Most Americans know the men of Easy Company through the actors who played them. On Oct. 22, you can hear from the son of an Easy Company paratrooper, who will share untold stories.
The Fort Campbell Historical Foundation and the Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum will host a special Jack Turner Speaker Series event, “Through My Father’s Eyes,” at 4 p.m. in the Museum Atrium. George Luz Jr., son of Easy Company paratrooper George Luz Sr., will share rare photos, personal letters and audio recordings of the soldiers made famous by the book and HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, telling their stories in their own voices.
George Luz Sr.: Man who kept them laughing
George Luz Sr. joined Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in August 1942 and trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. The 506th later joined the famed 101st Airborne. He served from the D-Day jump into Normandy through some of the hardest fighting of the war in Europe. Among his fellow paratroopers, he was known less for rank than for humor. His quick wit and knack for impressions lifted spirits in the worst conditions and helped hold the company together. As Lt. Jack Foley put it at a 2002 reunion, “Every company needed a George Luz!” Luz himself later called his years with E Company, from 1942 to 1945, the best three years of his life.
Viewers of the HBO series may remember Luz as the company’s resident comedian, played by actor Rick Gomez. Luz Jr. flew to the set in England to meet Gomez and attended the series’ world premiere on Utah Beach on June 6, 2001.
“Through My Father’s Eyes” goes beyond the miniseries. George Luz Jr. draws on photographs, letters and audio clips of Easy Company veterans describing their experiences firsthand. The result is a personal, human portrait of the men behind the legend, told by the family members who grew up hearing their stories.
For Luz Jr., the presentation is a promise kept. After his father died in a work accident in 1998, he vowed to carry on as if his dad had survived. He reconnected with his father’s comrades, including Dick Winters, “Wild” Bill Guarnere, “Babe” Heffron, Don Malarkey and “Shifty” Powers. Today he attends reunions with Easy Company’s descendants and travels to Europe with Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours to keep their story alive.
Fort Campbell fitting place and time
The event comes during a milestone year. This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the HBO miniseries, which premiered in September 2001 and introduced a new generation to Easy Company. This year is also the 80th annual Easy Company reunion. While all of the veterans have passed away, the “kids” picked up the guidon and have continued the tradition since 2012.
After Luz’s talk, stay around to speak with the family members, including Chris Langlois, a grandson of Easy Company’s Eugene “Doc” Roe. Chris’ passion to share Easy’s stories has led him to write three books: “How Easy Company Became a Band of Brothers,” “Patrick the Paratrooper” and “Draftee Marches with the Band of Brothers.” While his first book is for middle school-aged students through adults, his second two books focus on elementary-aged students. Chris describes it as a “reach and teach” effort, especially toward the next generations. Chris will be signing his books at the museum.
Clarksville is a natural stop. Easy Company belonged to the 101st Airborne Division, which today calls neighboring Fort Campbell home. For Luz Jr., it is also a homecoming: At age 9 in 1965, he attended his first 101st Airborne reunion at Fort Campbell, where his journey with his father’s comrades began. The visit also brings a group connected to Easy Company’s legacy to Clarksville at the end of October. Last year, the group gathered in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of Fort Bragg and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.
“Clarksville and Fort Campbell share a bond that runs through generations of soldiers and families, and the story of Easy Company is part of that legacy,” said Angie Brady, executive director of Visit Clarksville. “Hearing these stories from George Luz Jr., in the voices and letters of the men who lived them, is a rare opportunity. To have him share them here, just miles from the home of the 101st Airborne Division and where his own journey with Easy Company began, makes this event truly special for our community and for every visitor who joins us.”
Mark your calendars
- What: Jack Turner Speaker Series, “Through My Father’s Eyes” with George Luz Jr.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m.
- Where: Museum Atrium, Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum, 400 Wings of Liberty Way.
- Hosts: Fort Campbell Historical Foundation and the Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum.
- Admission: Free, with open seating.
Whether you are a history buff, a Band of Brothers fan, or part of the Fort Campbell community, this is a rare chance to hear Easy Company’s story from the family who lived alongside it. Arrive early for a good seat. You won’t want to miss it!