Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Official Chat Room Now Open

I have made a Chatroom on a free service www.paltalk.com - which I will attempt to keep open as much as possible. A www.paltalk.com account is free to sign up, just download the Messenger program, and head to the following link - http://chat.paltalk.com/g2/group/1145279386/ - (US Military Veterans Chat) Enjoy chatting with fans, supporters and other veterans of all wars. Childish Bullshit will NOT be Tolerated!

~Peace~

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Major Richard "Dick" Winters page found

At the web page http://www.reference.com/search?q=Dick%20Winters - there is section in there that states: "During the campaign in Holland, Captain Winters led a successful attack with 20 members of Easy Company against a force of 200 German soldiers." - This just paints a picture of just how god damn good Winters was. And if I was a General or the person in charge of handing out the Congressional Medal of Honor, I would be honored and privileged to give it to him. For the Brecourt Manor action on D-Day and the attack along the Dike in Holland, definitely deserves the Medal of Honor, in my opinion, and the same in the opinions of millions of others. Major Winters, if you ever see this site; I wonder if you realize just how many people love, admire and respect you and the men you lead. I'm sure that you do, but I wonder if your aware of the magnitude of it all.

When was the last time a Company Commander lead an attack against 200 enemy soldiers with only 20 men, and only losing 1 man during the attack, and the attack being a success?

Emails can be sent to: parachuteinfantry@gmail.com (All Emails will remain confidential unless otherwise authorized.)

~Peace~

If Everyone Cared

If Everyone Cared by Nickelback, is the song that comes to mind when I see people showing a lack of respect for our veterans who gave up years of their lives so we could be free, and watched their friends die in their hands. Those cold, long, miserable nights spent with their buddies in foxholes, the ones they shared stories with, the ones they shed tears and blood with, the ones they shared photos of their families with, the ones they trained with and became best friends with. The hell they went through only to survive and come back the states and sometimes to come back home only to receive criticism for what they did, or should I say what they had to do! When your in the Army trying to figure out a career and get some training, a war breaks out, and your told what to do - to be patriotic and a good man, you do what your told. For those of you who do not care, get the F out of my country and don't you ever dare come back! You do not belong here if you have a complete lack of respect for our veterans.

A man like me only wishes I could have served my country, but very bad ears and ADHD kept me out of the Army and the Marine Corps. Its people like me who dream about it, think about it, play the video games, write these blogs, and write the books. We are the loyal fans to our country and its troops who defend it. You bust your ass for us, and we love you for that. Thank you!

Special Thanks goes out to the all the men who served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. You're not alone!

Noteables: Major Dick Winters, Bill Guarnere, Babe Heffron, Don Malarkey, Shifty Powers, Ronald Speirs, Thomas Meehan, Jack Foley, Buck Compton, Don Hoobler, all of you - I cant say it enough - Thank you!

~Peace~

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

My Great Grandfather's in WWII

My great grandfather recently passed away. John L. Rogowski, Born in St. Paul, MN in March of 1918. He was 92 years old. He served in the US Army in WWII. He served in three places, New Guinea, Australia, and I am unsure where the 3rd place he served in. I will have to ask around. He was in the Pacific Theatre of WWII. At his old age he had a bad case of Alzheimer's. He died on November 31st, 2007 in a Nursing Home in West Salem, WI. For most of his life he resided in La Crosse, WI. And to everyone who knew him, he was know only as, "Grandpa John." Rest in peace Grandpa John! You will be missed dearly!

About the man I was named after: Benjamin Wayne Culbert died in November of 1980, just a few months before I was born (Feburary 7th, 1981) - Benjamin Wayne Culbert served in the US Army in WWII - although I am not sure if he served in the European Theatre, or the Pacific Theatre.

Thank you Grandpa John, and Grandpa Benjamin for your service! The family misses you both.

~Peace~

Officers of Easy Company

Buck Compton was a soldier's soldier. Respected by his men, and well liked. He mingled with the men, well. As I think an Officer should, but only to a certain extent. Although he might have been wrong to gamble with them, but he was trying to get to know his men.

Colonel Shames was a furious, and fearless Officer. From what I have heard he was respected by his men; which is the opposite of what was told in the Band of Brothers mini series. In the mini series, Winters (Damian Lewis) was telling Nixon (Ron Livingston) that, "Shames? He's watched too many war movies. He thinks he has to yell all the time." Which at first I took it as he was too rough, and tried leading with an iron fist, a Sobel type officer. I have come to find out that I was wrong.

In regards to LT Foley, I have heard in Bill and Babe's Brothers in Battle: Best of Friends book that Foley was well liked by his men and had earned their respect. Foley was a good officer as well.

