‘Band Of Brothers’ Unit Gets A New Commander As The Army Downsizes

Soldiers of the 506th Infantry Regiment take part in a change-of-command ceremony Wednesday afternoon. Credit: Emily Siner/WPLN

The historic 506th Infantry Regiment of the Army closed another chapter Wednesday. It’s moving to a different brigade for the first time in more than eight years, with a new commander in charge.

The soldiers of the 506th were featured in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, which reenacts their battles during World War II. They fought during D-Day, in Vietnam, Iraq and, most recently, Afghanistan.

In 2005, they were assigned to the 4th Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Campbell. But as the army downsizes, the 4th Brigade is being deactivated, with its more than 3,000 soldiers either moving to different areas of the Army or leaving the Army altogether.

Staff Sergeant Seth Monroe of the 506th says the transition does bring a sense of loss.

“I wish I could just stay in 4th brigade,” he says. “I just feel like, you know, that’s your identity. You can just look and identify, hey, I belong with that group of soldiers over there.”

But he says he’s glad he’ll still have his identity as a Currahee, the unit’s nickname.

“If they would have retired the actual 506, I think a lot of people would have felt more emotional about it,” Monroe says. “I know I would have, and I can speak for a lot of people who would have.”