It is with a sad heart that we bid farewell to Easy Company's last surviving officer Ed Shames. Ed has passed away at the age of 99. Ed served with the 506 PIR from its origins at Camp Toccoa in 1942 to the end of the war in Europe.
Rest in Peace & blue skies 🦅♠️
1/ Edward D. Shames was born June 13, 1922, in Virginia. On Dec 7, 1941, Ed & 2 of his friends had travelled to Ontario a few days previously to try and enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as at 19 they were still too young to join the U.S peacetime military.
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On the night of 22 Oct, 1944, Operation Pegasus I was put into action.
This was an evacuation of mostly British Airborne troops from the German held territory north of the Rhine, who had been stranded after the Battle of Arnhem.
1/ The Battle of Arnhem ended 26 Sep with the British 1st Airborne Division forced to withdraw back across the Rhine, but leaving almost 8,000 men behind. About 500 were able to evade capture & go into hiding in woods. Many were hidden in safe houses by Dutch civilians.
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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
1/ 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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