
Staff Sergeant Will A. Obby (MIA 2 June 1944)
Staff Sergeant Norman A. Ford
Staff Sergeant John R. Chief (MIA 5 June 1945)
Staff Sergeant Charles E. Grant (Severely wounded in head)
Staff Sergeant William J. Guarnere (Leg mangled, amputated)
Staff Sergeant Earl L. Hale
Staff Sergeant Steven A. Kudla
Staff Sergeant Albert L. Mampre
Staff Sergeant John W. Martin
Staff Sergeant Leo J. Matz
Staff Sergeant Darrel C. Powers
Staff Sergeant Murray B. Roberts (KIA 6 June 1944)
Staff Sergeant Frank J. Soboleski
Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Toye (Leg blown off)
Staff Sergeant Denver Randleman
Staff Sergeant Robert T. Smith
Staff Sergeant Joseph E. Stedman
Staff Sergeant Joseph P. Whitecavage
Sergeant James H. Alley, Jr.
Sergeant Roderick Bain
Sergeant Paul L. Becker
Sergeant Leo D. Boyle (Severely wounded in thigh)
Sergeant Gordon F. Carson
Sergeant James Monroe "Tex" Combs, Jr.
Sergeant Bernard S. Cunningham
Sergeant Lloyd D. Guy
Sergeant Taskel Ellis
Sergeant Hanes
Sergeant Herman E. Hanson
Sergeant Hayden
Sergeant Haynes
Sergeant J.D. Henderson
Sergeant Walter L. Hendrix
Sergeant Sherman M. Irish
Sergeant William F. Kiehn (KIA 10 February 1945)
Sergeant Clancy Odel Lyall
Sergeant John C. Lynch
Sergeant Robert A. Mann
Staff Sergeant Robert K. Marsh
Sergeant Thomas A. McCreary
Sergeant Kenneth D. Mercier
Sergeant Harvey H. Morehead
Sergeant Warren H. Muck, (KIA 10 January 1945)
Sergeant Elmer L. Murray, Jr. (KIA 6 June 1944)
Sergeant Richard E. Owen (KIA 6 June 1944)
Sergeant Robert J. Rader
Sergeant Robert B. Smith
Sergeant Myron Ranney (Severely wounded in shin)
Sergeant Carl N. Riggs (KIA 6 June 1944)
Sergeant Paul C. Rogers
Sergeant James B. Sholty
Sergeant Wayne A. Sisk
Sergeant Roderick G. Strohl
Sergeant Amos J. Taylor
Sergeant Clarence M. Tridle
Sergeant Richard M. Wright
Sergeant Robert E. Wynn
Sergeant Arthur C. Youman
Technician 4th Grade George Luz, Sr.
Technician 4th Grade Frank J. Perconte
Technician 4th Grade Charles E. Rhinehart
Technician 4th grade Eugene Roe, Sr.
Technician 4th Grade Richard C. Rowles
Technician 4th Grade Carl C. Sawosko (KIA 13 January 1945)
Technician 4th Grade Benjamin J. Stoney (KIA 6 June 1944)
Corporal Kenneth T. Baldwin
Corporal Antoine P. Bostons
Corporal Sextron I. Dickers
Corporal James V. Benton
Corporal James D. Campbell (KIA 8 October 1944)
Corporal William Dukeman, Jr. (KIA 5 October 1944)
Corporal John P. Fieguth
Corporal Walter S. Gordon, Jr. (Severely wounded in back, paralyzed)
Corporal Forrest L. Guth
Corporal George Higgins
Corporal A.P. Herron (KIA 13 January 1945)
Corporal Donald B. Hoobler (KIA 3 January 1945)
Corporal Donald L. King
Corporal Thomas Maitland
Corporal Earl E. McClung
Corporal Francis J. Mellet (KIA 13 January 1945)
Corporal Stanley F. Motowski
Corporal Lavon P. Reese
Corporal Harvey G. Robinson
Corporal Edward H. Stein
Technician 5th Grade Leopollo P. Carillo
Technician 5th Grade Herman F. Collins (KIA 6 June 1944)
Technician 5th Grade William A. Howell
Technician 5th Grade Joseph D. Liebgott
Technician 5th Grade John G. Mayer
Technician 5th Grade William C. Maynard
Technician 5th Grade John McGrath
Technician 5th Grade Leslie R. Pace
Technician 5th Grade Campbell T. Smith
Technician 5th Grade Ralph I. Stafford
Technician 5th Grade William H. Wagner
Technician 5th Grade Jerry A. Wentzel (KIA 6 June 1944)
Technician 5th Grade Ralph H. Wimer (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private First Class Aldrich
Private First Class Raymond L. Ballew
Private First Class Conrad M. Bay
Private First Class Salvatore F. Bellino
Private First Class Edward J. Bernat
Private First Class Burden
Private First Class Thomas H. Burgess (Severely wounded in throat)
Private First Class Matthew J. Carlino
Private First Class Maxwell M. Clark
Private First Class Vincent S. Collette
Private First Class Seth O. Crosby
