Jack E. Foley
Encyclopedia
Captain Jack Edward Foley (August 18, 1922 - September 14, 2009) was a 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
. Foley was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Jamie Bamber
.
with his two brothers. Foley graduated from South Hills High in 1940, then enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
, where during the 1942-43 season he earned a varsity letter as a manager for the university's basketball team
. While at Pittsburgh in his third year, he along with almost twenty other members of his ROTC class were commissioned into military service on June 29, 1943.
and became a paratrooper. He graduated from Officer Candidate School on November 19, 1943. In October 1944, he graduated with his jump wings.
Foley first saw combat in the town of Foy, outside of the Belgian city of Bastogne
, as leader of first platoon. While advancing along with his platoon, they came across a barbed wire fence and encountered three Germans, who were quickly captured. The Germans started taunting them, calling them "dummkopf". There was the platoon sergeant, Staff Sergeant Johnny Martin, along with a few other men whom left the platoon to find assistance. One of them was so sick of hearing "dummkopf" that he decided kill all of the prisoners with his BAR.
When they got to the Central Post, where First Lieutenant Dike and the rest of Foley's platoon were, Lipton said "We want your mortar and we want your machine gun." Each platoon had 60 mm mortar and also a machine gun. He informed Dike that he would take the first platoon, and move forward until they are in position. Snipers in the hay-stack shot two of Foley's men, and he was shot right through his boot. The remaining men launched some grenades on the hay-stack, eliminating the German snipers positioned there. They had poor radio contact during the attack.
Foley also took part in Haguenau
action in February 1945. During the battle, there were many shells of mortars coming in and a lot of fragments flying around all day and night. There was one evening where Foley had to walk up to Regimental HQ because two of his men had been wounded after they were walking around in and out of town searching for any liquor. Foley took one or two hours before reporting to Regimental HQ because his mission was along the way there. Colonel Robert Sink
, whom he had to report to, had just informed to him "Foley, you should have shot those fellows, it saved us all this paperwork". After leaving his office and regrouping with his unit, he had been wounded by all of the bombing taking place in Foy
. Eugene Roe
removed a couple of metal fragments from Foley's right wrist. Two weeks later when Easy Company returned to Mourmelon, he went to regimental medics because his wrist became swollen and soon became infected. Foley then retired from the army as a Captain.
. His mother died in 1949, aged 55. Bill Guarnere was able to find Foley through a letter. After that, Foley attended the Easy Company reunions. He went back to Europe three or four times. Following that, he was employed in advertising newsletters for the Aluminum Cooking Utensil Co. in New Kensington, the Cutco Co. in Olean, N.Y., the Alcoa Wrap Co. in New Kensington and Alcoa in Pittsburgh before retiring in 1982. He and his wife Mary-Lou had five children; Karen, Barbara, John, David, and Nancy. And along with grandchildren; Julia, Elaine and Rita Foley, Mara and Anthony Ferreira, and Kate and Jonathan Neuse. His two brothers predeceased him- Randall James of Texas, and Richard of California. He died of complications of Type 1 diabetes on September 14, 2009.
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...
. Foley was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Jamie Bamber
Jamie Bamber
Jamie Bamber is the stage name of Jamie St. John Bamber Griffith , a British actor known most widely for his roles as Lee Adama on Battlestar Galactica and Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin on the ITV series Law & Order: UK...
.
Youth
Foley was born in 1922 to Randall A., and Viola (née Meahl) Foley. He grew up in BrooklineBrookline (Pittsburgh)
-Early settlement:Brookline was a part of the larger West Liberty Borough before its absorption intoPittsburgh in 1908. Early in its history, the area was mostly inhabited by miners and farmers...
with his two brothers. Foley graduated from South Hills High in 1940, then enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, where during the 1942-43 season he earned a varsity letter as a manager for the university's basketball team
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
. While at Pittsburgh in his third year, he along with almost twenty other members of his ROTC class were commissioned into military service on June 29, 1943.
Military service
In November 1943, Foley served in the Coast Artillery Corps with the rank of First Lieutenant, while defending a part of Puget Sound in Washington. Later on he was transferred to TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and became a paratrooper. He graduated from Officer Candidate School on November 19, 1943. In October 1944, he graduated with his jump wings.
Foley first saw combat in the town of Foy, outside of the Belgian city of 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...
, as leader of first platoon. While advancing along with his platoon, they came across a barbed wire fence and encountered three Germans, who were quickly captured. The Germans started taunting them, calling them "dummkopf". There was the platoon sergeant, Staff Sergeant Johnny Martin, along with a few other men whom left the platoon to find assistance. One of them was so sick of hearing "dummkopf" that he decided kill all of the prisoners with his BAR.
When they got to the Central Post, where First Lieutenant Dike and the rest of Foley's platoon were, Lipton said "We want your mortar and we want your machine gun." Each platoon had 60 mm mortar and also a machine gun. He informed Dike that he would take the first platoon, and move forward until they are in position. Snipers in the hay-stack shot two of Foley's men, and he was shot right through his boot. The remaining men launched some grenades on the hay-stack, eliminating the German snipers positioned there. They had poor radio contact during the attack.
Foley also took part 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...
action in February 1945. During the battle, there were many shells of mortars coming in and a lot of fragments flying around all day and night. There was one evening where Foley had to walk up to Regimental HQ because two of his men had been wounded after they were walking around in and out of town searching for any liquor. Foley took one or two hours before reporting to Regimental HQ because his mission was along the way there. Colonel 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...
, whom he had to report to, had just informed to him "Foley, you should have shot those fellows, it saved us all this paperwork". After leaving his office and regrouping with his unit, he had been wounded by all of the bombing taking place in Foy
Foy, Belgium
Foy is a village in Belgium, near Bastogne.-Battle of the Bulge:In World War II, Foy was occupied by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. The American 101st Airborne Division held the Bois Jacques just outside of town. After being relieved by George S. Patton's Third Army, the 101st retook...
. Eugene Roe
Eugene Roe
-External links:*****...
removed a couple of metal fragments from Foley's right wrist. Two weeks later when Easy Company returned to Mourmelon, he went to regimental medics because his wrist became swollen and soon became infected. Foley then retired from the army as a Captain.
Later years
Foley returned to the University of Pittsburgh to complete his degree and began his career at ALCOAAlcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
. His mother died in 1949, aged 55. Bill Guarnere was able to find Foley through a letter. After that, Foley attended the Easy Company reunions. He went back to Europe three or four times. Following that, he was employed in advertising newsletters for the Aluminum Cooking Utensil Co. in New Kensington, the Cutco Co. in Olean, N.Y., the Alcoa Wrap Co. in New Kensington and Alcoa in Pittsburgh before retiring in 1982. He and his wife Mary-Lou had five children; Karen, Barbara, John, David, and Nancy. And along with grandchildren; Julia, Elaine and Rita Foley, Mara and Anthony Ferreira, and Kate and Jonathan Neuse. His two brothers predeceased him- Randall James of Texas, and Richard of California. He died of complications of Type 1 diabetes on September 14, 2009.