My two cents on Lt Col Strayer, his lack of being mentioned by Easy Co vets is as simple as my own Combat Experience. I was an Infantry Squad Leader in Iraq. I had a grand total of Zero interactions with my Brigade XO and only one interaction with my Battalion XO. The Major S-3 Operations i had many dealings with. The Grunts on the line will literally never see the XO of the Regiment unless he was at an awards or promotion ceremony which likelihood of him even speaking to you is right around zero. XO's are the Beans and Bullets and Casevac coordinating officers of the Battalions and Companies. The S-4 is a POG and the S-3 is usually an officer with some ability. The one i had on my '04-'05 deployment made it all the way to Brigadier General.

Herbert Sobel was as much of a hero as any man who served honorably in that war, and Dick Winters was as much of a flawed human being as any man who served in that war. I admire both of them.

I don't have a comment about the aforementioned officers, but the vignette about the "surrender" of the silk map is amusing. 😁

I could barely remember my chain of command back in my 20’s. Officers came and gone working their way up the corporate ladder. First sergeants were there for the long haul- they are the backbone of the army. I can’t remember too many officers’s names- now or back 40 years ago🤣

Firstly, I don't want to be perceived as a Sobel defender nor am I partisan to any of the men mentioned other than a universal sense of gratitude for everything and for all, including Sobel. So I comment to point out that Sobel's promotion to staff - whenever it occurred - may have been simply a recognition of his competence and reputation for thoroughness and getting the job done properly. An American General who I personally despise and think deserves scorn for all time was McClellan, but I also recognize that while he had many flaws, he was also a good trainer and organizer of troops. Likewise, Sobel may be everyone's guy they love to hate, but one can still recognize that he had redeeming qualities as a soldier. I think it is more likely, that Sobel was promoted because commanders were looking for competence over personality, as it should be. You know....back when the military was mostly a meritocracy, and not a Woke program for social engineering. One soldier of E-Company, Robert Rader who was a Toccoa man, wrote glowingly of Strayer. Strayer earned 4 Bronze Star Medals, a Silver Star Medal, and a Purple Heart Medal, so he wasn't some wall flower. Furthermore, Strayer had been in the Army since 1930 and was already a major when the war began. That stands out to me, because promotion in the military during the Inter-War period was extremely slow, so he must have demonstrated some quality to have made it that far, that fast. Again, according to Robert Rader, Strayer was a popular CO who lead from the front and shared all the hardships. I would add from personal experience as an enlisted soldier that there were officers in close command that I barely interacted with. My first company commander, after finishing the training pipeline, was Capt. Abizaid (later General Abizaid) of A Co., 1st Ranger Bn. I don't remember that I ever spoke to him. I'm sure I did. I must have at some point, but I don't remember. Soldiers just don't rub elbows with officers on a regular basis and the fact that no one writes about Strayer should not be construed as having any importance, nor should it imply anything other than the person writing chose to focus on other things. In fact, the only thing I would take away from it, based on my experience, is they were not privy to all that Strayer did that was noteworthy enough to be written about. Just a note, if you really want to know Sobel's service history, you can make a request for a copy. That would answer questions about where he was, and when notable events happened.

Sobel was one of an unlimited number of military leaders who are great in garrison / training, but lousy in the field. He was an excellent choice for running the jump-school, and probably the best man available when transferred to regimental S4 (Supply). I'd love to know what happened to the people who were bumped out of their jobs to make room for these changes in duties. It was normal that when an officer moved up, he would take the staff members he liked best with him. Eisenhower had people with him at the top who were on his staff in 1942. But if Sobel moved up (NOT promoted, in what was a major's slot; that says something), and Nixon moved down (serving in a major's slot and down to a captain's slot), somebody else was moved out of their position, or was promoted, or was wounded / killed.

We have what they said on video. We have what they wrote. But we will often never actually know. As to Sobel...I found him very unlikeable in the series. But when I heard of him in real, I broke down in tears for him. I worked in the Veterans Hospital. I saw so many other veterans die alone and with nobody. Just like Herbert Sobel. Your account triggered my emotions and my tears like a flood.

I just watched the Dick Winters doc, "Hang Tough", and he talks a little bit about Sobel. I think there's subconscious gratitude there, as Company E was definitely better off because of Sobel, even though they didn't see it at the time. I don't think Winters has much respect for Sobel, as a person or a leader. He laughed it off 60 years later, but their leadership styles were as opposite as can be. He laughed that Sobel was never able to figure out how to read a map, which was funny to watch. He would stare at the men at attention and if he couldn't find an infraction, "dirty ears!". Granted, most people my age have a very "Winters-centric" view of the ETO in WW2..

