Edward Shames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward D. Shames
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Shames in 1945
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| Nickname(s) | "Ed" |
| Born | June 13, 1922 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 3, 2021 (aged 99) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1973 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 13117836 (enlisted) |
| Unit | 101st Airborne Division
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| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Relations | David Shames (father) Sadie Shames (mother) Anna Shames (sister) Simmie Shames (sister) George Shames (brother) |
| Other work | Specialist on Middle East affairs for the National Security Agency (1945–1982) |
Colonel Edward David Shames (June 13, 1922 – December 3, 2021) was an American soldier who served in the United States Army. During World War II, he was part of the famous 101st Airborne Division. This division was known for its paratroopers.
Shames was Jewish. He was deeply moved by seeing the concentration camps in Nazi Germany. These were places where many people, especially Jewish people, were imprisoned and killed. He was the last surviving officer of the regiment's Easy Company. This company became very well-known through books and TV shows.
Early Life and Family
Edward Shames was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in June 1922. His parents, David and Sadie Shames, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. They came to the United States in 1904.
Edward was the youngest of four children. His father, who owned a grocery store, passed away when Edward was only five years old. His mother's brother, Ben Winer, moved in to help the family.
Edward married Lillian Hoffman when he was 18. They later divorced. In 1946, he married Ida Aframe.
Military Service in World War II
Edward Shames joined the U.S. Army on September 25, 1942. He wanted to join the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He went to Toccoa, Georgia, for training. He started as a private soldier.
Before the D-Day invasion, Shames was promoted to Operations Sergeant. He helped plan the airborne drops into Normandy, France. He built special sand models to show how the landings would work.
D-Day and Beyond
Shames made his first combat jump into Normandy on D-Day. This was part of Operation Overlord, a huge invasion. On June 13, 1944, he was promoted to second lieutenant. This was a special promotion given on the battlefield.
He was the first non-commissioned officer (NCO) in his battalion to receive such a promotion in Normandy. After this, he joined Easy Company and led its third platoon.
Shames also fought with Easy Company in other major battles. These included Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. During the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, he helped destroy a German tank. He was wounded once in his left leg during these campaigns.
While in Germany, he saw some of the concentration camps. Like many American soldiers, he was deeply affected by what he saw there. After the war, Shames found a special bottle of cognac. It was labeled "for the Fuehrer's use only." He saved it and later used it to celebrate his oldest son's Bar Mitzvah.
After the War
After World War II, Edward Shames continued to serve his country. He worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) from 1945 to 1982. There, he was an expert on Middle East affairs.
He also stayed in the United States Army Reserve. He retired from the Army in 1973 as a colonel.
Edward Shames was married to Ida Aframe for many years. She passed away in 2019. Edward Shames died on December 3, 2021, at the age of 99. He was buried in Norfolk, Virginia. He was survived by his two sons, four grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
