Band of Brothers is a HBO television mini-series that tells the story of Easy Company, the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne division of the U.S. Army, that fought in the second world war. The series, executively produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, is based on the bestseller by Stephen E. Ambrose. The story is based on actual events. It won and Emmy and a Golden Globe for Outstanding Mini-Series.
This series, now available on DVD, is a Must-See for any World War II buff. The stories are drawn from Easy Company survivor interviews (which are included on the DVD) and from their journals and letters. They were an elite rifle paratrooper company that parachuted into France on the morning of D-Day. The brave men of easy company volunteered to be part of a unit that, until that point, had never existed. Parachuting troops from airplanes was a new strategy and this helped them capture the enemy by surprise. However, it was not without its risks. These brave men volunteered to fly over enemy lines in loud transport planes while being shot at, jump out of the plane while being shot directly at (if at that point their plane had not been shot down…), and land directly into enemy territory surrounded on all sides with nothing but each other to depend on. Many times they would lose their weapons in the jump and have nothing but a knife to defend themselves with until they could scrounge a weapon from a fallen comrade or enemy soldier.
This captivating story should be seen and remembered by all of us who benefit from the freedom that was purchased for us with the blood of heroes. Unlike today’s controversial wars, these men fought in the most deadly war for the most honourable purposes. As the series motto goes, “They depended on each other, and the world depended on them”.
