Just curious. I guess nobody knows, but what do you think? Personally I think he did. Wish he was still around today, or lived longer than he did, at least.
Anyway, what do you think?
2007-09-30 09:21:47 · 13 answers · asked by F-22's are sexy! 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
For the guy that said I should post this somewhere else-
I'm pretty sure that Easy Company WAS a real Company, and Captain Winters lives about three hours away from me. Yeah, this did happen, it's based on real events, it happened in the real military, therefore, it should go in the military. It wasn't a question about a movie, it was a question about the history of what happened in Easy Company. That's just how it is.
2007-09-30 09:46:21 · update #1
Oh, and the only reason I put 'Band of Brothers' in the title is so that people would have something to relate to.
2007-09-30 09:51:05 · update #2
In the episode about D-Day he clearly did shoot German prisoners.
I think he is thought to have done this more than once. The series doesn't show any other incidents.
2007-09-30 09:26:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anthony M 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is what we call today Joe.com. It is almost NEVER correct.
The rumormill, scuttlebutt, grapevine, so on and so forth, it has had many names, serves the same purpose.
What was depicted in the episode was the "Well I heard this" scene, it was photographed because otherwise it would be too boring to see enlisted Paratroopers talking about the latest gossip.
Now were prisoners shot? Yes, BOTH sides did such things.
Do I believe 1LT Ronald Spiers shot those German prisoners?
No, I believe he allowed people to believe it so that they would think he was the meanest, most ruthless SOB leading them against the Germans. Who would question or refuse a man who was willing to do that? The fact he was not removed from command means it is more myth than fact.
After all, when PVT Skip Muck claimed Spiers shot one of his own sergeants for being drunk and refusing a patrol, he did not have a name other than "some guy".
If it were true, everyone would know it was "SGT Stooge" who got popped by the LT, not "some guy". And he would definately be relieved of command while an investigation was conducted.
Why do we, as Soldiers and Marines do this?
Just to have something to talk about half the time, the other half, people get off on spreading fear about the "Square penicillin needle injection in the scrotum". Ego trip.
Some guys just don't know when to stop and other guys use it to their advantage.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Spiers only just passed away this year in April, also.
2007-09-30 17:11:10 · answer #2 · answered by ZepherGeist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it did happen.
I've read a lot of books on the historical accounts of the different battles of World War2, both in Europe and in the Pacific. Such incidents of shooting POW's did happen. In the international military code of conduct, such action is a violation of of the Geneva Convention on the Rules of Land Warfare, specifically the article on the Lawful Treatment of Prisoners of War, and such a viloation constitute a war-crime.
In the Nuremberg War-Crimes Trial after the war, many German soldiers were tried and found guilty of such offenses, and then subsequently hanged. Unfortunately, not a single soldier on the Allied side had been prosecuted for committing the same offenses.
So, the saying is true: "Justice belong to the victors, and not to the vanquished".
2007-10-01 05:54:35 · answer #3 · answered by Botsakis G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My Dad was pulled from the Aleutian Islands and trained as infantry when Coast Artillery was deactivated.
It happened on Attu during the Battle of The Aleutians to Japanese.
He made it to France on 6 Sep 44. HHQ/2/317 80th ID. It happened in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. After liberating Buchenwald 2 Russian Officers were allowed to stay with the 317th. They took special care of any SS Troops. There were 15,000 Russian POW's at Buchenwald and they were not treated nice. They repaid their host's friends as they came across them.
Reality is a MFr
2007-09-30 18:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by Stand-up philosopher. It's good to be the King 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that sailors girl is okay about this. Did things like this happen in earlier wars? Yes, and they didn't get tried for murder in those days. They got promoted. Was Ronald Spiers justified? The airborne was still cut off and there were plenty of weapons just laying around. Having a couple of men guarding a couple dozen prisoners was a disastor waiting to happen. Whether or not it happened we need to judge those men (and now women) but the reality that they existed in.
2007-09-30 16:50:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do, Ambrose who was known for his inaccuracies in his books was the first to print that, and Speirs and Malarky never disputed it.
I would also think Col. Winters would have made a Point of Refuting it if False. Notice in the series and Book how Winters makes sure Leibgott has one bullet so as to ensure the POW's arrival at Bn S-2
2007-09-30 17:14:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probley not...it is common for troops to come up with inflated stories about the officers who they think are good leaders. Rumors get passed around and change into totally different stories.
What most likely happened is the officers men saw that he was actually a good officer, and a bad @ss. People start talking about how he is a bad @ss and rumors get inflated and out of control.
People more than likely saw him as a brave officer who led by example, and who was technically and tactically proficient. Therefore his men start to hero worship him or idolize him. Then the crazy stories start about how he eats nails, and crushes tanks with his pinky.
I dont think he killed the prisoners, he is an officer and officers know that prisoner = intelligence sooner or later.
I just think that his men thought that he was one tough motherf-cker.
2007-09-30 16:27:22 · answer #7 · answered by h h 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hey,
I was looking for a free download World War II Pacific Heroes I found it here: http://bit.ly/1qXDQvi
Finally the full version is avaiable!
With very realistic imposing scenery and with great quality 3D graphics, this is the ideal option for combining fun, action and adrenaline.
It's the best game.
2014-09-16 09:38:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy was a very real company of Men. The book never says if he really shot them.
2007-09-30 18:03:37 · answer #9 · answered by John C 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While the movie was based on a lot of fact, you must remember, Holly Weird elaborates for content and interest! To the point, that the real truth is lost in fiction, for your enjoyment of course!
2007-09-30 16:29:44 · answer #10 · answered by b.douglaswyatt 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