Band of Brothers Ep. 6 Reaction | First Time Watching | Asia and BJ

[@ursus3295]

The nurses were Renée Lemaire and Augusta Chiwi, "The angels from Bastogne". In opposite to Renee, Augusta survived the air raid on Christmas Eve 1944 and died in 2015 in age of 94.

[@Rabbithole8]

Lemaire saved six wounded soldiers from the burning aid station, but died while attempting to save a seventh wounded solider. The Battalion Surgeon Dr. Prior recovered her remains, wrapped her broken body in a white parachute, and brought it back to her parents.

[@jimmiller8687]

The 2 nurses became known as the Angels of Bastogne.

[@RetroClassic66]

You’re definitely not being disrespectful by saying that scenes like those seen in this episode are hard to watch, Asia. They ARE hard to watch, for just about everyone. They’re especially hard to watch for people who have actually been through combat or other traumatic experiences like aerial bombings. The point of movies and television series that show this level of intensity and graphic violence is not to titillate or excite but simply to educate about what it was really like to experience these historical moments. By watching despite your natural desire to turn away, you actually honor the men and women who were really there.

[@maxtew6521]

"You got blood all over my trousers!" "I'M REAL SORRY, FRANK!" Gets me every time.🤣

[@mysam4504]

Same! 😂

[@clee3133]

My wife's grandma was a great lady who was a nurse in the Battle of the Bulge, was awarded the French Legion of Honor for her participation. She said she took care of as many German POWs as American soldiers. When we asked her how she was able to help the enemy who were trying to kill our soldiers she wisely said "some of our boys are POWs on their side too; I want to treat the German prisoners as well as I hope they're treating our boys."

[@usmcrn4418]

Wow!

[@TheAes86]

Both nurses were real people. It's not just the soldiers' lives they relate.

[@iammanofnature235]

Renée Lemaire and Augusta Chiwi were volunteers at the aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division.

[@froot6086]

angels of bastogne

[@daddynitro199]

After Renee was killed in the bombing on Christmas Eve, the battalion surgeon and a few paratroopers delivered her body to her parents’ house, wrapped in a parachute from the supply drop. They wanted to show her parents they considered her a highly respected member of the Airborne.

[@iammanofnature235]

Unfortunately, people seem to believe that the 101st was alone at Bastogne...they weren't. Renée Lemaire was working at the aid station of the 20th Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division. The 75 tanks of Combat Command B along with the 18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion is what kept the German armor from rolling over and through the 101st.

[@BillO964]

You are giving these men the respect they deserve. The story needs to be told. Never forget. Every school child needs to see these series.

[@garycollins7750]

But without any historical context or knowledge of the time period they’d likely have no understanding of events from nearly 100 years ago

[@LiberPater777]

Far too many are ignorant of the sacrifices made by those unfortunate souls in the past. As well as the ultimate cost that was paid by so many, just so we can lead the lives we live today.

[@BlackRoseImmortal]

@@garycollins7750 Generally an incredible series like this would make even a somewhat intelligent brain wonder and want to know more and begin reading more about. At least for me that is how my massive interest in history started with a spark which inevitably leads a thinker down a rabbit hole. When I was a kid I somehow got a strong interest in all things Civil War. Next thing I know I am starting to think about the war my father served in, WW2. Then I started to ask myself why was the second world war so close in time to WW1, now you find yourself diving into the history of WW1. Anyone with a sprinkle of intellect will ask questions. Unfortunately we seem more inundated with shallow minds, and people who have become to lazy to think for themselves in the last couple of decades.

[@garycollins7750]

@@BlackRoseImmortal I wouldn’t say it’s about being lazy but kids in 2023 are quite removed from these events and likely don’t know anyone personally affected by or lived during that time so it would difficult to understand the context without being knowledgeable of the bigger picture. What the show does differently is personalize the experience instead of the viewer seeing these nameless people in black and white images, the series presents fully developed characters who the viewer can relate to.

[@catherinelw9365]

@@garycollins7750 Many of these "kids" have grandparents who lived through it, so I think they did personally know some who went through this era.

[@deepdiver691]

These men were true heroes, My father was at Bastogne during the battle of the bulge. Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron was friends of my dad and they would come by and have a few beers with my father. We never know what they went through because they never talked about it in front of us kids. All we knew is that they were war buddies. My father also use to say on a cold winter day that he is just glad that he isn't back in Bastogne and we kids had no idea what he meant by that until seeing this series and reading books about it.

[@edwardnonymous6804]

"Why We Fight" is going to rip your hearts out, judging by your reaction to this episode. May God be with you.

[@LiberPater777]

​@MoMoMyPup10 They're not giving any plot points away. And anyone who knows their history knows what's about to happen. Lighten up

[@edwardnonymous6804]

@@MoMoMyPup10 No, we didn't get a heads-up when we watched it, but those of us who paid attention in history class knew what was likely to come. Also, I gave no hints as to what is going to happen. Perhaps a significant personality will have something happen, perhaps it'll be something of a political nature, maybe someone's going to get a "Dear John" letter, I could go on, but you get it.

[@memaisrandom]

I came here to say that. Episode 9 is going to be a very tough watch for these guys, but it's important to watch these episodes. Well done.

[@xXTheVigilantXx]

Renee (Full Name: Renée Lemaire) was real. She died pulling out at least 7 patients (I've also heard 9 patients) from the burning hospital after it had been bombed on Christmas Eve of 1944. The black nurse was Augusta Chiwy. She died back in 2015 at the age of 94. They were both called the "Angels of Bastogne"

[@duanevp]

It's also easy to overlook that these guys are with each other night and day and have known each other at that point for YEARS, and even replacements have started to become friends. They are all trapped in that fear and misery together. They are BROTHERS, and they don't want to leave their brothers alone to face that...

