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“The jumpmasters pushed their men up the steps, each of them carrying at least 100 pounds, many 150. One 101st trooper spoke for all 13,400 men in the two airborne divisions when he got to the door of his C-47, turned east, and called, ‘Look out, Hitler! Here we come!’”

“Sitting in his plane, company commander Thomas Meehan scribbled a short note to his wife. ‘Dearest Anne: In a few hours I’m going to take the best company of men in the world into France. We’ll give the bastards hell. Strangely I’m not particularly scared but in my heart is a terrific longing to hold you in my arms.’
‘I love you Sweetheart – Forever. Your Tom.’”

“Meehan handed the not through the open door to a friend on the plane’s crew and told him to get it to Anne. At 0110, the planes passed over the coast and into a cloud bank. The lead plane in stick 66, flown by Lt. Harold Cappelluto, was hit with bullets going through it and out the top, throwing sparks. The plane maintained course and speed for a moment or two, then did a slow wingover to the right. Pilot Frank DeFlita, just behind, remembered that ‘Cappelluto’s landing lights came on, and it appeared they were going to make it, when the plane hit a hedgerow and exploded.’ It was the plance carrying Lieutenant Meehan and the rest of the company headquarters section. Easy Company had not put one man into combat yet, and it had already lost platoon leader Schmitz, company commander Meehan, and its first sergeant.”

For those of you who haven’t heard, The History Channel is showing Band of Brothers this week. Starting at 9:00 each night, they are airing about 75 minutes worth of the series until they finish it off early next week. It’s an amazing mini-series that follows the book quite well and is guaranteed to stir a few emotions deep inside of you. I highly suggest you tune in if at all possible.