Who Is Ronald Speirs? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ronald Speirs was born on April 20, 1920, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and passed away in 2007. He served as a highly respected officer in the US Army during World War II, known for his courageous leadership and tactical skills. Through his experiences, he became an iconic figure, particularly within the ranks of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was made famous by the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers." As of 2025, Speirs would have been 105 years old.
| Occupation | Other |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 20, 1920 |
| Age | 86 Years |
| Birth Place | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | |
| Date of death | 11 April, 2007 |
| Died Place | St. Marie, Montana, United States |
Popularity
Ronald Speirs's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Ronald Speirs was known for his commanding presence. While exact statistics on his height and weight at the height of his military career are not widely documented, he was typically described as being of average stature for a man of his time. His physical fitness was evident through his ability to undertake rigorous military training and operations during World War II.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Ronald Speirs was known to have married and had a family; however, details on his personal relationships remain relatively private. He cherished close ties with his fellow soldiers and those who served with him, maintaining strong friendships throughout his life. Unfortunately, information about his relationships, including any potential dates, is scant.
The 1992 Stephen E. Ambrose book Band of Brothers claimed Speirs' English wife had left him and returned to her first husband, whom she had believed died during the war. Speirs denied this claim. In a 1992 letter to Winters, Speirs wrote that his first wife simply did not want to move to America with him and be away from her family in England.
He also stated his wife was never a widow to begin with and that he had always loved her.
Net Worth and Salary
While exact figures regarding Ronald Speirs' net worth are unavailable, he had a successful career in the military and was later involved in business ventures after retiring from active service. During his military career, officers like Speirs were known to earn modest salaries by today's standards, but his heroics and later life likely provided him with a comfortable financial status, if not considerable wealth.
Career, Business and Investments
Following his highly decorated career in the military, where he fought valiantly in various significant campaigns during WWII, Speirs transitioned into a career in business. He held several corporate positions and was known to invest wisely, though specific business interests have not been widely publicized. His legacy, however, remains firmly rooted in his military service and the profound impact he had on those around him.
Ronald Charles Speirs (20 April 1920 – 11 April 2007) was a United States Army officer who served in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He was initially assigned as a platoon leader in B Company of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Speirs was reassigned to D Company of the 2nd Battalion before the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and later assigned as commander of E Company during an assault on Foy, Belgium, after the siege of Bastogne was broken during the Battle of the Bulge. He finished the war in the European Theater as a captain.
Speirs served in the Korean War, as a major commanding a rifle company and as a staff officer. He later became the American governor for Spandau Prison in Berlin. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.
Social Network
Ronald Speirs was not known for maintaining a prominent presence on social networks, particularly as social media in its modern form did not exist during his lifetime. However, in later years, discussions around his life and experiences flourished online, especially due to the resounding impact of "Band of Brothers" and various military history forums that delve into his legendary status.
Winters assessed Speirs as being one of the finest combat officers in the battalion. He wrote in his memoirs that Speirs had worked hard to earn a reputation as a killer and had often killed for shock value.
Winters said that Speirs was alleged on one occasion to have killed six German prisoners of war with a Thompson submachine gun and that the battalion leadership must have been aware of the allegations, but chose to ignore the charges because of the pressing need to retain qualified combat leaders.
Winters concluded that in today's army, Speirs would have been court-martialed and charged with atrocities, but at the time officers like Speirs were too valuable since they were not afraid to engage the enemy. Decades after the war, in an interview with then-Pennsylvania state representative John D.
Payne, Winters stated that the legal department for publisher Simon & Schuster was concerned that the allegations surrounding Speirs could lead to a lawsuit, leading Winters to directly confront him about the rumor. Winters went on to say that Speirs not only confirmed the allegation, but wrote a letter to that effect.
Education
Speirs graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he laid the foundation for his remarkable career as an army officer. The education he received there, combined with his extensive field experiences during WWII, were pivotal in shaping his tactical acumen and leadership qualities.
He emigrated with his family to the United States, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, on 25 December 1924. He attended military training in high school, which led to a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the infantry of the United States Army.
