Nickname(s) Bull Years of service 1942–1945 Name Denver Randleman Unit 506th Infantry Regiment | Allegiance United States Rank Staff Sergeant Service/branch United States Army | |
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Born November 20, 1920Rector, Arkansas ( 1920-11-20 ) Battles/wars World War IIBattle of NormandyOperation Market GardenBattle of the Bulge Awards Bronze Star*Purple Heart*Presidential Unit Citation*European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal*World War II Victory Medal Battles and wars World War II, Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge Similar Carwood Lipton, Richard Winters, Lynn Compton Died June 26, 2003 (aged 82), Texarkana, Arkansas, United States | ||
Band of Brothers Actor on Playing Easy Company's Denver 'Bull' Randleman | Michael Cudlitz
Staff Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman (November 20, 1920 – June 26, 2003) 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. Randleman, who was commonly known by his nickname "Bull" Randleman, was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Michael Cudlitz.
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Youth
Randleman was born in Rector, Arkansas. Dropping out of high school during his junior year, he left Rector during the Great Depression looking for work and ended up in a foundry in Michigan. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 19, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan shortly after the United States' entry into World War II.
Military service
He was a member of the famed Band of Brothers of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne. Bull's training originated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in August 1942 under Captain Herbert Sobel. He earned the nickname "Bull" due to his large stature.
On June 6, 1944, Randleman, along with the rest of the 101st, 82nd, and British 6th Airborne Divisions, dropped into France, eventually regrouping with Easy Company after missing his landing zone, a fate suffered by many men that night.
During the failed Operation Market Garden in September 1944, Randleman was separated from his unit and suffered a shoulder injury from shrapnel during a tank explosion. Unable to return to his lines, he spent most of the following night hiding in a nearby barn. During a search by members of his unit the following day, Randleman was found, his men believing him to be KIA.
Randleman later participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and survived to the end of the war, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
According to former Easy Company commanding officer, Major Richard Winters, Bull was one of the best soldiers he ever had.
Decorations
Later years
After the war, Randleman attended trade school and eventually became service manager for a Caterpillar equipment dealer - J.A. Riggs Tractor Company. Later on, he married Vera, and they had two children. He became a successful businessman and was superintendent of a construction contractor in Louisiana. He spent the last years of his life in Texarkana, Arkansas. He died of a staph infection at the age of 82 on June 26, 2003.