We did it for you, son

1:20pm Thursday 14th September 2006

US ARMY veterans and fans of the TV series Band of Brothers were delighted to meet a nine-year-old dressed in a perfect replica of the uniform of the time.

Sam Lane, a pupil of St Michael's Primary School in Aldbourne, has been a fan of Steven Spielberg's acclaimed TV mini-series since he was told that events depicted in it took place in his village.

Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Regiment of the American Army was billeted in the village while they prepared for the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944 and established a warm and close relationship with villagers.

They keep coming back, accompanied by their fellow countrymen who are interested in that period of their history or by people who were impressed by the TV show.

Sam was even more impressed when he met "Wild" Bill Guarnere, one member of Easy Company who had a high profile in the making of Band of Brothers, largely because of his huge personality and his war record.

Mr Guarnere lost his leg during the Battle of the Bulge, an episode depicted in the series.

He was most impressed by Sam's turnout. He said: "He's a great kid. This is why we did it, you know. For the next generation."

Sam's father Matt said: "We let Sam watch the series because we felt it was important that he knew what happened in the war.