Two respected officers who were not seen as Company Commander/Combat Leader's were the two with anger, and drinking problems; Welsh and Nixon. I take it that this was the reason neither ended up as Company Commander after Winters took over the Battalion.

I guess nobody really knows if Heyliger or Meehan would have been great combat leaders, or not. For both of these two very good, and respected Officer's they were unable to lead the company for very long.

~Peace~

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Updated: Easy Company News

I have caught wind that William "Wild Bill" Guarnere had a heart attack a while ago (I am unclear of the exact date, or how long it has been) and recently got out of the hospital and is now at home recovering, and is in good spirits. (Source: www.majordickwinters.com)

I just wanted to pass that along to all those Wild Bill fans out there, who are trying to find out how he's doing and do not know anyone close to Bill. Hell I wish I could meet or at least know one of these guys, if not all of them to tell them how greatful I am for their services during WWII.

I also would like to say, for the record, if anybody visits this site and know's any of the Easy Company men personally, or any other WWII veteran, please, by all means direct them to this site. So that they can see that their service, their deeds, and their hardships they went through will never be forgotten and will always be respected and cherished by me, and millions more who share these same sentiments, and feelings that I do. God Bless all of you, and (again) thank you!

~Peace~

Easy Company News

There are currently 39 men from Easy Company still alive today! In fact, I originally thought there was only a few left. Boy, was I wrong!

Also I have heard that Medic Ralph Spina has passed away. Rest in Peace, Raph. You will be missed. Condolences go out to the Spina family. God Speed.

Also I have heard that Herb Suerth, Don Malarkey, and Paul Rogers have all lost a child in the later parts of 2007. I send my condolences to the men and their families during their time of grievance. God Speed.

Buck Compton has a blog up and running, http://buckcompton.blogspot.com/ - Check it out!

If anyone has any links to any Official Websites of any of the Easy Company men that are not listed on this blogsite, please post them here on the comments. And I will add them to the links section to the right of the page. Thank you.

-End of News-

Monday, November 12, 2007

Question of Authority

Seeing as this site's user controls will not let me do a large poll with several options, for some reason, I am going to do the following poll this way; all you have to do is pick the top Easy Company Officer that you think was the best. The list goes like this.

Winters, Speirs, Nixon, Lipton, Compton, Heyliger, Meehan, Foley, Peacock, Sobel, Hester, Welsh, Dike, Shames, Brewer, Gates, Pisancin, Horner, Rousch, Mathews, Lavenson, or Jones?

Answer this question by commenting on this post. Please type in the name of the officer you think is best, followed by the reason you think he was the best.

New Forum

Parachute Infantry of WWII - http://506thpirww2.12.forumer.com/ is the forum I have created for free. This forum is a spot where you can discuss military, politics, and the current issues involving Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, and Russia. You can discuss WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, War on Terror, Afghanistan and more. Sign up is free! The forum is a non-profit web site. Join us!

'Thank you!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Reading Richard Winters' book

I have purchased Major Richard "Dick" Winters' book from Barnes & Noble. I paid $24.95 for it. And so far it's been more than well worth the asking price. I currently working on chapter 2. The book at this point is riveting. I enjoy reading the things I know about.

This book so far has been a very good read. Its a damn good book so far. I recommend it to any WWII enthusiast.

So far I have read about how he grew up, what he did in his first year and a half of training, what his thoughts were on Perl Harbor, and Sobel. As well as his D-Day jump. That's as far as I have gotten already. But I will certainly read some more tonight before I go to bed.

Book Information:

Title: "Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters" by, Major Dick Winters with Colonel Cole C. Kingseed. You can find this book at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ for $24.95.

Another book to try out, is "Brothers in Battle - Best of Friends" by William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron with Robyn Post, also at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ for $24.95.

I have already read Brothers in Battle - Best of Friends: awesome read! Many funny parts too! There is a letter that Johnny Martin wrote to Bill after Bill went home; very touching. If you love Band of Brothers, WWII, or Major Winters - you need to get Brothers in Battle - Best of Friends!!!

Thanks, that's all for now. Peace.

Rest In Peace, Ronald Speirs

I would like to take this time to announce the passing of LT Ronald Speirs. After taking some time to see if I could find out if anymore Easy Company members had passed away, I came across a 2007 death, Ronald Speirs. I am very sad to say that, "Ronald Speirs passed away suddenly on April 11th of 2007 (Wikipedia)."

Speirs was a legendary soldier. A brave man, fearless to the bone. From what has been told he had nerves of steel. He was one crazy son of a bitch! But he was a hell of a Company Commander and relieved Easy Company when Easy needed him the most. He was there. And he stayed with the men the rest of the way.

I would like to say 'Thank You' to his family, friends, and comrades as well. Thank you for everything. Rest In Peace Ronald, you will be missed.

'Thank You