Maybe I missed an earlier posting but Col. Edward Shames has died at the age of 99.
Col. Edward Shames — a World War II veteran who fought in some of the most significant battles and was the last surviving officer of the company that inspired the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" — has died at age 99.
Shames was a member of the renowned "Easy Company," 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Easy Company was the subject of Stephen Ambrose's 1992 book "Band of Brothers." The book became the inspiration for the 2001 HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
In 1942, he went to Ft. Monroe in Virginia to sign up for the brand new 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Shames was 19 years old at the time, but applicants for the new unit had to be at least age 21 or have written permission from a parent. Shames wanted to be part of the new military unit so badly that he lied to the recruiter and said that his mother was outside sitting in the car. He forged her signature to allow him to enter the parachute unit.
He, and others like him, will be greatly missed!
God bless you Sir!
Col. Edward Shames — a World War II veteran who fought in some of the most significant battles and was the last surviving officer of the company that inspired the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" — has died at age 99.
Shames was a member of the renowned "Easy Company," 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Easy Company was the subject of Stephen Ambrose's 1992 book "Band of Brothers." The book became the inspiration for the 2001 HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
In 1942, he went to Ft. Monroe in Virginia to sign up for the brand new 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Shames was 19 years old at the time, but applicants for the new unit had to be at least age 21 or have written permission from a parent. Shames wanted to be part of the new military unit so badly that he lied to the recruiter and said that his mother was outside sitting in the car. He forged her signature to allow him to enter the parachute unit.
He, and others like him, will be greatly missed!
God bless you Sir!