Ronald Speirs
Ronald Speirs | |
|---|---|
Speirs in Austria, 1945 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Sparky", "Killer", "Bloody", "The Dog" |
| Born | April 20, 1920 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | April 11, 2007 (aged 86) St. Marie, Montana, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1964 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Service number | 0-439465 |
| Unit | Dog Company/Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart (1) Army Commendation Medal |
| Relations | Elsie (2nd wife) Robert (son) |
| Other work | Governor of Spandau Prison, Red Army Liaison Officer |
Ronald Charles Speirs (20 April 1920 – 11 April 2007) was a United States Army officer who served in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Speirs was reassigned to D Company of the 2nd Battalion before the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and later assigned as commander of E Company during an assault on Foy, Belgium, after the siege of Bastogne was broken during the Battle of the Bulge. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain. Speirs served in the Korean War, as a major commanding a rifle company and as a staff officer. He later became the American governor for Spandau Prison in Berlin. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.