Thread by @EasyCompany506t

Ok this is a long thread on the circumstances of the shooting of Easy Company's Sgt Charles Grant.
By mid-May, 1945, the 506th PIR were stationed in Austria. Duties were light, and consisted mostly of processing surrendered German soldiers, Displaced Persons, and guard duties
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The beautiful weather and scenery, ski lodges, lakes, and sports programmes added to a sort of holiday feel. But underneath the peace and relaxation many took to drink, some because it was so freely available, some to deal with demons and emotions that vied for attention.
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On 27 May, this peace was shattered by one man, who in the space of just a couple of hours committed crimes that would forever alter many lives.
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Private Floyd W. Craver and Private Dewey Hogue, both of I Company, 506th PIR, had spent a sunny afternoon drinking and smoking in the company of two girls in Zell am See.
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They returned to their digs in the evening, and at 20.30 secured the service of a German chauffeur, deciding to head to Saalfelden, a distance of about 13 km (or 8 miles)
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A few miles down the road, their car ran out of gas. A German civilian car approached and was stopped by Craver. On noticing that the driver was a German Captain, Craver demanded his pistol (which the officer was entitled to carry).
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Hogue intervened and told the man, Captain Eduard Altacher, to drive on. As the car drove away, Craver fired several shots into the back and it veered into a ditch.
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Craver ran to the car and fired another shot into Altacher's head. He threatened the chauffeur that he would see the same fate if he intervened. Then they both set off walking to Zell am See.
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As soon as they had rounded a corner, Hogue then set off towards Saalfelden to report the incident and get an ambulance. He heard more shots coming from Craver's direction (where he had shot at Russian soldiers this time).
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A search party was sent out for Craver, who at this stage had arrived at a farmhouse and continued drinking. He had by this stage smoked several marajuana joints and Hogue testified that he had "appeared to be insane".
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British Army soldiers Major Martin R.G. Watkin and Warrant Officer Dodd, driving past the farmhouse, stopped to investigate the car parked there. Craver came out, told them it was his, and asked for help to push start it. They obliged.
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A U.S Army truck then pulled up to the scene and asked if they needed help pushing the car. Major Watkin said no they were fine and the truck drove off. But Craver fired 2 shots after it.
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The truck stopped and S/Sgt Chuck Grant got out and demanded to know who shot at them. Craver said he did. Grant asked for his gun, but Craver shot the unarmed Grant in the forehead. As Grant fell to the road, Craver turned and aimed at the British soldiers.
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Watkin and Dodd ran up an alleyway as Craver fired at them. Then Craver took off.
Sadly, Major Watkin died in the alleyway, but Dodd and the U.S soldier who had been with Grant in the truck got the wounded Grant to the nearby German hospital.
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Craver was apprehended around midnight by members of Easy Company, allegedly attempting to rape a local girl. He was brought back to their HQ and beaten unconscious.
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Grant's good friend Hank Hansen (pictured) aimed a gun at Craver's face, and it took 4 men to haul him away. He pulled the trigger but the gun didn't fire.
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The scene in #BandofBrothers miniseries, where Company Commander Captain Ronald Speirs pistol-whips Craver and says "When you talk to an officer, you say Sir" apparantly did happen according to witnesses
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Speirs (pictured) said that at the time "there must have been some doubt in my mind" as to whether they had caught the right man, and that was why he didn't shoot him there and then, as "summary action never troubled me".
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Craver was handed over to the regimental guardhouse, and was again beaten. He spent 3 months in hospital and then was held in the division stockade. He managed to escape on Sep 8 but was caught the next day and returned to custody.
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Floyd W. Craver was convicted of 2 accounts of murder, 1 attempted murder, and desertion. He was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge and life imprisonment. He died in 1987.
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Chuck Grant was saved by an Austrian brain surgeon. He recovered, but always had trouble with speech and partial paralyis of his left arm. He owned a tobacco store in San Francisco with his wife and passed away in 1984.
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Major Watkin, Intelligence Corps, British Army was 32 yrs old. He was repatriated and buried in London.
Captain Altacher was 26 yrs old. He was serving with the German Mountain Troops/ Gebirgsjäger at the time of surrender.
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