Private First Class Richard P. Davenport
Private First Class Edward J. Donahue
Private First Class Carl F. Eckstrom
Private First Class Carl J. Fenstermaker
Private First Class Fernandez
Private First Class Gerald L. Flurie
Private First Class Richard R. Garrod
Private First Class John E. Gathings
Private First Class Jack O. Ginn
Private First Class Walter E. Hanson
Private First Class Siles E. Harrelson
Private First Class Dale L. Hartley
Private First Class Edward J. Heffron
Private First Class Elwood Hertzog
Private First Class Hickman
Private First Class Joseph E. Hogan
Private First Class Walter G. Howard
Private First Class Clarence S. Howell
Private First Class Hudson
Private First Class Warren C. Huntley
Private First Class Eugene E. Ivie
Private First Class Coburn M. Johnson
Private First Class George E. Jones
Private First Class Robert Van Klinken (KIA 20 September 1944)
Private First Class Kohler
Private First Class Harry R. Lager
Private First Class Robert T. Leonard
Private First Class Quinton E. Lindler
Private First Class Dewitt Lowrey
Private First Class Arthur J. Mauzerall
Private First Class John McBreen
Private First Class Walter L. McKay
Private First Class James A. McMahon
Private First Class William E. Medved
Private First Class William T. Miller (KIA 20 September 1944)
Private First Class David E. Morris
Private First Class Norman W. Neitzke
Private First Class Henry E. Nelson
Private First Class Ralph J. Orth (Wounded in kneecap by bullet fragment)
Private First Class Alex M. Penkala Jr. (KIA 10 January 1945)
Private First Class Edwin E. Pepping
Private First Class Farris O. Rice
Private First Class Woodrow W. Robbins
Private First Class John W. Rossman
Private First Class Edward F. Sabo
Private First Class Elmer N. Schuyler
Private First Class John L. Sheehy
Private First Class John P. Sheeley
Private First Class Garland R. Smith
Private First Class Gerald R. Snider
Private First Class Paul J. Sullivan
Private First Class Edward J. Tipper (Severely wounded in face, legs)
Private First Class Felix J. Tokarzewski
Private First Class Ralph J. Trapuzzano
Private First Class Andrew Uuban
Private First Class Alexander Vittorre
Private First Class Paul Wagner
Private First Class David Kenyon Webster
Private First Class James W. Welling
Private First Class Daniel B. West
Private First Class Melvin O. Winn
Private First Class William H. Woodcock
Private First Class George F. Yochum
Private First Class Frank J. Zastawniak
Private First Class Henry C. Zimmerman
Private Owen L. Andrews
Private Kieth Ansell
Private Harvey Baker
Private Frederick C. Bealke
Private Richard F. Berg
Private Homer T. Blake
Private Albert Blithe (Severely wounded in shoulder)
Private Robert J. Bloser (KIA 7 June 1944)
Private Donald S. Bond
Private Richard L. Bray
Private Charles P. Broska
Private Earl V. Bruce
Private John J. Capoferri
Private Ora M. Childers
Private Chow
Private Robert T. Cipriano
Private Roy W. Cobb (Court-martialed; insubordination and assault on Lt. Foley)
Private James F. Coleman
Private James Comba
Private John G. Connell
Private Conway
Private Philip Coviello
Private Samuel M. Cowthu
Private Cushman
Private Damon
Private Barry J. Dassault
Private Edward R. De Tuncq
Private Jay S. Dickerson
Private William Dillinger (Transferred)
Private Rudolph Dittrich (Died in practice jump, 20 May 1944)
Private John Doe
Private Joseph Dominquez
Private Walter F. Eggert
Private George Elliot (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Chester R. Eschenbach
Private John L. Eubanks
Private Bradford C. Freeman
Private Antonio C. Garcia
Private John L. Geraghty
Private William D. Gier
Private Terry G. Giles
Private Eugene S. Gilmore
Private Milton B. Glass
Private Frank B. Grant
Private Everett J. Gray (KIA 8 June 1944)
Private Genoa H. Griffith
Private Stephen E. Grodski
Private Stanley L. Hagerman
Private Franklin W. Hale
