Ronald Charles "Sparky" Speirs began active duty in the U.S Army on 11 April, 1942. He was sent to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, as a 2nd Lt and assigned to the 339th Infantry Regiment of the 85th Division. He became a platoon leader while undertaking basic training.
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During this time he accepted a place in the paratroopers. This led him to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, where he was assigned to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Initially placed in B Co, he was later transferred to D Co where he continued as a platoon leader for 2nd platoon.
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On D-Day, Speirs was jumpmaster for his plane, stick #62, landing c.4 miles from his intended drop zone. That morning he took part in the Brecourt Manor Assault, and is credited securing the 4th German Howitzer gun firing at Utah Beach, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star
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He jumped with Dog Co into The Netherlands in Sep, 1944. During that campaign he was awarded the Silver Star for actions he undertook during the fighting on "The Island" near Randwjick.
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On Oct 10, 1944, Speirs took a boat and rowed alone under the cover of darkness to the German held side of the River Rhine. He waited until dawn and took recon of gun positions, HQ, and numbers of troops.
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On being discovered, he ran for the river bank under machine gun fire. He was hit in the hip and buttocks (starting his Easy tradition early!) but managed to swim back across the river.
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He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with D Co, and took over command of E Co during the attack on Foy village 13 Jan, 1945, making his infamous sprint through German lines to liaise with I Co. He was made E Co commander after the battle, remaining w Easy til end of the war.
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After WW2, Speirs fought in the Korean and Laotian Wars (being awarded the Legion of Merit during the latter). As a Major in 1957 he became US Director of Spandau Prison, Germany, where many Nazi war criminals were imprisoned.
He retired in 1966 with the rank of Lt Colonel.
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Speirs was portrayed by Matthew Settle in #BandofBrothers.
Ronald Speirs passed away on April 11, 2007, aged 86
Currahee, Sparky
@matt_settle