In 1945, Shames secured bottles of cognac designated for Hitler’s use during his tour of duty for the US army. He opened his first bottle in 1961 for his son's bar mitzvah.
Ed Shames, the last surviving officer and oldest surviving member of Easy Company, attends the American Veterans Center’s "2019 American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes" Veterans Day Special at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC Oct. 26, 2019 (photo credit: PAUL MORIGI/GETTY IMAGES)ByRON KAMPEAS/JTA
