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Band of Brothers. Notes prepared by Don Schulte Pattonville High School. Shakespeare. “Band of Brothers” is a line from Shakespeare’s Henry V. It is taken from the famous speech set immediately before the Battle of Agincourt. Author.
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Band of Brothers Notes prepared by Don Schulte Pattonville High School
Shakespeare • “Band of Brothers” is a line from Shakespeare’s Henry V. It is taken from the famous speech set immediately before the Battle of Agincourt.
Author • “Band of Brothers” was a book written by Stephen E. Ambrose. • The mini-series was produced by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Who? • Band of Brothers (BOB) is the story of E “Easy” Company of the 506th of the second battalion of the 101st Airborne Division.
What? • The Airborne are paratroopers. • Paratroopers are elite Army troops with the best possible training.
What? • Paratroopers receive extra pay ($50/month). • It takes five jumps to be certified and “get your jump wings”.
What? • Anyone refusing to jump because they’re afraid would be kicked-out of the Airborne.
What? • “AGL” = Above Ground Level. • On landing they immediately collapse the shoot so they won’t be drug along the ground.
Can Men Quit? • Yes. This is an elite group. Men can “quit” the Airborne but not the Army. They go back to the regular Army.
“Currahee” • Native American term. • “We stand alone together.” • Motto of the 101st Airborne Division.
Companies • Companies were labeled by letters. Code names were used so the names could be clearly heard in battle or over the radio.
Companies • Rationale: Companies B, C, D, E, and G all have a long “e” sound and could easily be confused by a listener.
Companies • A = Able • B = Baker • C = Charlie • D = Dog
Companies • E = Easy • F = Fox • G = George • H = How
Companies • I = Item • J = Jig • K = King • L = Love
Companies • M = Mike • N = Nan • O = Oboe • P = Peter
Companies • Q = Queen • R = Roger • S = Sugar • T = Tape • U = Uncle
Companies • V = Victor • W = William • X = X-Ray • Y = Yoke • Z = Zebra
Edelweiss • Small white flower used as symbol of veteran soldier by the German Army. • Blithe took one.
Tactics • “Fire Superiority” is the concept of firing so much, so fast, that the enemy has to keep undercover.
Tactics • “Fire and Maneuver” or “Shoot and Scoot” • Concept is to keep fire superiority so men can move while enemy has their heads down.
Tactics • “Light Discipline” • “Sound Discipline” • Terms for ordering the men to have no lights and make no sound.
Slang Words and Phrases • “P T” = Physical Training • “4-F” = physical condition rating for someone not well enough to fight.
Slang Words and Phrases • “C O” = Commanding Officer of a unit • “X O” = Executive Officer (# 2 in command)
Slang Words and Phrases • “O P” = Observation Post out front of the line. • “Kraut”, “Goon” or “Jerry” are slang for Germans.
Slang Words and Phrases • “Bought the Farm” or “Bought it” refers to a soldier dying and his family getting his insurance.
Slang Words and Phrases • “stick” = 12 men dropping together. This is an airborne equivalent of an army squad.
Slang Words and Phrases • “D Plus 1” (or “other number”) refers to number of days after D-Day (June 6, 1944).
Shaving Heads of Women • Method of punishing and shaming women who “fraternized” with the Germans.
Medic! • Not supposed to be shot at according to the Geneva Conventions. • Medic’s job is to move wounded to aid centers.
Medic Training • Their training included advanced first aid including use of blood, injections, immobilizing broken limbs, etc.
Pain Management • First aid included small stirets of morphine. • Spent morphine stirets were stuck in chest clothing.
Fighting Infection • Sulfa Drugs were the method of treating infection before antibiotics. Usually a white powder.
Mental Wounds • “Hysterical” disabilities are known to occur. Often blindness (like Blythe had), deafness, loss of leg use, etc.
Wounds • “Wounded” v “Injured” • Important difference for many. A man is wounded in battle; he’s injured in civilian life.
Purple Heart • Given to soldiers wounded by the enemy. • Originally given to Rev. War wounded by George Washington.