Band of Brothers

E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne, from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: Tim Jerome

Stephen E. Ambrose’s classic New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the acclaimed HBO series about Easy Company, the ordinary men who became the World War II’s most extraordinary soldiers at the frontlines of the war's most critical moments. Featuring a foreword from Tom Hanks.

They came together, citizen soldiers, in the summer of 1942, drawn to Airborne by the $50 monthly bonus and a desire to be better than the other guy. And at its peak—in Holland and the Ardennes—Easy Company was as good a rifle company as any in the world.

From the rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to the disbanding in 1945, Stephen E. Ambrose tells the story of this remarkable company. In combat, the reward for a job well done is the next tough assignment, and as they advanced through Europe, the men of Easy kept getting the tough assignments.

They parachuted into France early D-Day morning and knocked out a battery of four 105 mm cannon looking down Utah Beach; they parachuted into Holland during the Arnhem campaign; they were the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, brought in to hold the line, although surrounded, in the Battle of the Bulge; and then they spearheaded the counteroffensive. Finally, they captured Hitler's Bavarian outpost, his Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden.

They were rough-and-ready guys, battered by the Depression, mistrustful and suspicious. They drank too much French wine, looted too many German cameras and watches, and fought too often with other GIs. But in training and combat they learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew. They discovered that in war, men who loved life would give their lives for them.

This is the story of the men who fought, of the martinet they hated who trained them well, and of the captain they loved who led them. E Company was a company of men who went hungry, froze, and died for each other, a company that took 150 percent casualties, a company where the Purple Heart was not a medal—it was a badge of office.

High Expectations Met

I've read this book several times and enjoyed the HBO series, so my expectations were quite high with this audiobook. Do not be put off by reviews that are dismissive of the narration. Tim Jerome's sober narration is entirely appropriate for this powerful work of nonfiction.

You HAVE to pick the Unabridged version

Well told story of amazing men. Well done narration. Only better book by Ambrose is Pegasus Bridge which I haven't see as an audio book. These are such great men. Read this one first and then there are so many others that have come out since focused on individuals. There is so much great literature on Easy Company. This is the place to start.

A Company of Hero’s

Band of Brothers is the story of one of the greatest military companies ever to have been formed. It is the story of how ordinary citizen soldiers bonded together to become who we know them as today. These men helped free the world from the Nazi Regime the had taken over much of Europe at the time. However what is more remarkable about this story is that these men faded back into society without asking or demanding a single thing for what they had done.

Great book, narrator not so much

The narrator mispronounced a lot of names which was a little frustrating. Fabulous book though

Great presentation

My husband and I watched the HBO series on the D Day anniversary. I decided to listen to the book and it was wonderful. My only regret was the realization I should have asked my Dad about his experiences in the Pacixic theater. Wonderful recounting of these men’s experience. Next up - Richard Winters presentation.