Easy Company

Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies formed the second battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in 1942. The paratroopers were a new experimental arm in the US Army.

Under the instruction of Lieutenant Herbert Sobel, Easy Company’s original class of 140 recruits were pushed to their limit until only the most tough and focused troops remained. In September 1943, Easy Company arrived in the United Kingdom with the rest of the 101st Airborne Division to prepare for the invasion of France.

Normandy

Easy Company landed in Normandy on the night of 5 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord. Like the other parachute rifle companies, Easy was scattered across the Normandy countryside during the jump, but quickly regrouped and distinguished itself knocking by out a battery of 105mm howitzers at Brécourt Manor and again during the capture of Carentan.

Holland

Easy Company returned to England and prepared for their next battle. In September 1944, Easy Company jumped into Holland during Operation Market Garden and, along with the rest of the 101st, worked to secure what would be called Hell’s Highway. Easy’s main battle took place at Nuenen. Working closely with the British 11th Armored Division, the paratroopers fought the 107th Panzer Brigade, finally ejecting the Germans from the village.

The Ardennes

After continued fighting in Holland into November, the 101st was finally withdrawn to Mourmelon-le-Grand to rest and refit. They had barely settled into garrison duty when the call came to mount up on trucks and move out. Leaving with only the ammo and supplies they had brought with them out of Holland, the paratroopers were rushed to Bastogne, Belgium.

Easy took up its position on 2nd Battalion’s left flank, just inside the tree line overlooking the village of Foy. The perimeter was far from secure, as Germans and Americans stumbled into each other’s foxholes in the snow and fog. At Bastogne, Easy endured relentless artillery bombardments, fought off several German attempts to attack Bastogne, and battled the elements.

Finally, on 9 January, Easy Company launched an attack on Foy itself. Easy launched the attack at 0900 hours, crossing an open field between the woods and the village. The assault stalled in front of the Germans due to the poor leadership of Lieutenant Norman Dike who was paralyzed with fear. Dike was quickly replaced by Lieutenant Ronald Speirs who led the attack forward. Easy overcame the Germans in Foy, finally securing the town by the afternoon.

After Foy, Easy joined the rest of the 101st in counterattacking the Germans and pushing them back into Germany and on into Austria, but the fight in the Bastogne woods would be remembered as the hardest and coldest battle fought by Easy Company during the war.