Surrounded by Nazi troops and tanks and facing bitter cold with no winter clothing and limited food rations, Winters and the rest of the st held back the Germans and, along with other allied units, eventually repelled the enemy offensive. A short time later, Winters left the Army with the rank of major and never saw combat again. He went on to become a successful businessman and a public speaker. Kingseed, who considered Winters his best friend, said he "epitomized the citizen soldier" who won World War II.
David Petraeus, who has commanded the st Airborne Division during his career, said in a statement on Monday that "Major Winters embodied the very best of what a leader and soldier should be. He and the men of Easy Company lived the "brotherhood of the close fight. Steven Spielberg, the Hollywood mogul who produced the "Band of Brothers" mini-series, issued a release Monday saying in part, "Dick Winters was at the vanguard of representing 'The Greatest Generation' in bringing honor to all his Band of Brothers.
He would have simply asked all of us to never forget how his generation served this nation and the world in WWII. Reaction also came from Tom Hanks, who co-produced the series, and from the actor who played Winters in "Band of Brothers. He graduated from OCS and was commissioned a 2d Lt of Infantry on July 2, , and then returned to Camp Croft as a training officer before being accepted into the parachute infantry.
He deployed with his unit to England in September , and participated in the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, , with a parachute jump behind enemy lines. During this time he participated in the parachute jump during Operation Market Garden in September , and he later participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was promoted to Major in March , and took command of the 2nd Battalion of the th PIR the same month, serving in this position until the end of the war. This was written by David J. The st Airborne had jumped into Normandy on June 6th, I believe that his son was later shot down and killed in Vietnam while flying an F-5C jet. I saw Saving Private Ryan in the first week it opened at theaters. I will never forget the first 15 minutes.
Beautiful poem. I remember the one at the end though and that was not him. However, until I re-watch, I rather doubt it.
Hanks and Spielberg made the miniseries from it, but that was after Saving Private Ryan was filmed. Hanks and Spielberg may not have known the Major at the time that movie was being created. Winters was a private man and somehow I cannot imagine him doing a cameo in a movie, but I certainly could be wrong. The exception to that of course are the interviews of the vets themselves included in the miniseries.
Connie Andrews. Major Winters was one of the best of the best. I have read just about everything there is to read about him. He is the epitome of the American citizen soldier who rose through the ranks because he got the job done. What makes me respect and honor Dick Winters is that he achieved this with the undying loyalty of his men. These are the men who won the war, came home and help build rebuild America.
They were the greatest generation. Curahee Dick Winters! Thank so much for your note. Major Winters was a natural leader and I completely agree that they were the greatest generation. Not that these men needed a TV series to get the recognition but Band of Brothers, I believe, made the future generations, who really did not know much about that generation, FEEL it.
Lovely post to start reading at the beginning of the year. Winters was the epitome of soldier and leader. As Damian says he was always honest and his presence commanded respect, which is rare. Because power and respect might not come hand in hand always. Sometimes just fear and power come. I think that it was his values and honesty which made him courageous and charismatic with everyone.
As Connie mentioned in that first beautiful story he was inspiring. Though Damian is not American, he is very respectful and understands much more the american accent, the spirit of each of his roles which in essence comes from the american culture. I think you should write a book. As I have said some time before your writing is beautiful and we all would make good use of a Winters book on leadership or inspiration…I heard JaniaJania told me there are some on the mafia….
I personally dont find very inspiring reading anything about crime but instead about great and sometimes unnoticed heroes like him. If it was not for the book and the miniseries I would have never known about his story. Thank you for reading us, for your kind compliments and for your support! They were not super heroes, they were ordinary men that became heroes in war so future generations could live in peace.
No wonder they are called the greatest generation. You are very kind. But thanks so much for your kind words about the writing on the blog. I never knew I had this in me until I started the blog. Well, writing has always been part of my life since I need to write for the job but writing academic papers is quite different than turning an inspiration into words.
But the kind of writing I do here feels kind of therapy. It is soothing. I agree with you. We will never comprehend the effort of that generation. But we live to see the benefits of their sacrifice. We still live in a free world with its ups and downs but we are lucky to have freedom of thought etc.
I can imagine its different writing here than in your daily job. But believe me you are a passionate and smart writer, give yourself the benefit of the doubt, you never know where life might take you. I wish the same that this be a peacef year and that conflicts and wars end…I truly hope so! Elisa, there are already some good books on Major Winters. This was the Dick Winters — simply Winters to his close friends — who would invite high school history teachers to his Derry Twp.
There, they'd spend hours in Winters' upstairs study listening to history firsthand. This was the friend who loved going out for breakfast or lunch at one of the local eateries he favored. Winters was famous for ordering the soup special and splitting a tuna melt with whoever he was eating with. That way, the solider with a sweet tooth always had room for dessert. This was the Dick Winters who bravely fought the war only so that he could return to the quiet place he dreamed about between battles.
Leaving the war behind, Winters made good on his battlefield promise. He built a business and raised a family. Crisp military salutes gave way to firm handshakes. Suddenly, quiet Dick Winters was being deluged with interview requests and offers to speak all over the country.
He ended up penning his own book based on his wartime memories. He gave speeches to military brass and high schoolers alike.
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