Sobel, though, was universally hated as a 'chickenshit' officer: petty meanness, careerism and sadism that did nothing to help win the war and everything to turn the men sour against him. Officers were almost universally respected, especially Winters. From 5300 enlisted me, only 1800 made it through. In the 506th PIR, From 500 officers, only 148 made it through. There was a competitive atmosphere and it was difficult to make it through the training without washing out. Comrades are closer than friends, closer than brothers.' () 'The result of these shared experiences was a closeness unknown to all outsiders. Currahee, the hill next to the camp, was where they ran 3 miles up and 3 miles down several times a week. There was an intense training regime that made sure of this. They all had a desire to be and be among the best, because their view was that it was better to be in front in the most danger with someone you could rely on, than instead further back with someone you couldn't. They all had a love of country, even after the preceding lean years they had all experienced. They had a hunger to do, to be and to act. The men who had volunteered to become paratroopers were children of the depression era.
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