I am probably way behind times, but I just began watching the series, BAND OF BROTHERS, the story of the 101st Airborne Division and in particular “E” Company of 2d Battalion of the 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment.  The second in the series deals with the air drop of the 101st behind the beaches of Normandy in the early morning before the seaborne invasion by allied forces began on the 6^th of June 1944.  This was a dangerous and critical airborne operation and I can only begin to appreciate it from the few training jumps that I have made.

Of interest to me was the Commander of “E” Company, Lieutenant Winters.  It was just fate that he became commander; the C-47 aircraft of the assigned commander was shot down during the drop and all perished.  Upon realizing that the original company commander didn’t make it, Lieutenant Winters took over.

The drop of the 101st Airborne Division was the epitome of the fog and friction of war.  Pilots directed that the troopers exit the aircraft early because of the antiaircraft fire that was treacherous and driving them from their planned drop zones. “E” Company was spread all over, but as the soldiers slowly began to assemble in the hedge rows of France, they formed a fighting force and set upon their objectives.  This is where Lieutenant Winters began to stand out as a leader for two reasons; he knew every one of his men by name, and all his men knew his voice.  Consider that a company of soldiers consist of around 125 troopers.  Not all of 125 survived the jump and initially, there were only 13 troopers with Lieutenant Winters. However, in the mist of complete confusion, he remembered every soldier by name to include some whom he picked up from other units along the way.  Second, every soldier responded to his commands—they knew his voice.  But it wasn’t really his voice because when they began the assault on their objective, which consisted of three heavy German artillery pieces defended by around 50 soldiers with at least two heavy machine guns, all “E” Company commands were given and acknowledged by hand signals.  The fire was loud and confusing, the smoke was thick, and the assault was dangerous.  But every soldier heard Lieutenant Winters’ “voice,” and responded.

This leads to a couple of questions of concern for you the “leader.”  Do you know your followers by name?  Perhaps the size of your organization precludes that, but do you have the mechanisms in place that make you aware of a person’s name when something critical happens in their life or when you must assign a task that only a specific person who has the talent and experience can do?  And do your followers hear your voice?  Do you exercise leadership in a way that encourages people to listen for your voice and take on the tasks at hand to make both you and the organization successful?  Real “leaders” know their people, but do those people hear and respond to you the “leader?”  You see, even in large organizations, the leader must cultivate a climate of trust and response to you the “leader” and to others on your team.

There is another “Commander” whom I know, and that I believe Lieutenant Winters knew, and that is THE ONE.  As THE BOOK says, Jesus knows His sheep, and His sheep know His voice, and His sheep follow His commands.  His sheep are responsive to His commands and supportive of others in the flock.  Jesus knows you, do you hear His voice and respond to His commands?  Do you respond as a “Band of Brothers” in a war committed to Him and each other?

As D-Day commenced, the battery of heavy German artillery pieces was directing their fire toward the causeways behind the Normandy beachhead and had they been destroyed it would have hinder movement of allied forces off Utah Beach.  That threat was eliminated against all odds by the men of “E” Company. Because of the relationship between Lieutenant Winters and his soldiers, the assault was a complete success and still stands today as a classic example of how to assault a fixed target with a numerically inferior force.  Many of his soldiers were awarded Silver and Bronze Stars for their gallantry in action.  Lieutenant Winters was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, for his “Follow Me” leadership of the Band of Brothers, of “E” Company that day in the hedge rows of France. We can thank the Lord for people like Lieutenant Winters and “E” Company during those tenuous days during the Normandy Invasion. [i]

In Christ, we are a “Band of Brothers and Sisters” and He knows us each by name, and we can hear His voice.

Remember my book signing at Bayou Books in Niceville on Saturday, December the 9^th.  Come meet the guy who writes these crazy Blogs.  Note that you won’t find this Blog in my book Growing and Building, but there are other great stories of “Faith, Prayer, and Leadership.”

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Winters

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Winters