The military is one of the only organizations in the United States that brings men and women together from all over the country and from many different backgrounds to work together as a team with a common goal. In the novel Band of Brothers, this idea was illustrated within Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the US Army. The two people that trained and shaped Easy Company were the Company's Commanding Officer, First Lieutenant Herbert Sobel and Second Lieutenant Dick Winters. Sobel instilled the men with the discipline and mental strength that would be necessary to survive the combat of World War II. Winters taught the men a different lesson, the mental intelligence and combat awareness necessary to defeat the Germans. .
Easy Company started of at Camp Toccoa, where they earned their jump wings. They moved on to Forts Benning, Mackall, Bragg, and Shanks. After this training the Company left the United States and headed for Aldbourne, England where they took part in more extensive training. In Aldbourne the Company began to tighten up and close friendships formed while the men took in the sights of England. Shortly after arriving in Aldbourne, Easy Company started training with the 82nd Airborne and the 4th Infantry Division to prepare them for the invasion of Normandy at Utah beach. .
On 6 June 1944 Easy Company had their first taste of real combat. They jumped from planes that were going too fast and too low; they lost their equipment due to a bag that was developed by the English that failed miserably. The Company was scattered across the beach and countryside. In an attempt to gain position, some machine-gun nests were taken out, which saved the lives of many Americans. From 7 June to 21 July the Company lead the way south toward a small French town, Carentan. There they attempted to meet up with the men who had taken Omaha beach.
The 506th was relieved on 29 June and they headed back into reserve.