Interesting piece. Not unusual to have an officer or NCO who was shakey in combat leadership but difficult in army politics to move them where they would not do harm. I used to get cudos for running small unit tactics but criticism for over managing on the radio when nothing was going on. Better at patrols or running the S3 shop but in between tended to stumble! ABN 75.

I found the part about the salute situation rather interesting. It is military etiquette that if you see an officer, especially one who outranks you, you’re supposed to salute them and offer them the greeting of the day. Sobel clearly wanted to pretend that he hadn’t seen Winters, who was correct in calling Sobel out for his behavior. If the roles had been reversed, Sobel would have gone much farther than the simple reminder that Winters had given him. I’m also a bit perplexed about why Sobel continued to hate Easy Company after the war. Was he still bitter about the NCOs refusing to serve under him? I mean, according to the series, some of the Soldiers weren’t even convinced that Winters was much better than Sobel. I think it’s fair to say that both Winters and Sobel had different approaches to leadership, but I believe most Soldiers would follow Winters into battle with little hesitation. I get the feeling that Sobel was out for personal glory and when he was essentially robbed of that chance, he held it against everyone else.

Kind of backs the notion that he who writes about history gets to be the hero........

I can only imagine how fascinating it must have been to have seen the 506 PIR scrapbook. Thank you for this interesting and informative video. You always post high quality content.

I think "A" company 506 would make a good mini series. Donald Burgett books are a Fantastic read .

Thanks so much for filling in the blanks of this great history.

Superb video. Not too long but long enough and more importantly, very interesting.

Steven Ambrose got a lot of things wrong or the vets remember things differently 60 years later . Look at something as simple as the Albert Blythe history after the war. Not all things research completely

The more I learn, the less I know. Thanks for giving these men more substance.

My friends father, who flew an artillery spotter aircraft and reached the rank of Major, brought home one of those silk maps of France . I remember him showing it to me when I was a kid.

Regarding Sobel, I've often wondered how much his growing up in the north in a big city as a Jew and then being relocated to the South for his Army training must have played with his psyche. I grew up in Cocoa Beach Fl. in the 50's/60's and 70's. My Dad was a rocket engineer at Cape Canaveral and while Cocoa Beach in the 60's wasn't Georgia in the 40's, it was very rural and white protestant and I had never even seen a Jew (or knew what they were) until HS when ONE transferred down from NYC (I presume his Dad also worked at The Cape). The kid was a good baseball player and I played on a couple little league teams with him, but he was literally in culture shock from the stuff that you just learn is normal growing up in the south and some of the rougher kids made fun of him relentlessly for not knowing how to hunt or fish or even surf. It had to be very tough on Sobel being in Georgia in the 40's.

I would remind anyone reading this that this happened before the UCMJ. The issue of shooting someone for mutinous behavior was a real one. The chemistry between Sobel, winters and sink is a chemistry problem that goes on to this very day. It’s just that sometimes the Sobels in life are the colonels.

Moving from company command to a “battle captain” in Regimental staff is normal command progression. Often senior LTs and newly promoted Captains are in Battalion staff.

Great video. I really like videos like these as they help fill in the gaps. But i have to admit it does seem strange that Winters hardly mentions Strayer but metions Sink quite a bit

excellent information..........thank you.

I often wonder if Sobel crossed paths with Col George Marshall in Chicago in the Illinois National Guard. MacArthur at the time Chief of Staff, assigned Marshall to the Illinois National Guard around mid 1930s. Marshall saw it as a slap in the face, but MacArthur promoted him to BG when the assignment ended. Marshall was sent to shape up the guard because MacArthur thought the guard would probably be called out because of the corruption and violence in Chicago and wanted a trained professional response from the guard.

Interesting takes on the trio. I had never considered Sink, with his hands tied, potentially orchestrating the mutiny of the sergeants… that makes a ton of sense because execution was a very real & HUGE risk to the enlisted men, but if not a true risk, it fixed a host of problems in one fell swoop making it appear organic, if they knew it was rigged in their favor… again, if it was staged as you postulate. Excellent analysis, regardless of its validity.

My Uncle George showed me the compass that was hidden in the heel of his Birkenstock. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened to it.