[@mark-be9mq]

The St Francis prayer Eugene says, " to love, with all my heart", sitting in the fox hole is so telling & gets me each time. Such an intense emotional episode.

[@joaniegoodrow548]

They are heading in to what would be known as The Battle of the Bulge. I had a family member who fought in that battle and it took him many years to come to terms with the aftermath of WWII. My dad’s generation were the greatest generation sad they went off to war at such young ages and most of them never spoke about their experiences. Thank you guys for watching this. I know it was hard for you two to watch this but please keep going to the end of the series, it’s so worth it!

[@ralpholson7616]

My Dad was one of the soldiers in Patton's Third Army. He made the 100 mile march in two days to relieve Bastogne.

[@deepdiver691]

Babe Heffron said that he considered their parent generation the greatest generation because they raised them to be the men and women that they are.

[@auapplemac2441]

Let's remember that these guys grew up during the Great Depression and then were immediately thrown into WWII. Maybe living through the depression help harden them to face the horrors of war.

[@andrewcarlson7252]

My Grandfather Tom Carlson was an FAO for 3rd Armor.

[@candilumpkin1196]

I get it’s so hard to watch. But it’s something I think everyone should have to watch once. So that we can really get what was sacrificed for freedom. What each went through. I’m glad you stuck with it. It really is a teaching moment for it to really sink in what our older generation went through. They are amazing.

[@Fitzy68w]

I’ve been to that exact spot where Easy Co. held the line. Stood in their foxholes and walked into that exact church. The sacrifice of body and mind they made cannot be understated. Thank you for watching this.

[@Cerridwen7777]

My uncle Milo fought at the Battle of the Bulge w/ the golden lions near St. Vith. He was cut off behind enemy lines on December 18th and evaded capture in the woods for days before returning to friendly lines on Christmas, where he was evac'd to the rear with trench foot and frost bite. Only he and one other man from his company survived. He and his men (he was a Sgt) shipped out from the US to England, and their deployment to St Vith (near Bastongne) was the first time they had been in combat. Imagine that....what a baptism of fire. He never talked about it, but as a teen who was interested in military history, I asked for his story. He told me, then I asked why he never talked about it (I was a teen and didn't understand PTSD etc...I wouldn't do the same today), and he said, "No one ever asks me." He wrote about it in story form years later. I still have those type written pages, and they're precious to me.

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

I just finished reading "WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN: UNTOLD STORIES FROM THE BAND OF BROTHERS." It really hits hard. I'd like to believe that, if my nation ever needed me, I would be ready, willing and able to serve as these men served. I think that you both would too. It's shocking -- but I think that people rise to the occasion when they, their family's, their friends' or their neighbors' lives are on the line. I went camping in April near Mt. Shasta. It was near 20 degrees each morning. It was difficult despite having thermal tents, sleeping bags and even thermal hiking boots. All that I could think of when I was so cold was this episode of Band of Brothers. God bless the men and women who serve!

[@ronweber1402]

I just looked and the temperatures during the Battle of Bastogne fell as low as -20F. Now I have worked in those and colder temperatures and even with proper clothing it's fricken cold plus we had a warm place to go have lunch and we got to sleep in a warm bed every night and recharge. What they endured is unbelievable.

[@vinniemoran7362]

Great reaction. This series is an emotional roller coaster, no question. Episode 2 & 6 have a lot of hand held camerawork which really puts us in the middle of the action and the emotions the men are going through. I think one of the reasons this show is such an emotionally overwhelming experience is because the guys are SO young! They were efficient, determined, unbelievably brave and mere babies.

[@chrisharris5497]

It's not until you're a bit older that you really understand and appreciate what these men went through. People get called Heroes today for kicking a football but these men really were heroes, bravery beyond belief and it's heartbreaking what they had to go through.

[@aliciawiseman6434]

It is important for civilians to understand what happens during combat. When we celebrate Memorial Day, it isn't about hot dogs and burgers. It is a day of to acknowledge their sacrifice for our freedom. This year, I spent Memorial Day at Pearl Harbor. A special thank you to our service members.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

"How long did they have to stay in this position?" Until George Patton pulled off a miracle and moved three of his divisions 150 miles in three days through blizzard conditions along roads filled with Germans to rescue the airborne folks at Bastogne.

[@MeatballCereal]

My grandpa was in one of those three divisions

[@Thane36425]

Patton was one of the few near the top who saw the danger of an attack. Everyone else was convinced the Germans were beaten and only capable of defense. However, this was more or less the same area the Germans had broken through during the invasion of France, yet still many in higher HQ considered those woods impassable to tanks or at least that they would be spotted if there was a buildup. They weren't, from the air. Other intel was pointing to an attack but it was waved off. Little to nothing was done to buck up the battered or green divisions that had been placed there, each assigned to more frontage than it could handle. When the attack came, it was more or less a surprise. However, Patton had had his staff work up orders to change his current route of march and attack the flank of any breakthrough. This was a very complicated and they didn't like it but it was done. The Germans lost a great many tanks and other equipment that by this stage of the war was going to be hard or impossible to replace. The attack was overly ambitous and carried on for much too long. A shorter spoiling or shaping attack designed to maul the nearby divisions and maybe a smaller advance followed by a fighting withdrawal to inflict more damage while the weather was bad might have worked. Instead, that loss of gear and men cost them later. Using them on the defense defense in Germany would have been a better use than what happened.

