Band of Brothers: Book Review

Rating: ★★★★½/★★★★★

I have always been fascinated by history and real-life accounts of people who have made a name for themselves long before I was born. It is not surprising that I recently completed watching the Band of Brothers DVD, the ten-part HBO mini-series on World War II that was first screened on television ten years ago. It inspired me to pick up this book to read the complete story as researched by the late historian writer and retired professor Stephen E. Ambrose. From the acknowledgement and sources chapter, we learnt that various interviews were conducted with the survivors as well as relying on written sources to produce a compelling, inspiring and poignant tale. This is the true story of Easy Company as epitomise by the actors who portray them in the Emmy award-winning HBO mini-series.

Easy Company is a crack rifle company with 2nd Battalion under the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army fighting in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. It is made up of citizen soldiers who volunteered and began training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in the summer of 1942. The men came from different background but banded together and form a close-knit brotherhood which will forever be remembered and treasured until the end of their lives. Some are officers but most of them enlisted to train as paratroopers for two main reasons: the thrill, honour and the extra monthly bonus; the other is to be the best and fully prepared to go into combat. Training was especially intense, challenging and tough on the men but those who survived went to jump school at Benning, Atlanta and then Camp Mackall, North Carolina before shipping off to England via New York.

Easy Company experienced their first combat jump on D-Day (6 June 1944) at Normandy and successfully destroyed a German battery of four 105 mm cannons overlooking Utah Beach. They led the way into Carentan, France, participated in Operation Market-Garden in Holland, defended the perimeter at Bastogne, Belgium and led the counter-offensive in the Battle of Bulge. After that they patrol the borders of the Alsace region of France in Haguenau and fought in the Rhineland campaign. The high point came when Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden was conquered and after Germany surrendered, they were stationed in Zell am See, Austria taking up occupation duty before the 101st Division was disbanded and the surviving members return back to normal life.

Mr Ambrose did well to humanise the men of Easy Company by depicting their sufferings, joys, sorrows and fears in facing eminent threats from the Nazis and German soldiers. We get to laugh with them when they were playing practical jokes or fooling around, see their determination to survive in the harshest of places, feel a sense of hopeless when they watch their fellow comrades die, witness the close bond and camaraderie even after the war is over and learn how they dealt with war and the effects of it. These aspects kept my interest alive throughout the book and I yearn to learn what happened to them next. I know it is not easy to sympathise or empathise with these soldiers especially when all they do is kill their enemies in order to survive and besides that drinking, gambling, fighting, cursing and womanising in their free time. Perhaps the harshness of war had given them a positive outlook to appreciate the peace that we are enjoying now. We should thank and honour all war veterans who have sacrificed their lives and time to serve their own country. But I digress.

I do feel there is missing element that could have improve my reading experience. It lacks a glossary of terms that describes the meaning of the abbreviated military terminology. As an example, no where is it stated in the book what S-3 (operations), S-4 (supply or logistics) or N.C.O. (non-commissioned officers) mean. I have to make an informed guess before checking it out online. Furthermore I have to keep reminding myself who the top brass are since they were briefly mentioned in regards to planning major operations but disappear because they do not really participate in actual warfare before reappearing at another time. In addition the military organisation structure was not included which might confuse a first-timer who reads this book without prior knowledge of it.

Ultimately, this book is for history buffs who want to know more on World War II. It serves as a companion while watching the episodes of the mini-series as it enhances my understanding. The book teach me as a whole humility, self-sacrifice and the true value of friendship in the face of danger. Thus it made me respect and salute them especially the respected officers who deserves credit for guiding and preparing these men for war. It is a great story and worthy to be told.