By Chris Langlois (Chrisdfw) (4.42.202.200) on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 07:05 pm:

Band of Brothers relive their WWII days of glory


Thomas Ropp
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 13, 2003 12:00 AM


PARADISE VALLEY - "Wild Bill" Guarnere is 80 years old now, but he hasn't lost the grit that carried him and his fellow paratroopers through some of the most brutal battles of World War II.

"Today's paratroopers are just like we were," said Guarnere, dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt featuring calendar pinups from the 1940s. "Women love us."

Apparently, so does the public. Hundreds of people turned out over the weekend for a book signing attended by Guarnere and the 19 other surviving members of Easy Company's airborne infantry known as the Band of Brothers. They were at the Embassy Suites near Paradise Mall for their annual reunion.

The elite infantry was made famous through military historian Stephen Ambrose's book Band of Brothers and then Tom Hank's HBO miniseries of the same name, which debuted two days before Sept. 11.

Guarnere, who is from south Philadelphia, said he supports our military in Iraq.

"If we don't fight them there, they're going to fight us here," Guarnere said.

Another member of Brothers, Babe Heffron, also is 80 and also from South Philly.

He said there was one question the public asked more than any other: "They want to know how in the hell we ever made it back."

Easy Company took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the failed invasion of Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, as well as the liberation of a concentration camp and the capture of Hitler's
Eagle's Nest.

"They're amazing guys," said Bob Anderson, who had traveled all the way from San Luis Obispo, Calif., to see them.

Marcia Taylor, director of marketing for Embassy Suites Phoenix-Scottsdale, said local book stores had sold out of Band of Brothers after the book signing was announced.

"We pre-ordered 200 books ourselves and ran out in an hour," Taylor said.

Asked what they do at these reunions, Heffron responded, "We get drunk."

Actors from HBO who played the paratroopers were also on hand at the signing.


Reach the reporter at thomas.ropp@arizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-6880

By Sarah Stone (Sestone) (209.86.26.109) on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 - 10:59 pm:

I saw this article and I am so upset! My internet has been down and I completely missed that they were going to be here (I live in Phx). I didn't see anything in the newspapers about it until after the fact. I am heartbroken at missing this chance to go meet these amazing men.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.165.243) on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 - 08:24 am:

Thanks Chris! Heard some of the Bob actors were there too and were quite having fun! No pics? ;)
Sarah, so sorry to hear that

gold

By Billy (163.248.153.229) on Wednesday, November 05, 2003 - 10:22 am:

I watch the Band Of Brothers series every week, I wish i could have gone to see them. You guys really need some pictures of the reunion.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.165.243) on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Hey Billy, i watch an episode or two each week too and i never get tired of watching the series!

gold

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.165.243) on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 10:12 pm:

Hey Billy, i watch an episode or two each week too and i never get tired of watching the series!

gold

By Jason Schamberger (Schammy) (12.217.221.252) on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 11:35 am:

Same here. I usually get attached to a certain episode and watch it multiple times then switch to another one. They are all great and never get boring.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.165.243) on Saturday, November 08, 2003 - 08:34 am:

amen to that Jason!
sometimes it confuses me which episodes to watch ;)

gold

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