[@mysticramen1721]

Don't forget the issue of fuel for the Germans. They barely had enough fuel to attack initially. Without breaking through the line they couldn't take fuel reserves that were needed, so once they stalled it was all but over for them as long as the Americans didn't surrender.

[@Thane36425]

@@mysticramen1721 That is a big reason why the operation should not have happened. It was too much of a gamble to think that they could capture fuel and that the Americans wouldn't destroy it rather than let the Germans get it. As it was they burned up scarce fuel and lost a lot of nearly irreplaceable tanks and other things.

[@mysticramen1721]

@@Thane36425 Yeah, it was a very big mistake. The timetable for the Germans to take Antwerp was nearly impossible and the five million gallons they set aside for the operation mostly didn't reach the front lines. That and the fuel depot's they planned to take that you mentioned doomed it.

[@feathafreak2867]

My grandfather was in the Battle of the Bulge. He almost lost his toes to frostbite. I served as a prison guard in Iraq and can’t imagine what the greatest generation went through to give us what we have. Thank you for honoring them!❤

[@ReelinwithAsiaandBJ]

It’s our honor! Thanks so much for your service ❤️❤️

[@feathafreak2867]

@@ReelinwithAsiaandBJ You were worth it!

[@armynurseboy]

Which TIF? I was Med Support for Cp Bucca and Cp Cropper.

[@feathafreak2867]

@@armynurseboy Ft. Suse. NPDB 1

[@armynurseboy]

@@feathafreak2867 ah....one of the Navy guys....

[@jaydigshistory36]

The German Artillery was spot on hitting the 101st. They had timers that were set so they would explode in the trees utilizing the splintering wood as extra shrapnel, not to mention the trees falling.

[@deepdiver691]

The medics had it bad , they dealt with ALL the injuries and death and still ran out into the open under fire to try and help their fellow soldiers. My father said the medics were Gods angels and who he admired most

[@krisfrederick5001]

"There's A LOT of sh*t and it's heading this way..." Well, it's here. Imagine being the only one on the battlefield trying to save lives, while literally everyone else is doing everything they can to end them. I dated a nurse once, it takes a special kind of soul to do this, even during times of peace. Currahee ♠

[@Lue_Jonin]

Hang tough y'all ... The next part is even more intense... "The Breaking Point" ❤ 🇺🇸 🎥

[@stevencass8849]

For me the most heartbreaking moment in that episode is the soldier, I won’t say who, recounting how the experience effected him in life. I find that that to be the most heartbreaking.

[@TheTsar1918]

The second nurse, from Congo, was named Augusta Chiwy. There's a documentary about her. She one of the angels of Bastogne. She even served on the front line with American troops. A real legend.

[@chuckcarles8288]

I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman (Medic) in Vietnam (3 Tours). I had 4months of basic medical training and two months of combat medical training when I was assigned to the Marines. The army medical training is similar. They don't just say you're a medic. There are not enough men that volunteer to be a medic. Tests are taken while you are in training. If your test shows an aptitude for medicine, then they ask you to volunteer or just send you to school to be a medic. If you are not good at it they send you back to infantry. Most medics that have been in combat can do the job as well as or better than some doctors or nurses. According to the Geneva Conventions medics are not to carry offensive weapons. I never carried a weapon. During times not in combat the medic is supposed give first aid lessons to his whole platoon frequently. So, anyone can take over basic first aid if the medic is killed. They can carry a pistol for their own protection and the protection of the one they are working on. Those two medics in the same fox hole should never be close to each other during combat (That’s one of the first things you learn). One of my tours in Vietnam I was on a ship on the Saigon River in the Mekong Delta. Me and another corpsman were the only medical personnel on board. Being the only medical person onboard I did everything medical. If you were on a ship or with the Marines, you were called Doc. We were taught that during combat conditions we were to be on opposite ends of the ship. The 2 corpsmen we replaced were together during a fire fight and they both got killed. You never remember all the ones that you have treated but you never forget the ones you can’t save.

[@tonygonzales3206]

My best friend's grandfather growing up was in the 101st and I wish I could have asked him tons of questions and had interest back then. He was at the Battle of the Bulge.

[@petersmyth6739]

Your reaction to this episode tells me you are good people. Brace for the next one.

[@kenkonwick6660]

Yeah, the next 3 episodes are even tougher to get thru. Anybody who can't find the respect for these men, and all soldiers, American and allied countries, needs to understand just what has been done by millions of strangers to give them the life they have now

[@kenkonwick6660]

@@MoMoMyPup10 lol I just said it's hard to get thru, as generic and bland of a comment as there is.

[@luciolamonica]

as opposed to the real location, the episode was shot indoors on a soundstage in England with remarkable CGI, wintry makeup and a lot of fake snow! so the freezing aspects of the Ardennes are also a great part of the acting too! the town of Bastogne was a major focal point of the German counter-offensive against Allied routes and supplies, that was their last gasp on the western front... however, this episode is about the touch of humanity and this a God's gift indeed! the family of Doc Roe thank Shane Taylor and the series for bringing him back, since he would never talk about the war... one nurse - Renée - she was supposed to spend Christmas with her family in her hometown and she volunteered at an aid station because the village was being attacked! she died evacuating 7 soldiers from a burning building, she managed to save 6...in her funeral, her body was wrapped in a white parachute. the other nurse - Augusta - rarely spoke of her experiences after the war, and it was assumed in some historical accounts she had died with Renée, maybe that's why she was named "Anna" in the series after all, but she was found by historians and finally brought to public attention! lived to be almost 90 years old with a happy family. what a great tribute to Renée Lemaire and Augusta Marie Chiwy, The Angels of Bastogne!

