Denver Randleman
Encyclopedia
Staff Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman (November 20, 1920 – June 26, 2003) was a non-commissioned officer
with Easy Company
, 2nd Battalion
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, in the 101st Airborne Division
of the United States Army during World War II
. Randleman, who was commonly known by his nickname "Bull" Randleman, was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Michael Cudlitz
.
. Dropping out of high school during his junior year, he left Rector during the Great Depression
looking for work and ended up in a foundry
in Michigan
. He enlisted in the United States Army
on August 19, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
shortly after the United States
' entry into World War II
.
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, 101st Airborne. Bull's training originated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in August 1942 under Captain Herbert Sobel.
On June 6, 1944, Randleman, along with the rest of the 101st, 82nd, and British 6th Airborne Divisions, dropped into France, eventually regrouping with Easy Company after missing his landing zone, a fate suffered by many men that night.
During the failed Operation Market Garden
in September 1944, Randleman was separated from his unit, and injured in the shoulder during a tank explosion. Unable to return to his lines, he spent most of the following night hiding in a nearby barn. During a search by members of his unit the following day, Randleman was found, his men believing him to be KIA
.
Randleman later participated in the Battle of the Bulge
, and survived to the end of the war, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
According to former Easy Company commanding officer, Major Richard Winters
, Bull was one of the best soldiers he ever had.
. He spent the last years of his life in Texarkana, Arkansas
. He died of a staph infection at the age of 82 on June 26, 2003.
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
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...
. Randleman, who was commonly known by his nickname "Bull" Randleman, was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Michael Cudlitz
Michael Cudlitz
Michael Cudlitz is an American actor. He can be seen in the TNT drama Southland, starring as John Cooper, and the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers as Sgt. Denver "Bull" Randleman.-Life and career:...
.
Youth
Randleman was born in Rector, ArkansasRector, Arkansas
Rector is a city in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,017 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rector is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Dropping out of high school during his junior year, he left Rector during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
looking for work and ended up in a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on August 19, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
shortly after the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' entry into 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...
.
Military service
He was a member of the famed Band of Brothers of Easy CompanyE 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...
, 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 ....
, 101st Airborne. Bull's training originated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in August 1942 under Captain Herbert Sobel.
On June 6, 1944, Randleman, along with the rest of the 101st, 82nd, and British 6th Airborne Divisions, dropped into France, eventually regrouping with Easy Company after missing his landing zone, a fate suffered by many men that night.
During the failed 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 September 1944, Randleman was separated from his unit, and injured in the shoulder during a tank explosion. Unable to return to his lines, he spent most of the following night hiding in a nearby barn. During a search by members of his unit the following day, Randleman was found, his men believing him to be KIA
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
.
Randleman later participated 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...
, and survived to the end of the war, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.
According to former Easy Company commanding officer, Major Richard Winters
Richard Winters
Major Richard "Dick" D. Winters was a United States Army officer and decorated war veteran. He commanded Company "E", 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, during World War II....
, Bull was one of the best soldiers he ever had.
Decorations
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...- Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941... 
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign MedalThe European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
World War II Victory Medal
Later years
After the war, Randleman attended trade school and eventually became service manager for a Caterpillar equipment dealer. Later on, he married Vera, and they had two children. He became a successful businessman and was superintendent of a construction contractor in LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He spent the last years of his life in Texarkana, Arkansas
Texarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
. He died of a staph infection at the age of 82 on June 26, 2003.
External links
- Denver Randleman's story on Peter van de Wal's website
- Find A Grave
- Former WWII paratrooper 'Bull' Randleman dies