Herbert Sobel

About Herbert Sobel

Who is it?: U.S. Army Officer
Birth Day: January 26, 1912
Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois, United States, United States
Died On: 30 September 1987(1987-09-30) (aged 75)\nWaukegan, Illinois, U.S.
Birth Sign: Aquarius
Allegiance: United States of America
Service/branch: United States Army
Years of service: 1940–47, ca. 1950–53
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service number: 0304109
Unit: Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars: World War II Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Korean War
Awards: Bronze Star American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal
Relations: Max H. Sobel (father) Dora Friedman (mother) Julian (brother) Maxine (sister) Ruth/Caryl (sister) Reeva (wife) Herbert Jr. (son) Michael (son) Rick (son)
Other work: Accountant

Herbert Sobel Net Worth

Herbert Sobel was born on January 26, 1912 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, United States, is U.S. Army Officer. Herbert M. Sobel Sr. was a commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, a well-known company in the US Army. He fought in the 101st Airborne Division during the World War II. Some of the veterans who served under Herbert described him as “an inflexible tyrant of a drill sergeant”. According to them, he was a man “who drew hard lines over petty issues”. He was described as an incompetent leader, who would get his team members killed in the battle, which ultimately led to his removal from his position of leadership. He was also a poor map-reader, which led to several wrong decisions. Sobel was a hated man and this perpetuated a lifetime of misery for him. Although he was not a fundamentally bad person, he was portrayed as one because of the circumstance in which he was placed. Despite his shortcomings, Sobel was a strategist, and he played a vital role in shaping the Easy Company. Sobel’s role as a drill sergeant was to train young soldiers into hardened, combat warriors. His later life was a sad one. In 1970, he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the head. The bullet left him blind for the rest of his life. He died on September 30, 1987, due to malnutrition. No services were held for him after his death, and none of his family members attended his funeral. He was later characterized in the HBO miniseries titled ‘Band of Brothers,’ based on the book of the same name by historian Stephen Ambrose.
Herbert Sobel is a member of Military Leaders

💰 Net worth: Under Review

Some Herbert Sobel images

Biography/Timeline

1912

Herbert M. Sobel Sr. (26 January 1912 – 30 September 1987) was a commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Sobel was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by David Schwimmer.

1945

Sobel returned to the United States in 1945, and worked as an accountant before being recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He remained in the Army National Guard, eventually retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He later married, and had three children.

1987

In 1970, Sobel attempted suicide when he shot himself in the head with a small-caliber pistol. The bullet entered his left temple, passed behind his eyes, and exited out the other side of his head. This severed his optic nerves and left him blind. He entered a VA assisted living facility in Waukegan, Illinois. He resided there for his last seventeen years until his death due to malnutrition on 30 September 1987. No services were held for him after his death.

2013

Sobel volunteered for the paratroopers soon after the outbreak of World War II and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Promoted to first lieutenant, Sobel commanded Company E for all of their basic training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He trained his men intensely, and was eventually promoted to the rank of captain in recognition of his ability as a trainer. Yet for all of that – Sobel was despised by his Soldiers for being petty and vindictive.