Charles E. Grant
| Charles Grant | |
|---|---|
 Chuck Grant before E Co. sailed to England | |
| Nickname(s) | Chuck |
| Born | 1922 |
| Died |
1984 (aged 61–62) San Francisco, California |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank |
 Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | Fabricator |
Staff Sergeant Charles E. Grant (1922[1] - 1984[2]) was a non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. Grant was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Nolan Hemmings.[1]
Youth
Grant was born in 1922 in Pennsylvania.[1] He completed four years of high school and graduated.[1] After graduation, he had an occupation in fabrication of metal products.[1] Chuck enlisted with the paratroopers on August 18, 1942 in Los Angeles, his hometown.[1]
Military service
Grant trained at Camp Toccoa under Herbert Sobel. Like many of the men from Easy Company, he made his first combat jump on D-Day as part of the Allied invasion of France. On September 19, 1944, in the Netherlands, he was wounded while helping to destroy an 88mm gun.
During December 1944 and January 1945, Easy Company and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division fought in Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st was in France in December when the Germans launched their offensive in the Ardennes and were transported by truck to the site. On the other hand, Grant was on leave in London and had to parachute into Bastogne so he could join his comrades.
In Austria, Grant was named 2nd platoon Staff Sergeant. In July 1945, while driving a jeep with two members of 2nd platoon, Grant came across several dead soldiers: two Germans, a British major, and the major's driver. A drunken replacement from "I" Company had shot them, and Sergeant Grant was shot in the head when he confronted the man and attempted to disarm him.[3] Grant survived because of the quick actions of Ronald Speirs and Jack Foley, who rushed him to an aid station. The medic there told them that Grant would not survive.[3] However, Speirs, not willing to lose Grant, loaded him on a jeep and drove to Saalfelden, where he found a German brain surgeon who was able to operate.[3] At first the doctor thought operation would be useless as Grant would surely die from the shock of operation. Herman 'Hack' Hanson, Grant's best friend, threatened the doctor with his gun, and the doctor eventually operated and saved Grant's life. The doctor was amazed and said Grant was the toughest man he had ever seen.[4]
Later years
Grant recovered slowly from the gunshot wound to his head, and he occasionally had some problems talking and his left arm was partially paralyzed.[5] He lived in San Francisco, owning a little tobacco shop. He attended several of the Easy Company reunions with his wife and became 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's representative in the 101st Airborne association.[6] He died in 1984.
Medals and Decorations
 |
Purple Heart |
 |
World War II Victory Medal |
  |
Presidential Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster |
 |
Combat Infantryman Badge |
 |
Parachutist Badge with 2 jump stars |
References
Bibliography
- Ambrose, Stephen E. (1992). Band of Brothers: Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-6411-6.
- Sgt Don Malarkey and Bob Welch (2009). Easy Company Soldier, the Legendary Battles of a Sergeant From World War II's "Band of Brothers". St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-56323-3.