Observations of The Cross in the HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers.
Written by Eric Shindelbower 

"The heroes had crosses over their heads, the ones that are buried in the cemeteries.  Those are the true heroes, not us.  We’re just part of the works, that’s all.  And we thank God we got back alive.”1
                - William “Wild Bill” Guarnere, Easy Company, 506^th P.I.R., 101^st Airborne Division.

The first two episodes of Band of Brothers premiered on the Home Box Office channel on Sunday, September 9, 2001.  When I first heard the music and saw the opening credits, I knew that I was watching something special.  I liked these episodes so much, that I could not wait until the next Sunday to view another one.  As I watched each of the ten episodes, I was amazed at how well done they were.  I remember thinking to myself as Part 10 – Points ended, that I wished the series were on DVD's so that I could replay them, to hear the dialogue I missed and have a better understanding of each soldier.  Eventually, the series did come out in “boxed” sets and I was given the DVD version for Christmas 2002.  I have watched each episode several times now, noticing some mistakes and inconsistencies, but have come to the realization that this is the best miniseries I have ever seen broadcast on TV. 

This groundbreaking, 10-part miniseries tells the story of Easy Company, 506^th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Starting with their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942, it recounts the achievements of the elite rifle company, which parachuted into France early on D-Day morning, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and captured Hitler's Eagle's Nest at Berchtesgaden. Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's acclaimed book of the same name, BAND OF BROTHERS chronicles a unit that took 150 percent casualties and became true American heroes.2 

I was inspired by this series to write down a few of my observations about some of the scenes that relate to The Cross.  Although God is rarely referred to in the series, several soldiers of Easy Company show that their faith in Christ helps them cope with the reality of combat. 

In the first few minutes of the Part 2 - Day of Days episode, we see a close-up of Bill Guarnere's rosary.  The camera then swings up to his face as he is saying the act of contrition.  What is ironic about this scene is the look on Bill's face; he is not apprehensive, but mad, suggesting that he is thinking about avenging his brother's death at Monte Cassino.

Later in this episode, during an ambush, Guarnere does exactly this by shooting the Germans without waiting for Richard Winters command to fire.  It is interesting that throughout the series Bill will exclaim, “Jesus!” or “Jesus Christ!” – not in prayer, but as an expletive.  It is ironic that even though he is a practicing Catholic, he sits in judgment of other soldiers; provoking a fight with a Jewish soldier and questioning the faith of his leader, Richard Winters.

1 Corinthians 1:23-25, “…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (RSV) 

One of the most symbolic uses of The Cross comes from a scene at the ending of the Day of Days episode.  Richard Winters explains to Lewis Nixon that he lost a "man" today at Brecourt (John Hall); this is the first soldier that was killed under Winters command. Winters then walks up the hill to get a better view of the war and is shown with a Cross in the background.  He then stops and states (voiceover):   "That night, I took time to thank God for seeing me through that Day of Days . . . and prayed that I would make it through D+1.  And if somehow, I managed to get home again, I promised God and myself, that I would find a quite piece of land someplace and spend the rest of my life in peace."  In God's plan of salvation, he does not want to lose any of his "men", so he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on The Cross for us.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” (RSV)

What makes this scene so moving is the symbolism of The Cross in relationship to Richard Winters.  When Winters is at the bottom of the hill in silhouette; you cannot make out whom it is. This is symbolic of man's sinful state.  As he walks up the hill getting closer in the frame with the Cross, you gradually see more light appear on him signifying man's increased spiritual understanding of God.  Finally, he removes his helmet just as his head passes in front of The Cross representing the presence of God. The next scene cuts to the raging of war at night, which represents Hell, and then the voiceover of Winters begins.  After the voice over ends, he then gets up from the jeep (his head blocks sight of the Cross) and looks back over his shoulder in the direction of The Cross, symbolizing his desire to see heaven; implicit that this can only be obtained through repentance and a relationship with the Savior of The Cross, Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:79, “…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (RSV)

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (RSV)

The series never explains Richard Winter's denomination of faith, except that he prays to God and is “not a Quaker."  In Part 1 - "Currahee", Winters gives a blessing before the men board the planes bound for France: "Good Luck.  God Bless You.  I'll see you in the assembly area."  It is interesting to note that throughout the series his Christian qualities constantly come through, such as compassion, integrity and honesty. Also he is shown repeatedly refusing to take a drink of alcohol, when offered from fellow officers.  However, Richard Winters did take one drink during the end of the Day of Days episode.  During the Carentan episode, his compassion helps a blind soldier to see. After Richard Winters touches Albert Blithe his hysterical blindness miraculously clears up, almost as if to imply that he (Winters) is Christ-like.

