Lester Hashey

Born

1925-02-23

Died

2002-12-11

Birthplace

Bangor, Maine, USA

Biography

Lester A. “Les” Hashey (February 23, 1925 – December 11, 2002) was an American Army non-commissioned officer and World War II veteran. He served with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and later remained in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring as a First Sergeant in 1963. Born in Bangor, Maine, Hashey left his job at a shipyard on his 18th birthday and enlisted in the Army with the goal of becoming a paratrooper. After completing basic and airborne training, he was assigned to an airborne artillery unit and deployed to Europe in 1944. He arrived in Scotland on D-Day, June 6, 1944, having missed the initial airborne assault into Normandy. When the 101st Airborne returned from Normandy, Hashey joined Easy Company and was assigned to Sergeant Denver “Bull” Randleman’s squad. He subsequently participated in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands and the Battle of the Bulge. On January 14, 1945, while fighting near Bastogne, he was seriously wounded when shrapnel struck his shoulder and punctured his lung, ending his combat service. After recovering, Hashey served with a Military Police unit in Belgium before returning to the United States. He reenlisted and later served as a driver for the Army Finance Corps in France, Holland and Belgium before being assigned to Berlin. He also served with the 501st Army Security Agency and in Japan before retiring from the Army in 1963. Following his military career, Hashey worked extensively with the American Red Cross, specializing in swimming, water safety, first aid and lifesaving. He taught swimming and lifesaving for many years, trained military personnel and Special Forces troops in water skills, and directed aquatic schools. He was also involved in the development and teaching of CPR programs and eventually served as a Red Cross water safety and first aid representative. Hashey was interviewed by historian Stephen E. Ambrose during a 1988 Easy Company reunion, contributing to Ambrose’s research for his book Band of Brothers. He later shared his wartime experiences for the HBO documentary We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company. His story was also featured in the 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, in which he was portrayed by Mark Huberman. Hashey died on December 11, 2002, at the age of 77, and was buried at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale, Maine.