Edward David Shames (1922 - 2021)

Born 13 Jun 1922 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Husband of Lillian Elizabeth (Hoffman) Shames — married 2 Oct 1939 (to 12 Jan 1945) in Pasquotank, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Ida (Aframe) Shames — married 27 Jan 1946 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Died 3 Dec 2021 at age 99 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Colonel Edward Shames served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: September 25, 1942
Unit(s): I Company, 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment; E "Easy" Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Service ended:

BIOGRAPHY:

Col. Ed Shames: From D-Day to the Eagle's Nest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OpEBu9MrBI

Easy Company Veteran on combat from D-Day to the Eagle's Nest | Ed Shames

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxJAtzQnyLM

Stealing HITLER'S CAR and DESTROYING IT For Fun, Easy Company Vet Ed Shames Remembers

https://youtube.com/shorts/bY5rlhcnQ34?si=n_Q2qKjG32Q-jO7l

EASY COMPANY Vet Ed Shames on JOINING The PARATROOPERS

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PjHyYZaJ7ac

Edward David Shames was born June 13, 1922 to David and Sadie [Winer] Shames, who were born in Latvia. They were Russian-Jewish immigrants who came the the United States in 1904, most likely from Odessa. At age 18 Edward married Lillian Hoffman and lived with his in-laws, Sam and Gussie Hoffman in 1940. He later divorced and was remarried Ida Aframe in 1946.

Shames died in his home in Norfolk on December 3, 2021, at the age of 99. He is survived by his sons Douglas and Steven, four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A graveside service was to be held on Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Forest Lawn Cemetery (8100 Granby St, Norfolk, VA 23505).

MILITARY SERVICE, WORLD WAR TWO:

Shames enlisted in the US Army on September 25, 1942. He applied for duty with the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was sent to Toccoa, Georgia for training, starting as a private in I Company, 3rd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Shames made his first combat jump into Normandy on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord, and on June 13, 1944, he received a battlefield commission to second lieutenant. He was the first NCO in the Third Battalion to receive such a commission in Normandy . He was transferred to Easy Company and took charge of its third platoon. He fought with Easy Company in Operation Market Garden and volunteered for Operation Pegasus. He was wounded once in his left leg during these campaigns He then fought with the rest of E Company in the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. In Foy, Shames and Paul Rogers were reported to have knocked out a German tank with a bazooka!

In Germany, Shames saw some of the concentration camps in which the Germans imprisoned and murdered Europe's Jews and was deeply affected by his personal viewing of Nazi Germany's concentration camps.

POST WAR:

After World War II, Shames worked for the National Security Agency as an expert on Middle East affairs from 1945 to 1982. He also served in the United States Army Reserve and retired as a Colonel in 1973.

IN POPULAR CULTURE:

Shames was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Joseph May. He also provided an audio interview for the documentary Greatest Events of World War II, where he briefly described the Battle of the Bulge i that took place in the Ardennes, Belgium.

On findagrave.com:

Military Figure. He served during World War II as a United States Army officer in "Easy Company," 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regimen of the 101st Airborne Division. The story of this band of soldiers was immortalized in the 2001 American war drama miniseries, "Band of Brothers," thus bringing their heroic deeds to the public's attention and globally gaining much-deserved recognition. Of the veterans of the original "Band of Brothers," he was the last surviving officer of Easy Company. Born into a Jewish household, he applied to join after reading about the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and in August of 1942, he was called to active duty and sent to Toccoa, Georgia as a private in I Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. In England, he was promoted to Operations Sergeant, and prior to D-Day, he built the sand tables used in planning the airdrop into Normandy. As part of Operation Overlord, Shames made his first combat jump on D-Day, June 6, 1944, landing in a French farmer's cow pasture. As a result of his actions and leadership shown during the battle of Normandy, on June 13, 1944, he received a battlefield commission to second lieutenant, the first NCO in the Third Battalion to receive such a commission in Normandy. That same day, he turned 22 while in battle. Shames was transferred to Easy Company in charge of the third platoon. He fought with Easy Company in Operation Market Garden and volunteered for Operation Pegasus to rescue allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines after the battle of Arnhem. The operation rescued 138 men who were transported across the lower Rhine River in small rubber boats. He received a combat wound to his left leg, but recovered. He later fought with Easy Company in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. During the battle in Foy, Shames and another soldier destroyed a Nazi tank with a bazooka. Shames participated in the liberation of concentration camps in southern Germany, and witnessing the horrors of the Jewish captives. According to his obituary, he was one of the first of the 101st to enter Dachau concentration camp. He participated in securing Nazi Dictator Adolph Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden. During the exploration of Hitler's "Eagle's Nest," Shames found a supply of cognac labeled "for the Fuehrer's use only" and later used a bottle to toast his oldest son's Bar Mitzvah. In a published interview, he proudly stated that he "brought more men home from my platoon than any other of the 200 platoons in the 101st Airborne Division." After World War II, Shames worked for the National Security Agency as a specialist on Middle East affairs from 1945 to 1982, and also served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 1973. During World War II, he received the Bronze Star Medal, three Purple Heart Medals, Croix de Guerre from France, Reconnaissance de la France Libérée from France, Oorlogsherinneringskruis (OHK) from Netherlands, Combat Infantryman Badge, US Army Parachute Badge, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Shames was portrayed in the seven-time Emmy-winning HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" by Joseph May. He and his wife were married for 73 years. He had two sons. He was given a full military funeral. Bio by: Eireannach

SOURCES:

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GDCZ-53W
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Shames
• https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/12/05/edward-shames-last-band-of-brothers-officer-dies-99.html
• https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/va/norfolk/edward-d-shames-13778134
• https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium-parachuting-into-normandy-1.5250924
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/228953863/edward_david_shames