Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

This book report is written in fulfill ment of the requirements for (class melodic theme e. g. Hist. 108) under Professor (professors name). quite a little of Brothers is a novel based on the emergences of World War II, emphasizing more than on the lives of the soldiers, particularly the paratroopers of easily go with, 506 regiment of the hundred-and-first mobile Division of the join States Army. Paratroopers are trained soldiers launched into involution by parachute into areas inaccessible by aerial bombing.Written by Stephen Ambrose and create by Simon and Schuster in 2001, Band of Brothers, has been an any time best seller which was made into a mini series by HBO in association with Dreamworks, edit by Billy Fox and directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Life in the military has always been a fascination of umteen young men. All the amazing weapons and gears that they use in battle, the handsome uniforms, not to mention the recognition and accolade that one can receive soun ds akin a promising career. A invaluable honor which brings pride that lasts beyond your livingtime.If one decides to pursue a career in the armed forces, one must be ready to make all the ad sightlyments and face the challenges, not only that of a rigorous reading, but a life in the battle field. A soldiers life, activity and relationships literally changes the moment dressing commences. The armed forces is a stratified society full of rigidity. A soldier has to understand the hierarchy and chain of command and must larn to obey first before complaining (not that one is allowed to complain). The in cleverness to perform a particular duty, overdue to whatever reason, is inexcusable, in that locationfore punishable. A soldiers life is full of misconceptions.Civilians mostly view them as fortunate individuals who enjoy a potbelly of privileges both from the government and the private sector. Stephen Ambrose used a lot of characters to portray the lives of soldiers in easy co mpany. Captain Herbert M. Sobel was the commanding officer of Easy company in the 2nd battalion 506th parachute infantry regiment of the 101st airborne division. He was very strict and usually rude, squeezing the energy of his soldiers during educational activity. He doesnt tolerate anything that he feels wish well not tolerating to the point of just simply finding errors on his soldiers just for the heck of it.Although disliked by most of his soldiers, his attitude towards training and his ways of implementing training schedule and activities helped in the honing of his soldiers skills and intelligence. In the mini series, David Schwimmer played the role of Captain Sobel. Lt. Richard D. Winters, played by actor Damian Lewis, was the second in command of Captain Sobel. Lt. Winters outdo Captain Sobel in the field. Although a Jew, he was respected and well-liked by the soldiers. Scott Grimes played the role of technical sergeant Donald Malarkey who was refused admission to the Mari nes due to dental issues.He also tried Army Air Corps, but due to math requirements, still he was not admitted. He only became a member of E company (Easy company) when he volunteered to be a part of the paratroops of the United States Army. He was awarded the Bronze star medal for his participation on D-Days Brecourt Manor Assault in Normandy. Captain Ronald Speirs was initially company Ds (Dog company) platoon leader. During the end of the affair of the Bulge in Bastogne, Captain Speirs was reassigned to command Easy company. 2nd Lt. Clifford Carwood Lipton a. k. a Lip, joined E company in 1942.From Private he was promoted to company first sergeant, then to second lieutenant. Band of Brothers is a historical documentary novel telling the story of the lives and experiences of airborne soldiers during World War II. 1942 label the year when the United States Army Airborne Division formed the second battalion of the 506th parachute infantry regiment in Toccoa, Georgia (Ambrose 2001) . The story began in Toccoa, Georgia when the U. S. army is preparing for battle against the Germans. Under the command and rigid training of Captain Herbert M.Sobel, the soldiers of E company endured rigorous and severe training. Their company was known to be the best in the regiment and Captain Sobel prided himself on that and because of their reputation, they were always given the toughest assignments. E company trained for ninety days which included lectures, physical exercises, hindrance courses and field simulations after which, they were deployed to England on board a ship in preparation for the invasion of Hitlers Third Reich. Their task is to penetrate enemy lines and suppress German Artillery.On June 6, 1944 in Normandy, the soldiers had their first jump which did not go as planned. Due to heavy firing on the ground, planes carrying the paratroopers flew at high speeds with only a short distance from the ground (Ambrose 2001). One of the planes got hit, went on fire and crash to the ground. Nevertheless, the troop was able to arrive at Carentan, gained control of the area then they flew binding to Aldbourne. On September 17, 1944, the troops made their second jump in Holland which was executed perfectly. After completing their mission in the area, they also fought in the Battle of the Bulge.The paratroopers arrived in Germany on the second day of April, 1945 where the enemies finally surrendered. They celebrated their victory in Austria where they drank alcohol and took a lot of things from the Germans like jewelry and lugers. When the war was over, they separate ways and took different paths. As often as possible, a reunion is made in New Orleans where they all could catch up piece remembering the years they spent at war. My impression on the book is positive. Stephen Ambrose was able to make World War II a more relatable event to ordinary people.He was able to show two perspectives of the story officers point of view and the soldiers point of view. The story was able to show that an army officer is not perfect. He might be very good at one thing, but he still has his flaws, like Captain Sobel who was very good at training men but performs poorly on the field. Soldiers are also human beings who feel fear, stress, anxiety and bleeds inside out