[@catherinelw9365]

Great reaction, guys. Asia, you are the last person to disrespect these men - your feelings about how hard it is to watch plus how this makes you think about how easy our lives are compared to what they went through is spot on. There's a good reason why we call them the Greatest Generation. Looking forward to the next one!

[@ruthsaunders9507]

I always hate to get to the end of this series. The characters are so wonderful and I don't want to let go. Its one of the few series that feels like I've just read a really good book. I rewatch it at least once a year. Watching the documentary at the end makes it even better. I'm so glad these men were able to share their stories.

[@fixfalcon2628]

Fun Fact: The episodes in the snowy woods were filmed inside a huge building! The snow, the trees....all man made.

[@dianel222]

Doc’s face portrayed his emotions exquisitely. Kudos to the actor. Hard episode to watch. 😢

[@LiberPater777]

Those brave men and caring women lived through all that hell. The _very_ least _we_ can do is watch what they went through from the comfort of our warm homes to help us understand just how much they sacrificed, and just how much respect they all deserved.

[@DavidEveritt74]

Babe Heffron’s reaction to having had to leave his buddy, John Julian, mortally wounded, to die alone; for Joe Toye to stay on the line with trench foot and no boots, absolutely demonstrated a point Asia makes about what drove those men-their absolute unwillingness to let the man next to him down. Closer than brothers.

[@bebop_557]

BJ, firearms instructor here. To answer your question: Cold weather absolutely effects certain things with guns, the biggest being lube and magazines. Traditional wet lubricants often freeze in these temperatures. Back in the day, the trick was rubbing your rifle down with graphite because that wouldn't freeze. There is still graphite based lubricants for guns to this day for subzero climates. As for modern day lubricants in those scenarios, SLiP 2000 is pretty reputable. Break Through CLP can also work, if you put on very little. (Too much will freeze.) The CLP that I use is Strike Hold, which is a dry lubricant. I use it in desert climates, such as when I taught some people out in Arizona. Wet lube can trap sand in it and when it does, it becomes liquid sandpaper. I wiped all the lube off my guns and sprayed them down with Strike Hold for it. IIRC the US Army used Strike Hold for the Middle East for just about all of GWOT as well. As for magazines, plastic is weakened by the cold. Metal magazines are generally what you want for that environment. Even today with modern magazines, you will see stuff like PMAGs (which are used often in many places) will have the feed lips shatter in freezing temperatures. There's also an interesting little known WWII battle where the Japanese successfully invaded the US. They came to Alaska, near the Aleutian Islands. But it was so cold their gear was having severe issues. A specialized regiment of US troops of indigenous Native descent acclimated to Alaska (called The Alaska Scouts) had to fight the Japanese which largely outnumbered them, alongside regular US troops having heavy issues as well, and some Canadian troops. If you want to look it up, The Battle Of Attu and The Battle Of Kiska.

[@michaelstach5744]

Asia, you get it. This isn’t supposed to be easy or fun. After seeing this you will reflect and observe Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day a little differently than your neighbors do.

[@jgrinwald1968]

That was my mother and father's generation. Born in the early / mid 1920's, growing up through the Great Depression, sacrificing after Pearl Harbor so that the raw materials could be directed toward preparing to go to war in Europe and the Pacific, storming the beaches at Normandy, persevering through such campaigns as the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne. This series gave me tremendous admiration for what my parents had to go through in their lives, and all of it before they even got married in 1948 and started their family.

[@KenjiMapes]

Awesome reaction as usual Asia & BJ. I was excited for you two to watch Ep. 6 “Bastogne.” It’s the best episode hands down of a phenomenal series with not a single episode that is isn’t outstanding or exceptional. They smartly made the creative choice to not focus on a single perspective or protagonist but instead, used different point of views through the series to give you different looks & feels. It wasn’t conventional or orthodox really, but it worked our extremely well. I don’t think it would’ve been as good without it. It would have still been phenomenal if it had focused on a single perspective say Cot Winters but it really lends itself to the chaos & sacrifice in war - it personifies the proverbial “fog of war” in a way. The point of view from Doc Roe, one of Easy Company’s medics really made in even more emotional. By the way, the nurse Renee was based on a the actual nurse & person who sadly didn’t survive the war. *SPOILER* Her sad & tragic loss really made the episode hit hard emotionally. What a brilliant episode. At around @06:17 BJ comments on the foxholes & digging->“Look at the holes they’re digging..2 feet..3 feet.” They’re lucky they could dig any meaningful fox holes at all. The winter of 1944 happened to be one of the coldest & most brutal winters of the century so far. It was well below freezing for extended periods. Digging into frozen earth is tough if not brutal to say the least. It’s not lioe they had pick-axes or long shovels with a lot of leverage. They had small military “entrenching tools” which are smaller often foldable shovels that can be carried more easily than a regular shovel as they had enough gear to begin with.

[@DavidSmith-hn1ms]

In the book a person in the City asks what the situation is. The paratrooper responded “They Got Us Surrounded. The poor bastards!”

[@randallshuck2976]

Part of the alarm of the soldiers retreating was a result of the surprise of the assault by the Germans in an area that was considered to be a "Safe" R&R area. They were troops who were recovering from heavy duty elsewhere in the war.

