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.

CompaniesCompanies were labeled by letters. Code names were used so the names could be clearly heard in battle or over the radio.

CompaniesRationale: Companies B, C, D, E, and G all have a long “e” sound and could easily be confused by a listener.

CompaniesA = AbleB = BakerC = CharlieD = Dog

CompaniesE = EasyF = FoxG = GeorgeH = How

CompaniesI = Item J = JigK = KingL = Love

CompaniesM = Mike N = Nan O = OboeP = Peter

CompaniesQ = Queen R = Roger S = Sugar T = TapeU = Uncle

CompaniesV = VictorW = William X = X-Ray Y = YokeZ = Zebra

EdelweissSmall 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 TrainingTheir training included advanced first aid including use of blood, injections, immobilizing broken limbs, etc.

Pain ManagementFirst aid included small stirets of morphine.

Spent morphine stirets were stuck in chest clothing.

Fighting InfectionSulfa 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 HeartGiven to soldiers wounded by the enemy.

Originally given to Rev. War wounded by George Washington.