but the important thing is ones ability to endure whatever hardships that one has to face in carrying out his duty to the country and the people. They are always together and yet, they feel alone in the battle field.War means death, and these men had to psyche themselves up to be ready in all aspects physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Focusing on one particular battalion like Easy company, the author was able to pre displace the lives of soldiers in the battlefield. Their humanness were more felt and their bond as brothers in their cause was strongly established. However, Ambroses word-painting of their humanness can be a downside as this could lead to debates and i ssues regarding the deployment of soldiers to war in support of allied nations under fire. exactly then again, the personal approach occupied by Ambrose in writing the story made the events of World War II more relevant in the lives of people. Band of Brothers enabled us to understand, at a deeper level, the struggles and hardships that soldiers face. True, recognitions and accolades are given, but such can only be enjoyed by them if they are lucky to be alive. Bibliography Stephen Ambrose (2008). Band of Brothers. 123 Helpme. com. 04 January 2006. 05 January 2008. . Stephen E. Ambrose (2001). Band of Brothers. Simon and Schuters. ISBN 0743216385Band of Brothers by Stephen AmbroseAirborne Division of the United States Army was formed in Toccoa, Georgia. They were trained under Capt. Sorbel.. Members of the battalion voluntered for the job for the money, thrill, honor and to be the best among the ordinary infantry men. Because the Band of Brothers was narrated from the points of v iew of the soldiers of Company E or the Easy Company, the story is unique for the narration was so vivid that a reader would feel that he is there fighting with the band of brothers. Because of the physical requirements during the training only few made it to their graduation day.Here the story is significant for a soldier because the story is about the occasional life of a soldier in the boot camp and in the fieldnot a story about generals and admirals usually made by most movie companies. It tells a soldier that even how much he has suffered while training it doesnt guarantee that he would survive in war. From Toccoa the company was sent to Fort Benning for their jumping course. Their earlier training at the boot camp hardened them physically that they even outlasted the physical fitness trainers at the fort.This is the ingenuousness about soldiery. There are soldiers who are better than the trainers themselves. After only five jumps, ironically they were made as parachutists, a nd after nine months of training were sent to England on board a transport ship to prepare themselves for the invasion against the Third Reich of Hitler. The writer narrates the daily regimen of the company while in training in England. The narration was from the points of view from both the officers and men of the Easy Company.Both the movie and the book depict the confusion, heroism and struggle during the time the company jumped into the countryside where they were separated from each other. Many landed on buildings, trees, farm houses, fences, carts, houses, rafters and in the middle of enemies since they jumped behind enemy lines at dawn. There was chaos all around but many maintain their composure as hardened soldiers of Easy Company. Their job was to silence the German artillery and neutralize the enemy soldiers guarding the guns. They effectively put their hard training into practice.The highlight of the Band of Brothers is how Lt. Richard Winters achieved the mission. The b ook narrates By this time, about 0700, E company consisted of two light machine guns, one bazooka (no ammunition), one 60 mm. But with less than 100 men from the original 139 jumpers, Lt. Winterss men were able to accomplish the mission. The mission was done without heroic deeds of a few. They fought as a team and with the right maneuvers attacked the German platoon guarding the battery emplacement. This is also about the best aspect on soldiery.As a soldier, you have also to protect not your life but also your brothers in arms. In this kind of situation, a soldier usually has to consider that everyone in his group as his brother. Why? Because they shed bank line and tears together or suffer pain together. They are blood brothers, so to speak. The book quotes one of the men We fought as a teamwe were like machineWe knocked it out or made it withdraw by maneuver and teamworkWe were smartwe had learned that heroics was the way to get killed without getting the job done. Easy Compa ny continued to fight in Normandy until it was pulled out and deployed to Utah beach. They were about 139 when they exited from the planes door. And ended the battle with only 79 remaining men. In the movie, you can feel the struggle of private Albert Blithe. He has to overcome fear, as every soldier has experienced fear. Winters, on his part, has suffered anguish after he pellet a German teenage soldier. The company jumped into Holland under Operation Market Garden and fought until November 1944.The company also heroically defended Bastogne almost to the last man. . In the movie, the German Army sent couriers to relay offer the message of the German commander of Bastogne for them to surrender or perish. Winters made a succinct reply Nuts. They held their trenches until reinforcements arrived. Then the men of Company E fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge, which marked the defeat of the German Panzer division. Winters men continued fighting and were the first to occupy Hitlers potty retreat known as the Eagles Nest.From Austria the battalion was redeployed to a town near Paris and on November 30, 1945, the 101st Airborne Battalion was deactivated. Whats the significance of the story to a plain infantry man? I can say that the Band of Brothers is one of the few stories written from the testimonies of actual combatants without flourish or garnishment for use in movies. The book tells the story of leadership amid blood, guts and tears and about overcoming fear by soldiers and officers alike. It tells the credo of an American general who says The more you sweat in peace and less you bleed in war. But many die in war.