The functions of a company

Many men in easy company were pushed to the limits. They were trained and moulded into the perfect soldiers. These men were educated beyond the normal soldiers and other paratroopers. They were conditioned physically past the point of even professional athletes. They were put through near impossible tasks and completed them with an efficiency that was envied by every other company that heard of them. They had a military prowess that no other company had achieved and they proved it frequently. On one such incident, while all other companies used mobile transport to get to a city to parade, Easy company did the journey by foot. They marched to their destination and arrived on time which most thought was inconceivable.

Even on the eve of war where they had to undergo the most stringent of inspections, they impressed even the most intimidating of judges. Even the British Prime Minister at the time, Winston Churchill could not hide the notable impression that Easy company made on him.

The men were trained not only within the confines of their own rank and position but also were taught to be able to perform the duties of other officers. They were proficient in all types of weaponry, both Ally and German and each soldier had their own specialty. Each man in Easy company knew everyone in it. They were brothers and knew each other better than they knew their friends at home. They were forged into the most elite fighting unit that the world knew at the time.

Comradery and Mutiny

Despite the training, endurance, rules and penalties of the army and of Easy Company, the men found it the hardest to endure poor leadership. Despite every challenge easy company had to endure, they were able to overcome everyone of them and do it better than anyone had done before. However, the fact that these elite soldiers were being led by a man who was considered and was in every aspect "less than those he led". Even though his cruel teaching and excerises made Easy company what it was, he had no proficiency in war and leadership what so ever.

Soble was a tyrant who had the greatest of expectations for easy company. He however could not live up to those expectations nor the expectations of the soldiers he commanded. His military capability was in no way able to meet the standards of easy company and he proved it on many occasions. He got the lost frequently on exercises. He made rash decisions under the constraints of pressure and caused the company to fail sometimes. He would require the men to meet physical standards that he himself could not meet and the men knew it. They became discouraged and lost what little loyalty the had to him.

However, another man was able to inspire and lead the troops in a way Soble could not. 1^st Lt. R.D. Winters was a man mode from easy company. His leadership and capabilities cause him to rise through the ranks to be just under Sobel. This was a great hindrance to Sobel but a leg up for the men of easy company. Sobel decided to do anything within his power to ensure Winters was out of his way. He assigned tasks of great difficulties and although Winters rose to the challenge, Sobel constantly hindered him from achieving success. On one occasion, Sobel purposefully sabotaged Winters when he was supposed to do an inspection and got him court marshalled for it.

This led to radical movement by his troops. They knew that they could not go into battle and have this man leading them. Easy company was the greatest thus far and they refused to be held back by some one clinging to power. This led to certain men of easy company to give up their rank in order to effectively make their point that they had not confidence in Sobel to command.

This movement had its repercussions and although it boarded on mutiny, they saw success and Sobel was sent to a separate assignment and was no longer the head of Easy company.