Did Ronald Speirs run through Foy?

Speirs’ sprint through Foy is lifted straight from Stephen A. Ambrose’s non-fiction book Band of Brothers, upon which the HBO miniseries was based. While some of the stories about Speirs might be exaggerated or glamorized, the depiction of his fearless run across Foy is true.

Did Lieutenant Speirs shoot the prisoners?

With no means of managing the prisoners and needing to reach their military objective, Speirs gave the order to shoot them. According to fellow Dog Company member, Art DiMarzio, each man shot a prisoner. A few hours later four more German soldiers were encountered and this time Speirs shot all of them himself.

Why did Ronald Speirs run through Foy?

In January 1945, when Easy Company’s initial attack on the German-occupied town of Foy bogged down due to the commander 1st Lieutenant Norman Dike, being wounded, battalion executive officer Captain Richard Winters ordered Speirs to relieve Dike of command.

Are the stories about lieutenant Speirs true?

Two of the stories that have circulated about Ronald Speirs were that he shot about a dozen German prisoners on D-day and, later, one of his own Sergeants to set an example, because he fell asleep during his guard at night. Major Winters said that the stories about Speirs are true.

What did general Speirs do in the military?

Speirs made the military his career. During the Korean War he commanded a rifle company. He became the U.S. Governor of Spandau Prison in Berlin, which housed key Nazi war criminals. His final assignment was at the Pentagon. He retired in 1964 as a lieutenant colonel. His last years were spent quietly with family in California.

Who was the commanding officer when Lieutenant Speirs was killed?

Lieutenant Speirs immediately reported the incident to his commanding officer, Captain Jerre S Gross. 28 Eyewitness DiMarzio says that Captain Gross went to the scene of the shooting and after receiving all the information, deemed it justifiable self-defence. 29 Captain Gross was killed in battle the next day, and the incident was never pursued. 30

Where did Lieutenant Colonel Ronald C Speirs land?

Lieutenant Ronald Speirs landed approximately 4 miles northwest of Drop Zone C – his stick’s intended target. He and most of the rest of Dog Company were grouped near highway D15, about one mile northeast of Ste Marie Eglise.

How did Ronald C Speirs become a paratrooper?

Many paratroopers took passes to Paris whilst others took leave and returned to England. 2 Speirs – who had been promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant – had also been reassigned from Dog Company to Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR. 3