Band of Brothers – Part 2

January 1-13, 1945

Finally on January 5^th Easy was pulled back to the regimental reserve south of Foy but by the 9^th participated in a scheduled attack of the village at Foy.  It would be a simple, yet brutal operation because they would have to charge across an open, snow covered field approx 200 meters long.  Regiment put ‘I’ company (25 men) on the right into the attack.  But success or failure rested with Easy Company. 

Lieutenant Dike led the operation and half-way to the village on the charge he froze; signaling for the 2^nd and 3^rd platoons to join them behind two haystacks.  Captain Winters later remarked “Suddenly the line stopped about 75 yards from the edge of the village…the company was a bunch of sitting ducks out there in the snow.  They started taking needless casualties because of his inaction.”  Capt Winters tried to reach him on the radio and in his frustration grabbed an M-1 to lead the attack.  Running down Capt Winters realized that he was leading the whole battalion and it wasn’t a good idea for him to commit himself.  Racing back to the line he saw Lt Speirs, told him to “take over that company, relieve Dike and take that attack on in.”  Without hesitation Speirs took off running.  When he reached Dike he blurted out, “I’m taking over,” and the extremely capable NCO’s filled him in.  Speirs, gave some orders then took off, not looking back but depended on the men to follow….which they did.  The company started the surge into Foy again with men firing a full range of weapons from M-1’s, tommy guns, bazookas, mortars, grenades etc.  But the Germans were still inflicting many casualties until they were able to take out some of their key snipers.  Strong as the opposition was, Speirs just kept advancing, and the company kept firing.  The Germans still thinking that their escape route to Noville was open soon realized they didn’t have many options as their ‘Tiger tanks’ took off.  Soon all that was left was some 100 Germans who were mostly wounded and they surrendered.  Easy Company had won the test of will.  It had taken Foy.

Part of me wanted to label this post “The Importance of Execution – NOW!”  As you can see in the video clip below when you hesitate in battle, people die.  I love watching the courage of Lt Speirs as he races on into battle.  At the end, Sgt Lipton is commenting on how it was so impressive that he ran right into the German line to find ‘I’ Company on the other side, conferred with their commander and ran back.  Wheeww!  I’m getting all fired up just writing this!  You know business is all about courage and execution.  Sometimes you have to make quick decision and not look back.  I’m going to end this with a couple of quotes that I like.  “Action is the real measure of intelligence” – Napoleon Hill and “Procrastination is a thief, waiting in disguise to rob you of your hopes and dreams” – Jack Canfield 

Make it count!

Take care,

Tim Schmidt