Posted on Jan 15, 2022
Leaders, What is Your Opinion on the Portrayal of CPT Sobel in Band of Brothers?
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In the WW2 mini-series, CPT Herbert Sobel (1912-1987) was depicted as a selfish a-hole who earned nothing more than hatred from his trainees. But in his defense, couldn't we say that his harshness is what hardened the men of Easy Company so that they would endure the trenches of Europe? I can't help but feel that this TV show has tarnished a man's legacy.
Toxic Leadership
Officers
Leadership Development
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 43
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SPC July Macias The mini series did not get into the depth of dislike and derision with which Cpt Sobel was held by the NCOs in the company. Ambrose's book hit these points in a number of chapters, which the series missed altogether. This lack of detail makes it difficult to rate him as a leader. My uninformed view is that he was an effective trainer, but for a variety of reasons, was not a respected leader.
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PO1 (Join to see)
yes. this has always been my thought as well. which is why he was reassigned. he had value. but he was not someone you would want to go into battle with.
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Suspended Profile
Good synopsis. Was "reassigned" from CO CDR to OIC of a parachute school, and even later apparently served as the Battalion Supply Officer. So, he had some good qualities - but serving as a company commander wasn't the best "fit."
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Having them eat spaghetti and then go run up there he'll and vomit was not my view of showing leadership qualities. Also, he did not salute major Winters later in the show. Sure, this could have all been made up just for the series but I considered that's company Commander to be very sadistic not to mention that he didn't listen to his subordinates and he was captured over there at Camp McCall by the opposing forces.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
SFC Barbara Layman - Where did I or anyone say he died by suicide? It was mentioned he attempted suicide and it didn't kill him and he died later. I stated that no one from Easy or his own kids attended his funeral. Also this post is several months old.
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SFC Barbara Layman
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - "he began living at a VA assisted-living facility in Waukegan, Illinois. He died there of malnutrition on 30 September 1987.[10][11] No memorial services were held for him.[10]"
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
SFC Barbara Layman - Why do you keep tagging me on this post? Are you a fake troll profile? Stop tagging me especially on old posts like this.
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) sir from the interviews with Major Winters who discuss about CPT Sobel, he does talk highly and lowely on him due to more of what the CPT has done, from what winters had said Sobel was power hungry after the promotion, and didn't see the harm of what he was doing.
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Having watched the series when it first came out and then reading the book Ambrose wrote (that the series was based on)...CPT Sobel was an asshole, yes. BUT.....even the men of Easy had attributed their ability to survive the hardships of war because of his tough training/leadership. I haven't read any of the books written by Winters or others telling their specific tales, but from what I understand, CPT Sobel was not painted well in those other books...as told by the men. Seriously, though. We weren't there so we have only what we can read and watch to go off of.
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Maj (Join to see)
I always saw the way the series presented it is a "good outcome for the wrong reasons" situation. He was a minor player in the big picture, though, so he doesn't get much attention and that attention may be a bit unfair.
On a similar note to yours, I remember watching this as it came out as well. We got the tapes via mail in Saudi. I probably wouldn't have seen it so soon if I wasn't deployed since I didn't know anyone with HBO at the time.
On a similar note to yours, I remember watching this as it came out as well. We got the tapes via mail in Saudi. I probably wouldn't have seen it so soon if I wasn't deployed since I didn't know anyone with HBO at the time.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
No one from Easy went to his funeral when he died. Not even his own kids showed up to the funeral. Generally when someone's kids won't have anything to do you or won't show up to a funeral, they were probably a shit person in life.
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A1C John Weiss
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff The last sentence that you wrote may not be necessarily true. There may be many reasons why his kids didn't come to his funeral. We don't have the specifics of his relationship with his wife and children.
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