Band of Brothers mini series - strangecharms

Roy Cobb 31
Roy Cobb
Nickname Cobb
Born June 18, 1914
New York
Died January 1990 (aged 75)
Niagara, New York
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1933-1945
Rank Private
Roy Cobb
Unit Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars World War II
• Operation Torch
• Operation Market Garden
• Battle of the Bulge
Private Roy W. Cobb (June 18, 1914 - January 1990) [1] was a soldier who served with the 1st Armored Division
years before enlisting in the paratroopers with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in
the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. During his military service, Roy's rank
was always Private. Cobb was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Craig Heaney.
Military service
Cobb had served in the army for nine years prior to enlisting in the Parachute Infantry. [2] During that time, he took
part in an assault landing in Africa with the 1st Armored Division. [2] He survived a torpedo attack that sank the troop
ship he was on when travelling back to the States. [2]
During the drop into Normandy on June 6, 1944, he was wounded inside the plane and was unable to jump. Cobb
and George Luz had exchanged seats because Luz wanted to jump earlier in the stick. Luz was afraid of being hit in
the plane and not being able to jump. [3] After recovering in England, Cobb rejoined his unit after they were relieved
from combat operations in France; he took part in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and fought at
Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge. In January/February 1945, he was selected for a patrol at Haguenau under Lt.
Jack Foley. [4]
When the patrol commenced, Cobb's raft riding capsized, sending the men into the frigid water of the Moder River.
They were then ordered to remain behind by an officer. The patrol returned with two prisoners, while one severely
wounded German was left on the riverbank. David Kenyon Webster feared the wounded German, if recovered,
would give away the outpost's position and threaten their safety, therefore he offered to silence the wounded soldier.
Webster and another paratrooper each threw 2 grenades, none of which killed the German. Cobb later made one
attempt with a grenade of his own, killing the wounded soldier.
Cobb was discharged from service after assaulting his platoon commander, Lt. Foley, in Haguenau, after consuming
a bottle of schnapps. [5] While handing the court-martial papers in, Robert Sink said, "Foley, you could have saved us
all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him." [5]
Cobb died in January 1990 at Niagara, New York.