Audio By Carbonatix
Col. Edward Shames, the last surviving officer of the historic World War II parachute infantry regiment of the US Army known as Easy Company, died Friday at the age of 99.
Shames "passed away peacefully at home," said the obituary posted by the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home & Crematory.
During World War II, Shames "was a member of the renowned Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division now known globally as the 'Band of Brothers," according to the obituary. The story of Easy Company was later immortalized in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," based on The New York Times bestseller by Stephen E. Ambrose. (CNN and HBO are part of WarnerMedia.)
Shames "was involved in some of the most important battles of the war. He made his first combat jump into Normandy on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord," according to the obituary. Shames "gained a reputation as a stubborn and very outspoken soldier who demanded the highest of standards from himself and his fellow soldiers," it said.
"In Germany, he was the first member of the 101st to enter Dachau concentration camp, just days after its liberation," said the obituary.
When Germany surrendered, Shames "and his men of Easy Company entered Hitler's Eagle's Nest where" Shames "managed to acquire a few bottles of cognac, a label indicating they were 'for the Fuhrer's use only,' said the obituary. "Later, he would use the cognac to toast his oldest son's Bar Mitzvah," according to the obituary.
After the war, Shames worked as an expert on Middle East affairs with the National Security Agency. He later served in the US Army Reserve Division and retired as a colonel.
CNN has reached out to the US Army for comment.
Shames "was preceded in death by his devoted and beloved wife, Ida," said his obituary. "They had a beautiful and loving marriage for 73 years. They traveled the world together making lifelong friends."
A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday morning, according to the funeral home.
Latest Stories
-
Irish grandmother detained in US freed after husband appeals to Congress
4 minutes -
Trump travelled on Epstein’s plane more than previously thought, prosecutor says
13 minutes -
Tunisia cruise past Uganda to start AFCON with win
25 minutes -
Arsenal beat Palace on penalties for place in EFL Cup semis
34 minutes -
Newcastle seek ‘clarification’ over non-penalty
43 minutes -
Why Mbappe had £1.3m ethics bonus in PSG contract
52 minutes -
American billionaire Martha Stewart joins Snoop and Modric as Swans co-owner
1 hour -
Isak facing two months out after ‘reckless’ tackle – Slot
1 hour -
Real Madrid forward Endrick agrees Lyon loan switch
1 hour -
Some people have left the church because I am a gay woman, says Archbishop
1 hour -
CBS defends pulling 60 Minutes segment about Trump deportations
2 hours -
Man City in advanced talks with Bournemouth’s Semenyo
2 hours -
Jackson claims double as Senegal brush aside Botswana
2 hours -
NPP Electoral Area Coordinators in Ashaiman, Tema East join wave of declarations for Bawumia
2 hours -
Superb Ademola strike helps Nigeria overcome Tanzania
2 hours
