Norman Dike

This real-life character from the famous HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” is often remembered for his controversial and challenging leadership during the Battle of Normandy. Lieutenant Norman Dike Jr. was a complex man, whose actions and decisions had a profound impact on his fellow soldiers and the overall mission. This character study will explore aspects of his character, actions, and their significance in the context of leadership and wartime stress.

The Early Years

Norman Staunton Dike Junior was born on May 19th, 1918. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and boasted a mother from the infamous New York “Biddle Jewellery family”. His father was a New York State Supreme Court Judge. Norman worked hard through his school years, graduating from St Paul’s School in 1937. He went on to university and was a 1941 graduate of Brown University. He did move to Yale Law School but did not graduate at that time.

Signing up

Norman Dike became a Lieutenant in the US Army sometime before 25 May 1942. He was listed as the regimental S-2 (Intelligence Officer) during the time in the Uk, immediately before the 506th departed for the D-Day Marshalling areas. He was moved from Division HQ to Easy Company in the first week of November 1944. He was Company Commander.

Norman Dike was a young officer when assigned to Easy Company, which was led by the legendary Major Richard Winters. When Dike first appeared on the scene, he seemed out of place, lacking the combat experience and leadership skills that were crucial for the elite paratroopers. This immediately raised concerns among the men, who had come to trust and rely on their seasoned leaders

Battle of Foy

Dike had a chance to prove his worth as a leader and gain the respect of his men. The defining moments came during the infamous Battle of Foy. Easy Company was tasked with taking the Belgian town of Foy from German forces. Major Winters had previously established a reputation with his men for leading from the front, making calculated decisions, and inspiring his men by his example. However, Dike’s leadership was quite the opposite. He hesitated, appeared indecisive, and often delegated crucial decisions to his subordinates, causing confusion and frustration among the troops

Dike’s inability to effectively command his men in the heat of the Battle of Foy had dire consequences. Easy Company faced heavy German resistance in Foy, and the delay in taking the town cost many lives. Dike’s leadership, or lack thereof, resulted in unnecessary casualties and strained the already tense relationships within the unit. During the assault, Carwood Lipton, at that time the company’s first sergeant, described Dike as having “fallen apart.” Clancy Lyall stated that he saw that Dike had been wounded in his right shoulder and that it was the wound, not panic, that caused Dike to stop. This has been debated as to whether a wound occurred and there are conflicting stories. Dike survived the assault, and eventually returned to the rear in the company of a medic. Dike was relieved during fighting at Foy by First Lieutenant Ronald Spiers under orders from Captain Winters.

506

Afterwards, he was transferred to 506th Regimental Headquarters to become an assistant operations officer. Dike then moved on to become, as a captain, an aide to General Maxwell Taylor, Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division. He later served in the Korean War

After World War II, Dike remained in the Army Active Reserve and served during the Korean War, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He resigned in 1957.

 

Thoughts of others

Dike was a poor soldier and leader and was often unavailable during combat; these traits earned him the pejorative nickname of “Foxhole Norman” among the members of Easy Company. In his autobiography, (Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Richard Winters), Winters spoke in unflattering detail about Dike. Likewise, in Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends, Bill Guarnere and Edward “Babe” Heffron do not refer to him favourably either.

After the war

After the war, Dike received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1947. He became a member of the New York Bar in 1949 and the District of Columbia Bar in 1954. From 1950–1953, he was a U.S. Commissioner in Japan. He also worked for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1951–1953. He practiced law in New York City and in Washington, DC.

In 1960, he became a permanent resident of Switzerland. He was an officer of the U.S. Uranium Company, United Western Minerals Company and other oil and mining interests in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada. He died in Rolle, Switzerland, on June 23, 1989.

Actor: Peter O`Meara

Examining Dike in episode 7 of Band of Brothers

Episode 7, The Breaking Point, highlights the importance of leadership under extreme circumstances. In war, decisive leadership can be a matter of life and death. Dike’s leadership failures stand in stark contrast to the effective leadership demonstrated by Major Winters and other officers within Easy Company. It illustrates the impact that a single leader’s actions, or lack thereof, can have on the morale and effectiveness of an entire unit.

The portrayal of Dike’s character in “Band of Brothers” also raises questions about the psychological toll of combat. It’s important to note that Dike was not necessarily a bad person or entirely incompetent as an officer. Rather, he struggled to cope with the intense pressure and fear that come with combat situations. This is a common theme in war literature and history – the impact of stress, fear, and trauma on soldiers’ ability to lead and make sound decisions.

Dike’s story is a reminder of the complexities of human behaviour under extreme stress. It’s easy to judge his actions from the comfort of hindsight, but war is a chaotic and emotionally charged environment that can push individuals to their limits. While Dike’s leadership is often criticized, it’s crucial to remember that not every soldier responds to combat in the same way, and some may require more support and understanding to perform effectively.

In the series, Lieutenant Dike is portrayed as being incompetent. In real life he performed many acts of heroics. For example, Dike was awarded a Bronze Star for his action at Uden, Holland, with the 101st Airborne Division between 23 and 25 September 1944, in which he “organized and led scattered groups of parachutists in the successful defence of an important road junction on the vital Eindhoven-Arnhem Supply Route against superior and repeated attacks, while completely surrounded.” Dike was awarded a second Bronze Star for his action at Bastogne, in which “he personally removed from an exposed position, in full enemy view, three wounded members of his company, while under intense small arms fire” on 3 January 1945.

The character of Dike in “Band of Brothers” provides a thought-provoking case study of leadership in wartime. His actions and decisions, while controversial and detrimental to his unit, shed light on the challenges of leadership under extreme stress. It serves as a reminder of the importance of effective leadership in the military and the lasting impact it can have on the lives of those who serve.