Lt col speirs

In a military career spanning 22 years, Speirs has been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated in both print and TV.

This site uses cookies to improve user experience. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. He was on active duty for 22 years, spanning multiple wars. Although his name points to a long list of accomplishments, Speirs is most well known for having served in the US th Parachute Infantry Regiment as part of the legendary st Airborne Division, known as the "Screaming Eagles". Dust off exclusive book deals and tales from the past when you join The Archive 's newsletter. Ronald Speirs was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 20th, His family emigrated to the United States when he was only four years old, where they settled in Boston, Massachusetts.

Lt col speirs

He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Speirs was reassigned to D Company of the 2nd Battalion before the invasion of Normandy in June and later assigned as commander of E Company during an assault on Foy, Belgium , after the siege of Bastogne was broken during the Battle of the Bulge. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain. Speirs served in the Korean War , as a major commanding a rifle company and as a staff officer. He later became the American governor for Spandau Prison in Berlin. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. In the award-winning television miniseries Band of Brothers , he was portrayed by Matthew Settle. Speirs was born in Edinburgh , Scotland , in , and spent his first few years there. He emigrated with his family to the United States , arriving in Boston , Massachusetts , on 25 December There he served as a platoon leader within Dog Company, 2nd Battalion of the th Parachute Infantry Regiment , which later became part of the st Airborne Division , at Camp Toccoa , Georgia , and was then shipped to England in late After arriving in England, the division began training for the invasion of France. Speirs parachuted into Normandy on 6 June D-Day and met up with fellow troops soon after landing. He assembled a small group of soldiers to help in the Brecourt Manor Assault ; they captured the fourth mm howitzer. Speirs commanded 2nd platoon, Dog Company. His unit spent the night of 6 June being shuffled into position with other platoons of a company being arranged for battle early the next morning.

Frankly, he lt col speirs surprised to have survived this long. During his time in the army, Speirs obtained an impressive collection of awards and decorations. Without the assistance of pack animals, the pace of Headquarters Company soon slackened due to its hefty jumble of machine guns, mortars, and rocket launchers.

The paratroopers had only rifles, machine guns, and grenades with which to conduct the battle until armored forces arrived. This article appears in: Winter Swirls of black smoke billowed high above the steeples and splintered roofs as Lieutenant Ronald Speirs surveyed the stucco exteriors of storefronts and dwellings pocked by the scars of urban battle. Carentan, the once ornate French commune nestled along the banks of the Douve River, was a charred and blistered shell—a ghostly visage of its former self. Local citizens had long awaited the hour of liberation from Nazi tyranny. Deliverance thundered forth from a devastating barrage of heavy naval guns, American artillery, and mortars raining ruin upon their historic community.

In a military career spanning 22 years, Speirs has been lauded as a hero, embroiled in controversy and celebrated in both print and TV. This website looks at the real man behind the reputation. He had served 22 years in the military and his career had spanned one of the most turbulent and dangerous periods in human history. Commissioned into the Army at 22 years of age, Speirs joined the paratroopers — a new concept for an infantry fighting force — which at that time had only been used by the Germans and was originally disliked by US Army Commanders. Over million people served in the military and countries placed their entire economic, industrial and scientific efforts towards winning the war. It was a war which saw the mass killing of civilians and resulted in over 60 million dead — the equivalent of 2.

Lt col speirs

The paratroopers had only rifles, machine guns, and grenades with which to conduct the battle until armored forces arrived. This article appears in: Winter Swirls of black smoke billowed high above the steeples and splintered roofs as Lieutenant Ronald Speirs surveyed the stucco exteriors of storefronts and dwellings pocked by the scars of urban battle. Carentan, the once ornate French commune nestled along the banks of the Douve River, was a charred and blistered shell—a ghostly visage of its former self. Local citizens had long awaited the hour of liberation from Nazi tyranny. Deliverance thundered forth from a devastating barrage of heavy naval guns, American artillery, and mortars raining ruin upon their historic community. Such was the terrible price of evicting the despised German occupiers. Speirs, a Dog Company platoon leader, meandered through the coils of Normandy brush, maintaining a watchful eye on the frontline. His bulky Thompson submachine gun was casually slung over his shoulder.

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D-Day already seemed like a months-old memory. At dusk, McMillan received word on his SCR radio to peel back toward battalion headquarters and reconsolidate under cover of darkness. While the book does follow the battle, it takes a closer look at the lives of the soldiers within the regiment. Speirs, his unit and Easy Company eventually dropped into Normandy on 6 June The battalion had done its part in defending Carentan, and the men and officers were proud of their job. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. When Bray neared a house, he was shot clean through the arm. Amid this melee, Easy Company commander Dick Winters was struck in the leg by a ricochet while directing troops at a key intersection. When the regiment finished training at Camp Toccoa in November of , they were ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia to begin their airborne training. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in Shortly after dawn broke around 4 a. Like many legendary figures of World War II, the lieutenant was an imperfect but daring leader.

He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Speirs was reassigned to D Company of the 2nd Battalion before the invasion of Normandy in June and later assigned as commander of E Company during an assault on Foy, Belgium , after the siege of Bastogne was broken during the Battle of the Bulge.

However, it should also be noted that Speirs was the subject of some controversy during this episode. April 11, aged 86 St. In a flash, McMillan raced to the command post to sound the alarm. Carwood Lipton T Don't have an account? When the regiment finished training at Camp Toccoa in November of , they were ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia to begin their airborne training. Now was the time to vacate. Third Platoon, located some yards down the cut, was not as fortunate. Recent blog posts Forum Staff Help. Commanders can then adjust their plans in accordance, avoiding the possibility of surprise by the enemy. At this most inopportune time, the enemy counterattacked. What became known as the Battle of Bloody Gulch had begun. The following day would reveal why.