Private Elwood Hargroves
Private Thomas A. Harrel
Private Terrence C. Harris (Transferred to Pathfinders)(KIA 18 June 1944)
Private George B. Hartsuff
Private Private Lester A. Hashey (Severely wounded in the back)
Private Verlin V. Hawkins
Private Harold G. Hayes (KIA December 1944)
Private Cyril B. Heckler
Private Robert B. Hensley
Private George W. Hewitt
Private Paul A. Hite
Private Owen E. Holbrook
Private John R. Holland
Private David L. Holton
Private Bruce A. Hudgens
Private Richard J. Hughes (KIA 9 January 1945)
Private Charles F. Hussion
Private Eugene E. Jackson (KIA 15 February 1945)
Private John A. Janovec (Died in car accident, May 1945)
Private Robert Jarrett
Private Edward J. Joint
Private Joseph M. Jordan (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Vernon Jordan
Private John T. Julian (KIA 1 January 1945)
Private John R. Korb
Private William N. Kratzer
Private Paul E. Lamoureux
Private Lewis Lampos
Private Joseph A. Lesniewski (Evacuated from leg-wound infection)
Private Philip E. Longo
Private John Lusty
Private A. Mahmood
Private Walter E. Martin
Private Michael V. Massaconi
Private Jack F. Matthews
Private Edward A. Mauser
Private Robert Maxwell
Private Carl F. McCauley
Private McDonald (Transferred)
Private William T. McGonigal (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Joachim Melo
Private Ynez M. Mendoza
Private Vernon J. Menze (KIA 20 September 1944)
Private Max M. Meth
Private Elmer T. Meth
Private William S. Metzler (KIA June 1944)
Private James W. Miller (KIA 20 September 1944)
Private John N. Miller (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Franklin Milo
Private Elmer J. Minne
Private Alfred B. Montes
Private Donald J. Moone
Private Alton More
Private William E. Morris
Private Sergio G. Moya (KIA June 6, 1944)
Private Gordon L. Nevenfeldt
Private Patrick H. Neill (KIA 13 January 1945)
Private Marshall C. Oliver
Private Ernest I. Oates (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Patrick S. O'Keefe
Private Gordon H. Oien
Private Cecil M. Pace
Private Parkes (Transferred)
Private Philip P. Perugini
Private Cleveland O. Petty
Private Roy E. Pickel, Sr.
Private David R. Pierce
Private John Plesha Jr.
Private George L. Potter
Private Charles W. Pyle
Private Alex R. Raczkowski
Private George J. Rajner (KIA July 1944)
Private Joseph Ramirez
Private Gregory C. Rotella
Private James Sarago
Private William D. Serila
Private John E. Shindell (KIA 13 January 1945)
Private Urban M. Shirley
Private George H. Smith, Jr.
Private Gerald B. Snider (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private James L. Sowell
Private Ralph F. Spina
Private Tomas J. Johnson
Private Robert L. Steele
Private Joseph Stickley
Private Herbert J. Suerth, Jr. (Severely wounded in legs)
Private Paul Supko
Private Elmer I. Telstad (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private George W. Thomason
Private Raymond H. Thompson
Private John Toner
Private Eugene R. Tremble
Private Norman Tremonti
Private Allen E. Vest
Private Thomas W. Warren (KIA 6 June 1944)
Private Kenneth J. Webb (KIA 13 January 1945)
Private Harold D. Webb (KIA 13 January 1945)
Private John M. West
Private James W. Wheeler
Private White (Transferred)
Private Elijah D. Whytsell
Private William T. Wingett (Transferred)
Private Donald S. Wiseman (Court-martialed, insubordination; outcome unknown)
Private Ronald V. York
Private Jerry G. Young
Private Don R. Miller

After the war

The company was deactivated and did not participate in any future war. In 1954, it was reactivated, but only as a training unit. It currently is still a part of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was a part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team until its deactivation in 2014 and transfer into 1st and 2nd brigade, but being housed by 3rd brigade Rakassans on Fort Campbell, KY