Last night, I finished reading Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from World War II’s “Band of Brothers”, the story of Sergeant Don Malarkey of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Malarkey was one of the key figures in the Band of Brothers series, as a result, I wanted to get to know him a little better. Like all the stories that I’ve read so far about Easy Company, highlighted in Band of Brothers, this story shared details not yet told.

Don Malarkey was one of the original Toccoa men who serve in many campaigns during World War II. He originated from Astoria, Oregon and volunteered to be a parachutist. As I read his story I found him to be a reluctant leader but somebody who had something to prove.

This 277-page account of his wartime efforts started with him contemplating injuring himself to get out of the Bastogne siege. In the end, he never did injure himself. He actually credited Captain Sobel for instilling an “I will not quit” attitude. Over and over again, I have seen mixed emotions when it came to Captain Sobel. To a man, they did not like him but they also credit him for developing tenacity that helped them survive.

In this book like many of the other books, it highlighted his upbringing and family relationships. I felt uneasy about the environment that he grew up in. It was one he cherished and wanted to get back to but it was troubling nonetheless.

While at Camp Toccoa, Malarkey met Skip Muck who ended up being his best friend. He talked about the adventures that they both experienced while going through training, their exploits in England, and while in combat. One of the things that affected Malarkey through the rest of his life was when Skip Muck was killed at Bastogne.

I found the book to be quite honest. Malarkey expressed his thoughts about different people and situations. He had ill feelings towards some members of Easy Company. He devoted a couple of pages to one person in particular. But he also respected Major Dick Winters and this showed up in his writing.

Malarkey had a break in the action after Haguenau, France when he became ill and missed part of the push into Germany. But he did serve the longest in combat from Easy Company without a break.

In the last part of the book, Malarkey talked about his discharge from the Army, moving back to the United States, and his life after the war. It wasn’t an easy life. The war did haunt him quite a bit based on what I’ve read. As he started to meet up with fellow soldiers from Easy Company, it helped heal some of the wounds. He talked about his challenges with alcohol. He talked about his challenges of pursuing an education. In the end, he survived.

Due to the Band of Brothers series, people began to recognize him and appreciate his sacrifices. This appeared to mean a lot to him.

If Easy Company and the Band of Brothers interests you, Easy Company Soldier is a story that you should read. It’s another glimpse into a group of men who had countless challenges thrown in front of them and yet were able to meet them head-on.

Additional Reading

• Book Review – Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest
• Book Review: Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story
• Book Review: Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
• Book Review: Shifty’s War: The Authorized Biography of Sergeant Darrell “Shifty” Powers, the Legendary Sharpshooter from the Band of Brothers
• Book Review: Call of Duty: My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers
• Book Review: Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper’s Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich
• Book Review: A Company of Heroes: Personal Memories About the Real Band of Brothers and the Legacy They Left Us
• Book Review: We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories From the Band of Brothers
• Book Review: Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers
• Book Review: D-Day Through German Eyes
• Book Review: Conversations With Major Dick Winters: Life Lessons From the Commander of the Band of Brothers

Image: Wikipedia contributors. (2018, March 6). 101st Airborne Division. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:48, March 11, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=101st_Airborne_Division&oldid=829154572

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