If Richard Winters represents the Christ-like character of the series then the sinful character is represented by Ronald Spiers.  It is implied that he has a weakness for material possessions, as he continually mails home “stuff” to his parents.  After the company clerk mentions that his folks are going to have quite a collection of souvenirs, Ronald Spiers qualifies this by saying, “finders keepers.”  There is also a scene in which he borrows a lighter from Frank Perconte and tries to keep it.  Another scene shows Ronald Spiers walking into an office and swiping items off a desk into his helmet.  He is also visibly upset when questioning Alton More about the possession of Hitler’s personal photo diary.  This craving for stuff in no way impacts his leadership abilities and by the end of the miniseries, Spiers is a legend for his bravery in combat.  A soldier comments that Spiers single handedly took out a German 105mm cannon.  In Part 7 - The Breaking Point, he heroically runs through the German line to hook up with I Company and then unbelievably runs back to Easy Companies line without getting killed. But, he is also suspected to have killed 20 or 30 German POW's after giving and lighting cigarettes for them.  Another tale circulates of how he shot one of his own men for being drunk.  The series never explains Ronald Spiers' religious beliefs and he seems to survive on the fact that he is already dead, a metaphor for the human condition of living in sin.  He remarks to Albert Blithe, "We're all scared.  You hid in that ditch because you think there is still hope.  But Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you are already dead.  And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you will be able to function as a soldier suppose to function.  Without mercy.  Without compassion.  Without remorse.  All war depends on it."  Ronald Spiers is the series symbolic reference for sin and because of sin we are mortal.

Colossians 3:2-3, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (RSV)

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (RSV)

The still photo above is from a scene in Part 3 - Carentan and is also a still that is shown during the opening credits.  It symbolizes our sinful state (Ronald Spiers character) and our need of a Savior.  The dialogue of this scene goes like this: 

Private -  "You mark my words Mal, Berlin by Christmas." 

Ronald Spiers - "Enjoy it while it lasts.  We'll be moving out soon." 

Private - "Out of town Lieutenant, already?" 

Ronald Spiers - "That's right!" 

Private - "Don't they know we're just getting settled here?" 

The scene then shows a close-up of Ronald Spiers' glaring stare.  After he walks off, the soldiers exclaim, "Nice Groucho."  “What?”  "Real Smart."  "You know you are taking your life in your own hands." 

The whole exchange is a metaphor of the seconding coming of Christ and the reality that we will be judged according to our relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is as if Spears glares at the Private to say, Don't you get it, you better confess your sins and be saved before it is too late.  I’ll admit that I am probably reading something into this scene that is not there, but you have to wonder why the director would chose the image of The Crucifix and Ronald Spears to go with the dialogue of this particular scene if it did not have symbolic meaning?

Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.” (RSV)

John 3:17, “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (RSV)

In Part 3; the episode entitled, Carentan, we see a scene in which it shows a heroic Chaplain giving last rites to soldiers, while bullets are hitting all around him.  Warren Muck exclaims to Donald Malarkey, "You see what I'm seeing?"  Amazed by the Chaplain's courage and the fact that enemy fire does not kill him, Malarkey replies, "Crazy fools, the Irish!" The Chaplain's strong conviction of faith is so moving in this scene that it suggests God is protecting him.

Romans 14:8-9, “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” (RSV)

The episode, Part 6 – Bastogne, centers on Medic Eugene Roe, who is dedicated to his duty of caring for the soldiers in Easy Company.  In the opening scene we see a close-up of his Red Cross armband as he kneels down to pick up something.  His middle finger gets pricked and he forces some blood out of this puncture wound.  After Eugene wipes his bloody finger, the camera then shows us the tree line; he then gets up and walks into a area that is littered with dead Americans.  The relationship between the blood, the Red Cross armband and death is symbolic of Christ and the meaning of atonement.  It is from the blood of Christ that death was conquered and we have been wiped clean of sin.

