Nickname(s) "Bob" Died December 5, 1996 Role Military Officer | Name Robert Brewer | |
Battles/wars World War IIOperation OverlordOperation Market Garden Battles and wars | ||
Robert B. Brewer (31 January 1924 – 5 December 1996) was a United States Army officer during World War II, assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Brewer was portrayed without credit to the actor in one episode of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.
Contents
Early life
Robert Brewer was born on 31 January 1924 in Fresno, California.
Career
Brewer was the assistant Platoon Leader of the Second Battalion's 81mm mortar platoon when he made his combat jump into Normandy on D-Day. He joined E Company as the assistant platoon leader of the Company's first platoon.
When E Company was advancing into Eindhoven, Brewer was ordered by company commander Richard Winters to take point with 1st platoon. He became a perfect target for the enemy as he was a tall officer marching way out in front. Winters ordered him to draw back but he was shot before he could hear the order. He was shot in the throat below the jaw line. Some men checked on him and thought he would soon die. They left him to be cared for by the medics. He and a medic who was shot while assisting him were eventually helped by the local people and evacuated to an aid station.
Brewer rejoined E Company at the end of the war after he had recovered.
Later life and death
Brewer reached the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army. He later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency in the Far East. During training with the CIA, he met with Amos J. Taylor, who had joined the CIA as well, and became close friends. During the Vietnam War, Brewer served as the senior U.S. adviser for Quang Tri Province and provided intelligence about the forthcoming Tet Offensive.
Brewer died on 5 December 1996 in California.