Band of Brothers - Part I (Episodes One-Five)

I just finished watching this remarkable series on Monday--with a subsequent re-watch of episode one last night--and I can honestly say, this series is definitely worth all the hype it has received. WWII isn't always easy to document, however, this show flowed so easily, primarily due to the remarkable characters you follow throughout the tail end of the war.

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     In early June of 1944 in Upottey, England, Lt. Richard "Dick" Winters of Easy Company, 101st Airborne--the first ever 'air attack unit' in the U.S. Military--is waiting with anticipation to invade Normandy, France. This is what he and the men of Easy Company have spent two, long and tiring years preparing themselves for. Hours before they take off, Dick contemplates on these two previous years and how far he and his men have come; and the private war they were made to fight with their tyrannical captain, Herbert Sobel.

     July 1942, Toccoa Georgia. The Cherokee word Currahee means "stand alone." Under the brutal and oftentimes unfair leadership of Herbert Sobel, the young men of Easy Company (ages between 18-26) have no choice but to stand alone. Sobel will use any excuse to punish his men, revoking weekend passes, regarding non-military issue items as contraband, endless drills, exhausting night marches, demeaning them for any little fault, making them run up the three mile Mt. Currahee (sometimes in terrible conditions) and finding any excuse to lay blame on the men's platoon leader, Dick Winters. A man so completely opposite from himself. 

     Dick Winters will go to any length to protect his men. He encourages them, stands by their side, works just as hard and as long and takes all of Sobel's cruelty quietly and without question. Where Sobel is hated, Winters is loved. As Easy Company continues their training from Georgia to North Carolina, then finally to England. Sobel's intense training has created the strongest and fittest unit of men in the Army. However, he proves to be a disaster in actual combat and the men begin to worry that it's Sobel that will get them killed instead of the enemy. Soon, the NCOs make a desperate attempt to rid Easy Company of Sobel even if it means losing their own lives for it.  

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     At long last, after years of merciless training under Sobel, Easy Company will face their first ever jump into combat. Dick Winters and his men are ready, but have no idea what to expect. When their plane crosses the Channel into German occupied France, a light show of explosions, bombings, and blown up planes meet them. Along with hundreds of other men, Easy Company jump into this chaos and madness. Many of them get separated from their respective units and must depend on those that they find to get through Normandy.

     It doesn't take long for Dick get his bearings and to take leadership, not only of his own company, but from others who were separated from theirs. When morning comes, Dick and his men lead an attack on German artillery. Dick and Easy Company successfully take over the enemy guns with the help of Dog Company, led by the famous Lt. Ronald Speirs. Despite their victory, Dick faces his first loss of one of his men and Easy Company begins their European tour of liberation. 

D-Day has begun.

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     As Easy Company continue their fight against German troops in France, some men are already facing beginning effects of PTSD. Private Albert Blithe was knocked unconscious when he landed in Normandy and when he woke up, it was to guns, shouting and fire fighting on both sides. As the war in France progresses, Albert begins to delve deeper and deeper in shock, unable to talk about what is going on, especially when he cannot explain it himself.

     E Company arrives in German occupied Carentan where they engage the Germans in a horrific battle that leave many wounded, but only adds to Albert's trauma. Lt. Ronald Speirs, a man who knows how to make the rumor mill run with his supposed famed acts of senseless murder, advises Albert by telling him that the only hope he has is to accept that he's dead. Yet, Winters, in typical Winter's fashion, consoles Blithe who believes that he's going blind. Blithe gets better, but he has a long road ahead of him in regards to overcoming his shock. Overtime, Easy Company's casualty toll begins to pile up and the those who survive are left to quietly grieve their departed brothers in arms.

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     Easy Company have made their way through France and now begin the liberation of The Netherlands, starting with Holland. The original men of E Company that made the historic first jump at Normandy have all been promoted and are now given squads of their own. Due to the high casualty list from the previous battles, young replacements are brought into Easy Company. These young and inexperienced replacements are in awe and wonder of the now famous 'Toccoa Men' and are desperate to be just as good or better. One of these former Toccoa Men, Sergeant Denver 'Bull' Randleman proves to be just as competent and understanding as his former Lt., Dick Winters. 

    On September 17, 1944, Operation Market-Garden, Holland's liberation, begins. The Americans are welcomed joyously by the Dutch who treat them as heroes and Winter's and his men are given the full support of the Dutch Resistance. However, Easy Company bear witness to the Dutch's vengeance on the German's as they publicly humiliate women who slept with Nazi soldiers. Although obviously disturbed, but helpless to do anything, Easy Company prepares for their next attack in the town of Nuenen.

    During the raid in Nuenen that led to a battle, Randleman is shot in the shoulder with shrapnel causing him to seek refuge in a barn. He's met by the farmer and his young daughter who care for him and bandage his shoulder. When they are caught a German soldier, Randleman has no choice but to kill him, right in front of the farmer's daughter. Bull returns back to Easy Company, alive and well, however Operation Market Garden would be considered a historic failure.

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     Lt. Dick Winter's has led his men into combat honorably and he can't imagine being anywhere else then with Easy Company. However, he's too good at being a leader and is promoted to Executive Officer. No longer on the battlefield, Winters spends his time with administrative duties. While writing out battle reports for Colonel Sink, Winter's begins to have flashbacks of his final attack with Easy Company before his promotion. 

   War has begun to wear on the shoulders of the young lieutenant and his leadership being tested at every moment. Whether it's dealing with reckless Joe Liebgott or trying to plan a successful attack when they seemed to be hopelessly outnumbered. Sometimes Winter's only relief from war is his friendship with Comm. Officer Lewis Nixon. A complete opposite from reserved and soft spoken Winters, Nixon is described as being flamboyant, lively and an unashamed alcoholic, yet they're the tightest of friends. 

    However, Winters doesn't stay separated from his men for long. Easy Company gets orders to head to Bastogne, Belgium to relieve a former company that had been holding the line from territorial and brutal German troops. Yet funds are low and Belgium's merciless winter has begun. So, Winters, Nixon and the boys head to German infested Bastogne with hardly any food, ammo, clothes and little hope of survival.

Part II (Episodes Six-Ten)