[@KenNPotter]

Despite their pride, Patton’s third armoured division turned direction from a major battle and they went 72 hours with no sleep. Patton saw this coming and had his staff already to go to the rescue. Patton was the only American commander that frightened Hitler. Shortly after The Battle of the Bulge, Patton was relieved of his command. But, after D-Day and the allies being stalled they brought him back and he kick a$$. Sadly, the car he was in near the end of the war was hit by a U.S. truck. He would pass away a few weeks later and was buried in Luxembourg along with the troops that served under him. You should review the movie Patton. George C. Scott was awarded the Academy Award for his portrayal of Patton, but he refused the award because he thought he wasn’t worthy of the award. In fact, Patton wanted to attack Russia while he had his army already there. He even had German officers at the ready but, Beadle Smith removed him from his command. Turns out he was right about Russia.

[@RMB42]

My parents, the parents of my friends, friends of the family, and many of my teachers were of the WW2 generation, and several were WW2 veterans. For example, one friend of our family was a West Point graduate, class of '23, one hundred years ago this year. He commanded a US Army infantry regiment from Normandy to the Ruhr valley. As was common, their division was aligned and realigned between armies during the drive across northern Europe as the situation dictated, primarily in Patton's army. I was lucky enough to know him and his wife in the 1980s and visit their home. He and his wife were in the 80s at the time and still very mentally sharp. I was in the military myself at that time and was a history buff, WW2 in particular, but in retrospect there are so many questions I wish I would have asked him. Back in the pre internet days, research on specific units was much harder to do, and I didn't have enough background knowledge of his regiment and division to even know what questions to ask. I have since found much information about his regiment and division online, including his own war memoirs. This episode reminded me of his memoirs and what he said about where his division was, what they were doing at that time, and how it affected them. They both lived into their 90s in the 1990s. There's so much I'd like to ask them about now.

[@albinorhino6]

Renée Lemaire was a trained nurse who grew up in Bastogne. She was visiting her parents for Christmas 1944 when the town became surrounded by the German advance. Her fiancé was a Jewish man who had been taken by the Gestapo earlier in the year. When Bastogne became surrounded, Renée volunteered at the American aid station. On Christmas Eve 1944, the Germans bombed Bastogne. During the bombing, the building where the aid station was located was hit. Renée was not inside, but went into the bombed building to pull people out. She managed to rescue 6 people, but when she went back in to get more, the building collapsed, and she was killed. Her body was recovered from the rubble, and the Airborne returned her to her parents, wrapped in a parachute. Augusta Chiwy (Anna) was also a trained nurse, who was also visiting her parents in Bastogne for Christmas 1944. Her father was Belgian, and her mother was originally from Congo. Augusta had an uncle who was a doctor or some sorts, so when the town initially became surrounded, she worked with him helping civilians. After some time, she volunteered at the American aid station, to help treat wounded soldiers. During the Christmas Eve bombing, Augusta was in the building beside the aid station when it was hit by the bomb. She was blown through a wall, but survived with only minor injuries. After the war, Augusta continued to practice nursing, eventually specializing in spinal and neck injuries. She married a Belgian soldier, and they had two children. Finally in 2012, both the American government and Belgian government officially recognized Augusta’s contributions to the Seige of Bastogne, awarding her with some of the highest civilian honours each country can bestow. Augusta Chiwy passed away in 2015. Together, Renée and Augusta are known as the Angles of Bastogne.

[@marknatale5758]

Augusta Marie Chiwy born from a black mother and a white father from Belgium was a trained surgical nurse. She not only assisted with surgeries in Bastogne, she traveled with the surgeon around the perimeter providing life saving care. She was a truly forgotten Angel of Bastogne!

[@iammanofnature235]

Augusta Marie Chiwy and Renée Lemaire were volunteer nurses at the aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division.

[@davechaney1452]

Smokey, the one paralized, eventually recovered. Years later he returned to Bastogne and while walking through the the Bois Jacques woods, found the foxholes they had manned during the attack. digging through the debris in the bottom of one of them, he actually found the mess kit cup he dropped when he was wounded. Renee Lemaire and Agusta Chiwy (called Anna in BoB) were real people, nurses that were independently visiting their families in Bastogne and trapped there when the Germans surrounded the town. They volunteered to help treat the wounded in one of the aid stations, but not the one mostly used by the 506th. Renee was killed during the Christmas Eve bombing when the building housing the aid station took a direct hit. Some reports have her killed outright, while others report Renee making numerous trips into the burning building to rescue soldiers until she failed to return. Agusta was in a neighboring building and survived the war, passing in 2015 at the age of 94. The two are remembered as the Angels of Bastogne. It is doubtful that Renee and Doc Roe knew each other but the writers chose to honor their memory by including them in the story. Watching this (and the next) episode makes you feel cold. They were filmed on a warehouse sound stage with no air conditioning in the middle of summer with outside temps in the 80's. The actors were actually sweltering, not freezing. The snow was made of paper and the fogging of their breath was added through special effects.

[@JPMadden]

I had the privilege to get to know a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in the last few years of his life, when he was in his eighties. He served in the 9th Infantry Division, not the 101st Airborne. I remember him saying more than once on a cold day how grateful he was to be indoors. Among several great-uncles who served in WW2, one was a medic. I've been told that he landed on D-Day and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge, but he was freed after only 1-2 months. He died when I was young, so I didn't get to know him. It's likely that heavy drinking shortened his life, and I've wondered if he self-medicated because of the war.

[@Oscarmike247]

This series is so important to telling the stories of these men. No matter how painful it is to watch, everyone needs to know that this happened, and why it happened. People should often reflect on what the world went through during these times. If we forget it, we are doomed to repeat it. It should also be an encouragement to all of us. No matter how tough life gets, you have to be brave, keep fighting, and never give up!

