Eugene “Doc” Roe, was a medic, serving with E-Company, 506th PIR, a unit that became famous by the “Band of Brothers” T.V.-series.

Eugene was borne in 1922, in Bayou Chene, Louisiana. Upon entering the paratroops, he was assigned to become a medic, although he had no medical background. The reason for that was simple: they just didn’t had enough medics.

Eugene became a well known and highly respected comrad amongst E-Company troopers: “He was born to be a medic and the best we could ever have.”

In an interview with Steven Ambrose, 1st Lieutenant Jack E. Foley, mentioned his recollections about Eugene: “He was there when he was needed and how he got there, you often wondered. He never received recognition for his bravery. I recommended him for a Silver Star after a devastating firefight when his exploits were typically outstanding. If any man who struggled in the snow and the cold, in the many attacks, through the open en through the woods, ever deserved such a medal, it was our medic, Gene Roe.”

‘Doc Roe’ served through all major campaigns from the Normandy jump to Holland during Operation “Market-Garden”. He and his comrads went through hell in Bastogne. In the T.V.-series, Eugene meets Renée Lemaire, a Belgian nurse and they develop a bond. Although nurse Lemaire was in Bastogne at the time, there is no proof Eugene ever met her for real. Finally, the 101st Airborne Division pushes its way into Germany, were they stumble upon the ‘Kaufering IV’ concentration camp, near Landsberg. Eugene helped treating the surviving Jewish prisoners, witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust.

After the war Eugene became a construction contractor. He married and had 2 daughters, ‘Marlene’ and ‘Maxine’ and a son ‘Eugene Jr.’ During his life, Eugene went to many of the ‘Band of Brothers’ reunions, until he died of cancer in 1998. By the time of his death, Eugene knew his story would be told.

His grandson Michael once asked Eugene how he found the guts to run from foxhole to foxhole in the midst of battle, to save other mens life, adding to the question that he, himself, would never dare to. Eugene’s answer was very clear: “That’s because your generation, up till now, never had to deal with a situation that poses a threat to your freedom. Once it does, I’m sure you will do the same.”