By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor
in the Kuwaiti desert
THE US Armys Band Of Brothers immortalised in Steven Spielbergs
TV drama series has reformed to tackle its most dangerous mission
since 1945.
Easy Company of the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne
Division, won glory with an astonishing combat record during World
War Two.
Now a new group of elite soldiers is set to keep alive the
traditions of Easy Company by taking on bloodthirsty insurgents in
Iraq.
The Sun was the first newspaper to meet the modern Band Of Brothers
as they trained deep in the Kuwaiti desert.
The GIs were proud to tell how they are spurred on by the
extraordinary deeds of their famous forefathers.
During the battle for Europe against Hitler, the 506th and Easy
Company was at the forefront of almost every major US
attack.
It distinguished itself as a lead element in the D-Day invasion of
Normandy in 1944.
Later that year it parachuted into action for the Battle of
Arnhem.
Heroes of the 1940s ... the old Easy Company as portrayed on
TV
Heroes of the 1940s ... the old Easy Company
as portrayed on TV
Then it resisted fierce German counter-attacks in France, suffering
terrible casualties.
Finally the 506th advanced through Germany. Ageing vets of 60 years
ago, many now in their 80s and 90s, have given the new Easy Company
their old regimental flag to take into the war zone.
The units senior NCO, First Sergeant Johnny Rosario, 35, from
Brooklyn, New York, said: It has given us a lot of pride to carry
such a great military name.
Easy Company fought a hell of a lot of battles, but they always
came out on top. Now its our turn, were determined not to let our
predecessors down. Were a really close bunch of guys just like
in the TV show. But well be even closer once weve spilt blood
together, as the saying goes.
The first Easy Company was disbanded in 1945. The unit was
reactivated for the Korean War and Vietnam, then axed again in
1974.
Traditions from 60 years ago are carefully maintained.
They still greet officers with the cry: Curahee! That is the
Native American name for a gruelling mountain run on which the unit
trained.
Men still wear the paratroop shoulder flash that gave them the
nickname Screaming Eagles.
In seven days time they head north across the Iraqi border to
spend the next year in Baghdads notorious south western suburbs,
where attacks on coalition troops happen almost daily.
In World War Two, Easy Company suffered a shocking 80 per cent
casualty rate one thing the modern-day unit does NOT want to
copy.
Sgt Rosario pictured at the Jeep wheel surrounded by his men
said: I want to bring all my men home thats the best wish any
NCO could have in a combat zone.
Todays Easy Company even contains characters very like the heroes
of the Hollywood version of their history.
The respected and fatherly figure of Sgt Rosario brings to mind the
fictional sergeant played by British-born actor Dexter
Fletcher.
They also have their version of TV man-mountain Bull in 6ft 5ins
wrestler Private 1st Class Tyler Shaffer, 20, seen on the far left
of the top picture.
And there is the company joker, Specialist Joseph McClelland, 22,
of Indiana. First Lieutenant Wesley Pierce seated alongside Sgt
Rosario is the modern equivalent of Lt Richard Winters in Band of
Brothers, played by Briton Damian Lewis.
Lt Pierce, 24, from Texas, is determined he and his men will be a
credit to the old Easy Company.
He said: Saddam was just as much a menace to the world as Hitler
was.
Were going to be helping rebuild Iraq, just like the 506th did
for shattered Germany after the Nazis were pushed out in
1945.
Thats just as important as war fighting.
© 2005 News Group Newspapers Ltd.