Hebrews 9:22, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (RSV) 

As the Bastogne episode develops, “Doc” Roe gradually becomes desensitized and almost not able to function from all of the death that is experienced. He manages to overcome his numbness after being prodded by another soldier.  He befriends a nurse at the makeshift Regimental Aid Station and is moved by her compassionate touch.

Doc Roe - "You are a good nurse." 

Nurse - "No.  I never want to treat another wounded man again.  I'd rather work in a butcher shop!"

Doc Roe - "But your touch, calms people.  That's a gift from God." 

Nurse - "It's not a gift, God would never give such a painful thing." 

It is unfortunate that she has become so bitter from the war that she has lost the awareness that she is blessed with a special gift. She brings hope to the soldiers she comes in contact with.  After she gave one wounded soldier a drink and touches his head, the soldier comments to the Medic, "I'm in heaven, Doc." 

One scene that gives us insight into Eugene Roe's reason for becoming a medic occurs during a foxhole conversation.  He is speaking to another medic, "You know my grandmother was a "traitours?" (spelling?)  Laid her hands on people and cured them, took away sickness, cancer, you name it.  I remember she used to pray a lot.  Talked to God about the pain she pulled out; asked him to carry it away.  That's what she did."  You can hear the love in Eugene’s voice for his grandmother and his respect for her ability to heal people, which might also explain his attraction to the nurse at the aid station. 

In Part 6 - Bastogne, there is a scene in which we see a soldier’s Christian faith provide him with a sense of security.  The scene shows a Catholic Chaplain giving a worship service and at the conclusion of this mass we hear, "...Amen.  Fight well for your God and Country.  God Bless you all.  And stay safe! " Warren Muck then exclaims, "That's it, Guys!  Nothing to worry about - If we're goanna die now, we're goanna die in a state of grace."  We find out in the next episode that Warren Muck does die.

Romans 5:21, “so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (RSV)

Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is a gift from God—.” (RSV) 

Part 7 - The Breaking Point, includes a moving scene in which Donald Malarkey is about to receive Christ.  The scene occurs after Warren Muck and Alex Penkala are killed in their foxhole by a direct hit from an artillery shell.  The still photo below is from the scene after George Luz gives Donald Malarkey, Muck’s rosary.  The camera shows us a close-up of Malarkey's gloved hands holding the crucifix and then tilts upward to reveal his face shrouded in sadness from the death of his two friends.  You see the inner struggle as Malarkey is starring at the Crucifix thinking about salvation, but then hides the rosary as Lipton comes near.  The voiceover for this scene is of Carwood Lipton: "We were all worried about Malarkey."  Lipton tries to inspire Malarkey by offering him a Luger to take back to his brother.   Malarkey takes the Luger pistol, symbolic of yielding to sin, represented by an instrument of death.

Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.” (RSV)

Matthew 18:7, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!  For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation come!” (RSV)

2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.” (RSV) 

Another scene in The Breaking Point shows the sisters of a Convent serenading the men of Easy Company; in the background we see a crucifix and the voiceover states, "...it was heaven."  The voiceover is that of Carwood Lipton talking about the men who have been killed or wounded in Easy Company, all the while in the background you hear the angelic voices of the sisters.  For added effect, you see the soldiers disappear like ghosts, when their names are spoken – symbolizing that their spirit has left.  This scene is visually very effective and puts a personal perspective on the loss of life caused by war.

John 6:63, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (RSV)

John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (RSV)

1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit;” (RSV)

Romans 8:11, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.” (RSV)

While the soldiers, in the Band of Brothers, never directly refer to a belief that dying in combat will lead to heaven or an afterlife, the series provides scenes of how their spiritual belief gives them the strength to survive.  In each of the episodes we see accounts of self-sacrifice for fellow soldiers.  Some wounded soldiers even leave the hospital early to get back to the line, out of a sense of loyalty to the men in the company. This ten part miniseries showed how these men became a Band of Brothers through the blood that was shed during their combat experiences. 

The heroes who have fought and died for our nation’s causes are buried in cemeteries; some graves are memorialized with a Cross.  On a secular level, these men gave their lives, so that we would be free.  On a divine level, Jesus Christ also gave his life that we would be free – free of sin.  It is because of The Cross of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood that we, as Christians, are also a band of “brothers.”

Galatians 3:26-28, "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (RSV)