Life Edward Shames, last of the surviving WWII officers who inspired HBO’s ‘Band of Brothers,’ dies at 99 December 5, 2021Bill Keveney, USA TODAYComments Off on Edward Shames, last of the surviving WWII officers who inspired HBO’s ‘Band of Brothers,’ dies at 99 Shames, who took part in D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, was in Easy Company, the unit that inspired the 'Band of Brothers' book and miniseries.