Edward Shames was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the last surviving officer from Easy Company, profiled in the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers.”
- Died: December 3, 2021 (Who else died on December 3?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the age of 99.
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World War II and after
Shames joined the Army in 1942 as a paratrooper. He fought in the Battle of Normandy and in Operation Market Garden in which the Allies liberated key Dutch cities. Shames went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. His company was at Dachau just days after the concentration camp was liberated, an affecting experience for the young Jewish soldier. In the years after the war, Shames remained in the Army National Reserve until his retirement as a colonel. He worked for the National Security Agency, specializing in Middle East Affairs. In the 2001 miniseries “Band of Brothers,” Shames was portrayed by Joseph May.
How Shames described Dachau
“The stench and horror of that place will live with me as long I live. Now, 70 years later, I’d like to tell you more, but it’s buried so deep in my soul that I don’t think the rest of the story can ever come out.” —from his 2015 book “Airborne: The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company”
Tributes to Edward Shames
Full obituary: The New York Times