[@zardox78]

When he says his shoes are size 9 "like everybody else" it's a low-key way of acknowledging that nobody's army-issued shoes (or clothes in general) really fit perfectly. Close enough is the best you can hope for.

[@kellyk3889]

This is why those men were called the greatest generation. Imagine going thru all of that and then coming home, putting it behind you, and getting back to work. It is hard to watch because it was real.

[@DP-ep8cl]

Easy company was the most decorated unit in WWII. They were part of nearly every major victory in that conflict. The series shows the world why these veterans deserve the utmost respect as well as the why they're called 'the greatest generation'... I agree.

[@CigarMick]

"It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it." General Robert E. Lee "Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory." General George S. Patton

[@davidbrown8230]

My Father fought in this battle as part of Patton's 3rd Army. Those explosions in the woods are artillery, they were even worse than normal as shells that hit trees would send steel splinters raining down on the troops, you weren't safe, even in a foxhole. Yes, it was bitter cold, the coldest winter in the Ardennes in decades. Pneumonia or the flu wasn't the worst non-combat injury, it was trenchfoot. ( Wet feet that never gets a chance to dry off, skin would fall off in layers, then freeze causing frost bite, which could lead to amputation, or the toes just falling off)

[@lidlett9883]

The intensity only increases from here. In fact without giving anything away. Be emotionally squared away for episode 9. As for the female nurse. She was known as The Angel of Bastogne . Renée Lemaire (1914-1944) was a Belgian nurse She was killed in a bombing attack the night of Dec 24th 1944. The best summary of this company is when one of them was asked by a grandchild. "Were you a hero in the war grandpa? To which he answered No, I severed in a company of heroes." Each of these men were heroes in their own way. They had a dedication to America and each other. That most army companies did not have. Many believe it was the hardship of the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne that gave them their undying loyalty to each other.

[@Thane36425]

It was indeed cold enough to freeze the dead solid. Sometimes they were used as gruesome "sandbags" because the ground was frozen as hard as concrete and deeply. This made it very hard to dig as deeply as they should, which is why so many of the positions look so shallow. The cold could affect weapons and equipment. Vehicle engines could be hard or impossible to restart if they had been stopped, sometimes requiring fires to be built under them to warm them up. Metal contracts when it gets cold enough so parts could sieze. Oil used to lubricate the guns and other things could get gummy and sticky causing problems, while snow could freeze in the actions and muzzles of guns jamming them. Batteries also lost power more quickly. Trenchfoot was a serious condition that maimed a lot of men in WWI. A lot of men got it at Bastogne as well as frostbite in other places. I actually had first stage frostbite once and that was bad enough. The Allies couldn't provide air support or drop supplies for many days because of low clouds and fog. There Germans on the other hand did fly bombing raids, even at night. All they had to do was get more or less over the pocket and bombs away. The town of Bastogne and some other choke point cities were the main targets. Some damage was done but a lot of harassment and delay were caused by the raids.

[@chrisriley8749]

Thank you both for bringing this to everyone, for sharing their story, and for your respect for these men.

[@garygemmell3488]

The 101st Airborne argues to this day that they did not need to be rescued by anybody at Bastogne. The defenders at Bastogne included not only the 101st Airborne Division but elements of the the 10th Armored Division, and the all Black 969th Field Artillery Division. They were praised by veterans who fought in and around Bastogne for their precision and deadly accuracy. They received a Distinguished Unit Citation for their service during the battle. They were the first Black combat unit to receive the award.

[@auapplemac2441]

That's why it's called Band of Brothers. It's what a cohesive, trained army must be. They become a unit - one closely knit emotionally attached group of men.

[@unintelligentlifeform7180]

God bless medics/nurses...some of the most fun/entertaining guys were the medics in my unit...But super serious when it came to their job. I trusted those guys 100℅.

[@cometmongrel]

hit the nail on the head, it’s hard to complain about trivial things today knowing what these guys went through. this episode is buried in my psyche as the barometer for toughness a different generation. respect through the roof.

[@iammanofnature235]

Contrary to what is shown in Band of Brothers, Renée Lemaire does not appear to have ever met Doc Roe and she did not die in a church. Both Renée Lemaire and Augusta Chiwy were volunteer nurses at the aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, Combat Command B, 10th Armored Division, and it was not located in a church.

[@philipcochran1972]

This is all about The Battle Of The Bulge. The name comes from the last big German attack of WW2 that put a bulge in the front line and surrounded US troops in the town of Bastogne.

[@EthanDarke]

Also to answer the questions of where the explosions are coming from: that's coming from the German artillery. Big cannon type guns mounted in place that can fire crazy distances. Back in episode 2 when we see them destroying a handful of large cannon guns, that's artillery.

[@michaelstach5744]

This is why some of us reject the cgi comic book type of story. It is so much more meaningful to relate to what real men did. Remember Babe’s relationship to Julian, the man who was killed on the patrol in the woods. You will get to meet the real-life Babe in the reveal at the end of episode 10. If you remember this incident then it makes his words so much more meaningful.

