 The title of the series (and of Stephen Ambrose (qv)s book) is  from William Shakespeare (I) (qv)s "Henry V": "This story[of the  battle] shall the good man teach his son, And Crispin Crispian shall  neer go by From this day to the ending of the world But we in it  shall be remembered We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For  he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he  neer so vile, This day shall gentle his condition."