Roy Cobb
Encyclopedia
Private Roy W. Cobb was a soldier who served with the 1st Armored Division
years before enlisting in the paratroopers with Easy Company
, 2nd Battalion
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, in the 101st Airborne Division
of the United States Army during World War II
. During his military service, Roy's rank was always Private. Cobb was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Craig Heaney
.
In World War II
, during the drop into Normandy
on June 6, 1944, he was wounded inside the plane and was unable to jump. Ironically, Cobb had exchanged seats with George Luz
due to Luz wanting to jump earlier in the stick. Luz was having fears of being hit in the plane and not being able to jump. After recovering in England
, Cobb rejoined his unit after they were relieved from combat operations in France; he took part in Operation Market Garden
in the Netherlands
, and also fought in the Battle of the Bulge
at Bastogne
. In January/February 1945, he was selected for a patrol at Haguenau
under Jack Foley
.
When the patrol commenced, Cobb's raft he was riding capsized, sending the men in the frigid water of the Moder River. They were then ordered to remain behind by an officer. The rest of the patrol returned with two live prisoners, while one severely wounded German was left on the opposite side of the river. David Kenyon Webster
feared the wounded German, if recovered, would give away the outpost's position and threaten their safety, therefore he offered to silence the wounded soldier. Webster and another paratrooper each threw 2 grenades, none of which killed the German. Cobb later made one attempt with a grenade of his own, killing the wounded soldier.
Cobb was discharged from service after assaulting Jack Foley, his platoon commander, in Haguenau
, after consuming a bottle of schnapps
. While handing the court-martial
papers in, Robert Sink
said, "Foley, you could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him."
Cobb died in January 1990 at Niagara, New York
.
as a very unfriendly, bitter, and at some moments a cowardly person. This is thought to be because he served so long in the army but was never promoted. However, he is described in Stephen E. Ambrose's
book Band of Brothers as invariably good-natured. One controversial note occurred during the episode "The Last Patrol", in which Cobb gets drunk after the patrol and is mildly scolded by Second Lieutenant Jones and Staff Sergeant John Martin.
In reality, Cobb was being yelled at by Jack Foley, who led the patrol, and Cobb eventually charged at Foley. Two men had to restrain him and John Martin pulled out his pistol and pointed it at him. This moment was not portrayed in the series, but several other events depicting him as bitter were shown in the series but never mentioned in the book.
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
years before enlisting in the paratroopers with Easy Company
E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the most well-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book...
, 2nd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 506th Infantry Regiment is a unit assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division. During World War II, the unit was designated the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment ....
, in the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
of the United States Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During his military service, Roy's rank was always Private. Cobb was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Craig Heaney
Craig Heaney
Craig Heaney is a British screen, stage and radio actor. He may be best-known as Private Roy W Cobb in the award-winning ten-part mini-series Band of Brothers . He played Phil in Danny Cannon's 2005 football movie Goal! and its 2009 sequel, Goal! 3: Taking on the World...
.
Military service
Cobb had served in the army for nine years prior to enlisting in the Parachute Infantry. During that time, he partook in an assault landing in Africa with the 1st Armored Division. He survived a torpedo attack that sank the troop ship he was on when traveling back to the States.In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during the drop into Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on June 6, 1944, he was wounded inside the plane and was unable to jump. Ironically, Cobb had exchanged seats with George Luz
George Luz
-External links:**...
due to Luz wanting to jump earlier in the stick. Luz was having fears of being hit in the plane and not being able to jump. After recovering in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Cobb rejoined his unit after they were relieved from combat operations in France; he took part in Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and also fought in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
at Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
. In January/February 1945, he was selected for a patrol at Haguenau
Haguenau
-Economy:The town has a well balanced economy. Centuries of troubled history in the buffer lands between France and Germany have bequeathed to Haguenau a rich historical and cultural heritage which supports a lively tourist trade. There is also a thriving light manufacturing sector centred on the...
under Jack Foley
Jack E. Foley
-External links:**...
.
When the patrol commenced, Cobb's raft he was riding capsized, sending the men in the frigid water of the Moder River. They were then ordered to remain behind by an officer. The rest of the patrol returned with two live prisoners, while one severely wounded German was left on the opposite side of the river. David Kenyon Webster
David Kenyon Webster
-External links:*...
feared the wounded German, if recovered, would give away the outpost's position and threaten their safety, therefore he offered to silence the wounded soldier. Webster and another paratrooper each threw 2 grenades, none of which killed the German. Cobb later made one attempt with a grenade of his own, killing the wounded soldier.
Cobb was discharged from service after assaulting Jack Foley, his platoon commander, in Haguenau
Haguenau
-Economy:The town has a well balanced economy. Centuries of troubled history in the buffer lands between France and Germany have bequeathed to Haguenau a rich historical and cultural heritage which supports a lively tourist trade. There is also a thriving light manufacturing sector centred on the...
, after consuming a bottle of schnapps
Schnapps
Schnapps is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage. The English word schnapps is derived from the German Schnaps , which can refer to any strong alcoholic drink but particularly those containing at least 32% ABV...
. While handing the court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
papers in, Robert Sink
Robert Sink
Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink was a United States Army officer during World War II, the Korean War, and early parts of the Vietnam War, though he was most famous for his command of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division...
said, "Foley, you could have saved us all a lot of trouble. You should have shot him."
Cobb died in January 1990 at Niagara, New York
Niagara, New York
Niagara is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 8,378. The town is named after the famous waterfall Niagara Falls....
.
Band of Brothers
He was portrayed in Band of Brothers by Craig HeaneyCraig Heaney
Craig Heaney is a British screen, stage and radio actor. He may be best-known as Private Roy W Cobb in the award-winning ten-part mini-series Band of Brothers . He played Phil in Danny Cannon's 2005 football movie Goal! and its 2009 sequel, Goal! 3: Taking on the World...
as a very unfriendly, bitter, and at some moments a cowardly person. This is thought to be because he served so long in the army but was never promoted. However, he is described in Stephen E. Ambrose's
Stephen Ambrose
Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He was a long time professor of history at the University of New Orleans and the author of many best selling volumes of American popular history...
book Band of Brothers as invariably good-natured. One controversial note occurred during the episode "The Last Patrol", in which Cobb gets drunk after the patrol and is mildly scolded by Second Lieutenant Jones and Staff Sergeant John Martin.
In reality, Cobb was being yelled at by Jack Foley, who led the patrol, and Cobb eventually charged at Foley. Two men had to restrain him and John Martin pulled out his pistol and pointed it at him. This moment was not portrayed in the series, but several other events depicting him as bitter were shown in the series but never mentioned in the book.