# Band of Brothers question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972 "2004-12-03T22:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972/21 "2004-12-07T20:42:48Z")
I think the impression that Dike is killed is formed at the end of the Foy episode, when ‘E’ Company is holed in in a convent at Hageneau. While the nuns are singing, Sgt (soon to be Lt) Lipton is enumerating all their casualties during the Bastogne campaign. Dike is listed as a ‘bad officer’ that they lost, but then Spiers is cited as a ‘good officer’ that they gained. The series never showed Lt Dike buying the farm. On the other hand they never showed him again after Foy. ---
**Author:** ![ElectricZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58f4c7/32.png) [@ElectricZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElectricZ)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972/22 "2004-12-07T23:58:07Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > I think the impression that Dike is killed is formed at the end of the Foy episode, when ‘E’ Company is holed in in a convent at Hageneau. While the nuns are singing, Sgt (soon to be Lt) Lipton is enumerating all their casualties during the Bastogne campaign. Dike is listed as a ‘bad officer’ that they lost, but then Spiers is cited as a ‘good officer’ that they gained. The series never showed Lt Dike buying the farm. On the other hand they never showed him again after Foy. They also show Buck Compton fading out, even though he didn’t die, as were Toye and Wild Bill who were badly injured. The casualty roll call was everybody who was taken out of the fight. Personally, I got the impression Dike died mainly from Perconte (?) asking Lipton if “It was true about Dike?” to which Lipton replied almost sadly, “Yeah.” Perconte’s response is “Thank god for small favors, huh?” But it was just an impression. In the show, Dike could have merely been transferred out as in real life after his dismal performance at Foy and the conversation would could be scripted the same way. I remember thinking this after I read the book and being surprised to find Dike lived. It works both ways I guess. I don’t think it affects the outcome for the men… Dike was finally gone, no matter the reason! 🙂 I just had a horrible thought… Suppose Captain Sobel didn’t get left behind when Easy Company shipped out. And Easy had both Sobel AND Dike in its ranks…? EZ ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972/23 "2004-12-08T01:20:55Z")
> [@ElectricZ](#): > > I just had a horrible thought… Suppose Captain Sobel didn’t get left behind when Easy Company shipped out. And Easy had both Sobel AND Dike in its ranks…? Then we’d all be speakin’ German. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972/24 "2004-12-08T13:50:49Z")
> [@ElectricZ](#): > > I just had a horrible thought… Suppose Captain Sobel didn’t get left behind when Easy Company shipped out. And Easy had both Sobel AND Dike in its ranks…? > > EZ IIRC from the book, Captain Sobel “made” Easy Company what there were, tough. They hated him but he drove them to the \*\*elite \*\* company of men that they were. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972/25 "2004-12-08T14:43:43Z")
> [@eenerms](#): > > IIRC from the book, Captain Sobel “made” Easy Company what there were, tough. They hated him but he drove them to the \*\*elite \*\* company of men that they were. From the interview I cited above: > [@](#): > > _Winters acknowledges different styles of leadership and cites the ability of men to lead through fear, such as Speirs and E Company’s first commander, Herbert Sobel. He asserts, however, that the most effective leader will have quiet self-confidence and self-assurance that ultimately commands the respect of the men._ > > Winters: In Sobel’s case it was in training, and in Speirs’ case it was in combat. It is impossible to imagine what would have been the result if we had been led into battle by Sobel. He had driven the men to the point of mutiny, and, more important, he had lost their respect. If he had been in command, more men would have died in battle. Speirs had the men’s respect. He had my respect. We both knew he would get the job done. After the war a couple of the guys tired to get Sobel involved in their reunions. He refused. He still blamed Easy company for ruining his life. He wound up commiting suicide. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-brothers-question/277972.md?page=1)