[@JB-bv1rg]

At approximately 8:30 p.m. Dec 24th, Luftwaffe bombers attacked Bastogne. The following paragraphs are some excerpts from a web site I found when researching Renee: [ Captain Jack T. Prior, M.D. wrote the following: "I was a member of the Medical Battalion of the 10th Armored Division. On December 14th I was detached to the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion as their surgeon to replace their regular officer who had been evacuated with pneumonia." He was part of Combat Command B 'Team Desobry' which first defended the town of Noville on Dec. 19th then retreated to Bastogne on the 20th. In Bastogne he helped to set up an aid station. - "My Aid Station was initially in a garage on one of the main streets. Two days later I had to move into a larger area in a private three story home as the casualties increased and because I could not heat the garage adequately - the weather was very cold and there was about a foot of snow on the ground." Capt. Prior continued; "I attempted to turn my litter bearers into bedside nursing personnel - they were assisted by the arrival at our station December 21st of two registered female civilian nurses. One of these nurses, Renee Lemaire, volunteered her services and the other girl [Augusta Chiwy] was black, a native of the Belgian Congo." - "They played different roles among the dying - Renee shrank away from the fresh, gory trauma, while the Congo girl was always in the thick of the splinting, dressing, and hemorrhage control. Renee preferred to circulate among the litter patients, sponging, feeding them, and distributing the few medications we had (sulfa pills and plasma). The presence of these two girls was a morale factor of the highest order." At approximately 8:30 p.m. Dec 24th, Luftwaffe bombers dropped bombs on Bastogne. Capt. Prior wrote: "Within a second or two we heard the screeching sound of the first bomb we had ever heard. Every bomb as it descends seems to be pointed right at you. We hit the floor as a terrible explosion next door rocked our building. I ran outside to discover that the three-story apartment serving as my hospital was a flaming pile of debris about six feet high. The night was brighter than day from the magnesium flares the German bomber pilot had dropped. My men and I raced to the top of the debris and began flinging burning timber aside looking for the wounded, some of whom were shrieking for help. At this juncture the German bomber, seeing the action, dropped down to strafe us with his machine guns. We slid under some vehicles and he repeated this maneuver several times before leaving the area. Our team headquarters about a block away also received a direct hit and was soon in flames. A large number of men soon joined us and we located a cellar window (they were marked by white arrows on most European buildings). Some men volunteered to be lowered into the smoking cellar on a rope and two or three injured were pulled out before the entire building fell into the cellar. I estimated that about twenty injured were killed in this bombing along with Renee Lemaire." ]

[@anthonypanepinto9685]

Renee who was a nurse had came home to visit her parents in the area. She was trapped behind the line of battle. She decided to help at the makeshift hospital. She was killed in the bombing.

[@fullmoonprepping4024]

If it wasn't for these men, my father amongst them, we would not have the freedom we enjoy. Truly the Greatest Generation.

[@brodie6222]

fog at below freezing conditions turns into tiny wet ice crystals, that will freeze your eyelashes together every time you blink. you don't realize how often you blink until you are experiencing that. and your hands and any open skin (face) gets wet when it covers your 98degree skin melts into water and then gets extremely cold on your skin, and rubbing your hands and face on your sleeves and tunic just makes things worse, because your sleeves and tunic gets soaking wet and freezes. shame they didn't get into that but still admirable.This show was absolute gold

[@tylerhackner9731]

Yes 🙌🏽 so glad you’re fully in this show

[@auapplemac2441]

I grew up watching WWII movies in the late 40s - 50s - not the phony blood and guts of the Stallone and Schwarzenegger movies. I've also read some of the books and seen documentaries about the war. While this was much more graphic than the old movies, at least I was familiar with what our troops went through so I knew what to expect and could steel against my emotions becoming overwhelmed. I was impressed by your involvement. Please keep watching. This is part of your history and will help you understand who we are as a people. While it's not all good and heroic, we still must remember it all.

[@JB-bv1rg]

On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched his last great (WW2) offensive on the Western Front through the Ardennes. Known as the 'Battle of the Bulge'. The code name for the buildup to the offensive, 'Wacht Am Rhein' (Watch on the Rhine). The actual offensive was codenamed Operation 'Autumn Mist' (Unternehmen Herbstnebel). The German army attacked with approximately 28 Divisions [Fifth and Sixth Panzer Armies and Seventh Army]. The weather for several days was a combination of freezing rain, thick fog, snow and record-breaking low temperatures. It wasn’t until Christmas Day that the weather conditions finally cleared, allowing Allied air forces to strike. Eisenhower ordered elements of the 10th Armored Division [Combat Command B] to the Bastogne area. It joined elements of the 9th Armored, several artillery battalions, and infantrymen defending Bastogne and the small towns around it. On Dec. 18th, the 705 Tank Destroyer Battalion arrived, and on the 19th the 101st Airborne. There were elements of the 10th Armored division ( Team Desobry for example) in the Bastogne area during the battle of the bulge that were helping the 101st division. They had Sherman tanks and M-18 tank destroyers that would be sent to reinforce parts of the perimeter that were being attacked by German armored forces. There were also artillery units in Bastogne that provided artillery indirect fire support ( when ammunition was available ) to front line units and were at times used as direct fire anti-tank guns.

[@Roh_Echt]

My Grandfather made three of the jumps there. He got frostbite and eventually had both lower legs amputated due to gangrene. What those who swore to defend the constitution and will die in doing so, deserves much more respect in comparison to those who also swore to defend the constitution after an election; and only seek to infringe upon it...openly and publicly. The infringers of it are those who deserve to be shamed out of office.

[@arthurcuelho7279]

Mel Brooks fought in the battle of the bulge, a Jewish combat engineer. Puts some of his later works into perspective.

[@kerryferguson2400]

You are feeling exactly how you should feel. War is not the game some people think it is. We all need to understand and experience what these men went through and gave up, to literally save the world. We should feel terror and agony, because it really was terrifying and agonizing. By remembering and understanding and feeling this we make sure that these men are honored and thanked for what they gave up for us.Think what kind of a world we would have if Germany and Japan had won WW2! It was all balancing on a knife edge; it could have gone either way. Just a short time has passed, but already so many people have forgotten. We often say "Thank you for your service" to veterans, and veterans appreciate that, but what means the most is when people say they will always remember our service.