(Army veteran, officer) "Because Winters out-ranked Sobel, there was nothing Sobel could do about it..."? The author obviously doesn't know how the military works. Sobel would have been required by regulations to turn in a report for each soldier - regardless of rank - listing the items not turned in and the cost assigned by the military. This would be taken out of the soldier's pay upon mustering out. I once had my pay reduced for the cost of some training equipment my soldiers damaged. Why? Because I was the person who signed out the items. And I had my pay reduced to pay for a flotation device - which didn't float and was lost at the bottom of a river we were crossing at night in Ranger School. I've investigated why equipment was stolen by civilians while on maneuvers, and the soldier who wouldn't get up for guard duty got to pay for all of it.

don't get too caught up with Bronze stars unless they have a V attached to it. Officers have always liked to give each other medals so they looked superior to enlisted men.

I'd like to hear more about Sobel's post-war hatred of Easy.

I think that is Salve Matheson to the right of Sobel. He became a General and served in Vietnam

I wonder if Sobel ever reflected that if he wasn't relieved from easy, he would've died instead of Meehan.

Could you do a video about the 85 points system, in the episode points? I have been trying to understand it, but haven't had any luck trying to find anything about it, like how did the G.I.'s earn points, and such.

You seems to have animosity for Winters and Nixon. Are they a target because they were highlighted throughout the HBO series? You do understand that the series had to have a single galvanizing character or element across the 10+ episodes to maintain audience interest. Additionally, it would have been next to impossible to develop the characters of each member of Easy or 509th without each episode turning into Lawrence of Arabia in length.

Over my lifetime I have had to deal with people like Sobel who really think the only way to get things done is thru fear. This tactic can be somewhat effective but will only get you so far when trying to lead men. Winters on the other hand is the kind of guy that wouldn't ask someone to do something he wouldn't do himself. In this way you earn respect instead of demand it which in the long run will get you way farther than fear. Strayer seems to be the type that dreads making decisions and is so afraid of making the wrong one often paralysis you into doing nothing. and leave it to someone else.

What items were turned in upon leaving Europe? Any and all, or only things such as webgear, weapons, helmets, etc? Were there ever any exceptions made? What about servicemen smuggling their own/captured weapons or equipment home? Fascinating to watch these videos covering the real Sobel (as opposed to the character).

Sobel was a task manager, but I think he would have been receptive to Winters assisting him with certain abilities like map reading.....off to themselves. It may have been pride or ego for not using resources like Winters to enhance his military field skills. In the series he did consult with Winters in the training exercise, but over ruled Winters advice. So I do believe there was some redemption possibility there. He just needed to tone down the pettiness.

Being in an active combat area for a period of 72 hours will earn a soldier and an officer a CIB (Combat Infantry Badge). That was during Vietnam. May have been different in WW2. Great for promotion points. This is why officers wanted one. Even if they were horrible as a leader of a platoon of infantry.

As much Steve Ambrose did outstanding writing, he got caught plagiarizing other authors material.

Steve Ambrose got alot of material wrong

I consider Sobel to be just like George McClellan. Good at training, bad at leading.

I think BOB was a very Winters centric view. If Winters liked you, you were a hero, if Winters didn't like you, you were a zero.

Malarkey?!...That's slang for bullshit right? -Capt. Sobel

A good video and I like your channel, but if you are going to specialize in Band of Brothers, please teach your AI Bot how to pronounce the name Malarky. It comes up quite a bit.

What ever happened to major Horton?

I think LTC Strayer was a terrible Bn Cdr. How he let Sobel stay in command as long as he did, given his incompetance, is a wonder. If Strayer was a good Bn Cdr, the whole Winters court martial would have been nipped in the bud. If Strayer was a strong Bn Cdr, then the soldiers would have spoken of him often. It's very telling that they don't mention him. A strong Bn Cdr makes his presence known and felt to the soldiers. It appears that he just ghosted around in his HQ. If he was out doing his job, inspecting and scouting his units' positions, talking to the junior leadership and soldiers, then he would have had a more positive impact. Hell, just looking at him, compared to other paratroop cdrs you see in the war, he looks very meek and wimpy.

$75 dollar fine was probably a lot back then like a week’s wage.

Sobel's moustache was drawn on that photo by Dick Winters. But remember: Sobel was the childish, petty, petulant one.

wtf ww2 was a litlle bigger then a company,, Whut whut whut not even a company, a platoon 🤡🤡🤡👆

The whole thing sounds very juvenile and unprofessional, and further deepens my dislike of Dick Winters as a person. During my service I always despised those who could not act professionally and put their adolescent egos aside...