Lieutenant Dike from Band of Brothers

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Speirs is a bad arse

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Speirs is a bad arse

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Speirs parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944 (or D-Day) and quickly met with fellow troops after landing. He assembled a small group of soldiers to assist during the Brecourt Manor Assault, where he single-handedly captured the fourth 105mm Howitzer.[3][4][5] Speirs' platoon spent the night of June 6 being shuffled in position with other platoons as the company was arranged for battle to begin early the next morning.[6] A rolling artillery barrage had been coordinated in support of the ground assault on the morning of June 7. To initiate the attack, artillery fire was adjusted back towards American lines before moving forward in increments. Speirs ordered his platoon to hold position until the fire was completed to prevent serious casualties and fratricide. One of his squad leaders ignored the orders due to fatigue and disorientation. After his order was ignored a second time, Speirs shot the sergeant, then promptly reported the incident to the company commander, Captain Jerre S. Gross. Gross was killed in combat the next day and the incident was not pursued.

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Winters assessed Speirs as being one of the finest combat officers in the battalion. He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value.[7] Winters stated that Speirs was alleged on one occasion to have killed six German prisoners of war and that the battalion leadership must have been aware of the allegations, but chose to ignore the charges because of the pressing need to retain qualified combat leaders. Winters concluded that in today's army, Speirs would have been court-martialed and charged with atrocities, but officers like Speirs were too valuable because they were not afraid to engage the enemy.

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"Do you know why you hid in that ditch Blithe ?...........You hid in that ditch because you think there is still hope.........but Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact you're already dead, and the sooner you accept that the sooner you'll be able to function as a Soldiers supposed to function, without mercy without compassion without remorse; all war depends upon it."

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He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value.[7] Winters stated that Speirs was alleged on one occasion to have killed six German prisoners of war and that the battalion leadership must have been aware of the allegations, but chose to ignore the charges because of the pressing need to retain qualified combat leaders. Winters concluded that in today's army, Speirs would have been court-martialed and charged with atrocities, but officers like Speirs were too valuable because they were not afraid to engage the enemy.

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