[@ausmarkb]

You are right Asia and as you’d know by now, it doesn’t get any easier. But, it’s important and worth it to see it through.

[@bilee01]

Winters man. One of the greatest leaders there ever was in my opinion. Calm and collective during major battles. His attention to detail from the smallest to the biggest. He’s care for his unit. Dude was a G before G was even a thing

[@gacaptain]

You guys asked where the explosions were coming from that kept hitting the guys. These were artillery shells being fired at them from German artillery guns. Sometimes these big guns would be as far as five or ten miles away or even further. A woman that was a little girl living in one of the villages that caught up in the Battle of The Bulge said that for years after the war ended kids playing in woods around the town would occasionally come across dead American or German soldiers still in those forests.

[@McDaddy918]

The character “Hoot” in BLACKHAWK DOWN explains the military mindset near the end of that movie. “People just don’t get it, it’s about the man next to you…that’s all it is.” And SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, character James Ryan’s refusal to come off the line because he was going to stay with the only brothers he has left. This is an example of the bond and brotherhood that these men developed while working in these conditions together. Many will endure more to save someone else than they would for themselves.

[@CuttinEJ]

Easy Company was involved in just about every major battle and engagement from D Day to the end of the war.

[@bigstyx]

My wife and I will be going next May to Europe to do a band of brothers tour following there pathway through Europe all the way to the Eagles nest. I also expect it to be very emotional but I feel it’s important to see first hand.

[@ReelinwithAsiaandBJ]

❤️❤️

[@Letha-Mae]

This makes you have respect for every soldier nurse doctor secretary detail whatever that's in the military

[@timothyhedrick5295]

@29:40 You're not the only reactor I've seen say that Asia. I've seen other reactors say that while they loved this series, they were just emotionally drained and couldn't wait for it to end (just like the war).

[@Jelperman]

Watch the movie Patton. Part of it relates to this episode because the 3rd Army relieved the 101st Airborne and 10th Armored at Bastogne. While grateful that 3rd Army broke the siege, many veterans resented the way Patton acted like he was Superman to the rescue.

[@jonkramer1830]

High school students should watch this series to learn to appreciate what freedoms we have and the sacrifices made by those who fought to guarantee them

[@iammanofnature235]

Ah No. Band of Brothers is filled with way too many embellishments and fictional elements to be useful as teaching tool.

[@brittanyhall6048]

They died for us all. We have a duty to love each other and to make our country, and our world, better.

[@SlyDawg951]

Everyone needs to watch "Those damned Engineer's." I have satellite TV, so I don't know who carries AHC (used to be the military channel). The show is called "Against The Odds." The Germans mustard up 600K soldiers and tanks to take the port of Antwerp from the Allies. Bastogne was very important to both sides.

[@usmcrn4418]

DEC 1944- JAN 1945 was one of the coldest winters on record in Belgium. The Nazis took advantage of the bad weather to minimize the use and effectiveness of Allied air cover and troop movement/resupply trains from reaching positions in the Ardennes sector of the Nazi armored offensive. Although the offensive was doomed to fail, the Nazis fought like Hell and suffered just as much as the Allies did. War doesn’t take sides.. it hates everybody equally.

[@micahsnow346]

As incredible as episode 9 is (“Why We Fight”) I think that this episode is actually my favorite. There’s a lot of narration in this series, especially in the later episodes. This episode is lacking that but I felt that I truly came to know Eugene Roe. It felt like I was right there beside him. In fact, the long periods of silence are what makes this episode really special. It’s realistic, because the men were having to keep quiet on the front lines while struggling to keep themselves alive. This episode has a totally different tone than the rest of the series and is all the better for it.

[@JackyJames1]

I'm a patreon ( sorry for the spelling) this awesome couple have the best HONEST reaction! 20$ a month to see the uncut! Sooooo worth it!! Me and my GF love them , big fans :)

[@Oleoay]

I love the symbolism of Eugene using her bandana, the only memento he has of her, as a bandage.

[@diamondstud322]

Great reaction. I totally relate to how hard it is to watch -the über realistic look at what happens to the human body when hit with bullets or bombs, the loss of or damage to friends, the conditions they were in, the unrelenting firing-it’s overwhelming to see. I can’t even imagine what it was like to go through it.

[@donparker1]

If the emotions of watching this episode was intense. . . . I can't wait until ya'll get to the episode called "Why We Fight". This series is an amazing portrayal of what these men and women went through. The GREATEST generation of Americans.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

If you like this series, you will love the Marines in "The Pacific", a much more brutal and cruel theater.

[@PickledShark]

I can’t even imagine the courage, honor, and grit these men possessed. The world is truly diminished without them

[@nebiros_at9473]

Should fish up the 761st, that was one of the units Patton pulled to help break through the German offensive. Much like the Red Tails, guys had a hell of a combat record.

[@davidmowry8951]

Appreciate the recognition of valor these men deserve from all of us. Almost all of these guys came from nothing and were poor. No bitching blaming or being a victim. They got on with it. Today’s society has no fkn clue what real hardship and sacrifice is.

[@JohnD-wo9ov]

My interest in tv and movies is limited but stuff like this does it for me. I'm glad that you took the time to watch this. Personally, I think everyone needs to see it. There isn't much I can add to what has already been said by other commenters but I would like to echo what some others have said regarding Episode 9. Be prepared for the flood of emotions that are likely to sweep over you.