Band of Brothers (2001) is frequently lauded as an authentic portrayal of the valor displayed by the men of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during World War II. The HBO miniseries has garnered a dedicated following, and its acclaim is well-deserved. One particularly memorable scene for viewers depicted an uneasy journey up Currahee. Yet, how closely does Band of Brothers adhere to the historical accuracy of this spaghetti run?
The spaghetti run scene in Band of Brothers (2001)
The inaugural episode of Band of Brothers – titled “Currahee” – shows the basic training undergone by the men of Easy Company at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Amid an unexpected respite from their demanding routine, they partake in a hurried spaghetti lunch (dubbed “Army noodles with ketchup”), voraciously devouring the meal.
Abruptly, Herbert Sobel (played by David Schwimmer) bursts into the mess hall, declaring a change in orders and announcing that Easy Company is “running up Currahee.” Predictably, this revelation is met with less-than-enthusiastic reactions, given the heaviness in the men’s stomachs from their recent carb-loaded repast.
As they ascend the mountain, regrettably regurgitating their meals, Sobel berates the men, questioning one’s worthiness of earning their wings. He also discloses the presence of ambulances trailing behind in case anyone needs to bow out. The scene concludes with Sobel observing the men forging ahead, only to seamlessly rejoin the run himself, having abstained from the spaghetti feast.
Did the spaghetti run actually happen?
The question is, did the spaghetti run depicted in Band of Brothers actually happen? The answer: yes, it did.
The book the miniseries is based on includes testimony from a soldier known as “Tipper,” who was among those to take part in the infamous training exercise. As he recounts, “We were told, ‘Relax. No runs today.’ We were taken to the mess hall for a tremendous meal of spaghetti at lunchtime.”
He continues, “We went to the top of Currahee and back with a couple of ambulances following, and men vomiting spaghetti everywhere along the way. Those who dropped out and accepted the medics’ invitation to ride back in the ambulances found themselves shipped out that same day.”
While Herbert Sobel believed tactics like this would make his men combat-ready, they only further sowed the seeds of anger and resentment among the men of Easy Company.
The men of Easy Company despised Herbert Sobel
The animosity the characters in Band of Brothers feel toward Herbert Sobel mirrors the dislike the real-life men of Easy Company had for their superior. Known as the “Black Swan” by officers, he was known for being petty and domineering, with a tendency to punish his men for the tiniest of infractions. For example, he punished Richard Winters for failing to show up for an inspection of soldiers cleaning the latrines, despite him not informing the then-first lieutenant of the time change.
Sobel initially served as the commanding officer of Easy Company, leading the men during their basic training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain, which did little to increase the respect he received from those he commanded. He was incredibly strict and made his troops train harder than those around them.
The lack of respect Sobel received ultimately reached his superiors, as did his inability to read maps or quickly adapt to changing battlefield conditions. This led to his reassignment to an airborne school in Chilton Foliat, United Kingdom. He was replaced by 1st Lt. Thomas Meehan.
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Despite their dislike for Sobel, the men of Easy Company later credited him for their discipline and success in the field. Winters echoed these sentiments, once stating, “One of the reasons that Easy Company excelled was undoubtedly Captain Sobel.”
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