Major Dick Winters, of 'Band of Brothers' fame, dies

Luigi59

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Dick Winters, of 'Band of Brothers' fame, dies

Sunday, January 09, 2011, 6:25 PM
Updated: Sunday, January 09, 2011, 8:47 PM

PENNLIVE.COM

Dick Winters, the former World War II commander whose war story was told in the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers,” has died.

Dick Winters led a quiet life on his Fredericksburg farm and in his Hershey home until the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers” threw him into the international spotlight.

Since then, the former World War II commander of Easy Company had received hundreds of requests for interviews and appearances all over the world.

He stood at the podium with President George W. Bush in Hershey during the presidential campaign in 2007. He accepted the “Four Freedoms” award from Tom Brokaw on behalf of the Army. He was on familiar terms with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, producers of the HBO mini-series, the most expensive television series ever produced.

Winters was always gracious about his new-found celebrity, but never really comfortable with it. He never claimed to be a hero and said that he had nothing to do with the national effort to get him the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.

When people asked him if he was a hero, he liked to answer the way his World War II buddy, Mike Ranney, did.

“No,” Ranney said. “But I served in a company of heroes.” That became the tag line for the miniseries.

(Read the rest of the article HERE)
 
It's another loss for the country. As the men and women who served during WWII continue to die I hope we are recording as much of their history as we can possibly preserve.
 
RIP Maj. Winters.

For those who have not read it, I recommend his book.
 
Another of the "Greatest Generation" passes; RIP Major Winters.
 
Sadly we're losing the members of "The Greatest Generation" at over 1,000 a day now.

His actions that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross are STILL viewed as a classic use of infantry against a fixed target.

RIP...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Maj. Winters-

Generations of Europeans have their freedom due to your efforts and those of your comrades. Thank you, and rest in peace.

Currahee!
 
Sadly we're losing the members of "The Greatest Generation" at over 1,000 a day now.

Wow. That's a shocking statistic.

I often wonder if we had to fight that war today, would the civilian population submit to the sacrifices (rationing, travel restrictions, etc) and loss of many of their "rights" but that's another topic.
 
Major Dick Winters....

This is truly a sad day. Major Winters was a truly hero and a example of what is was to be a real soldier. He loved his country and his men. We as americans can use him as a role model of how to do things in our lives and live it, as well. The Harrisburg area, as well as this country will miss him. Thanks for defending freedom and having honor Major Winters. So that I, can live in the greatest country in the world.

God Bless America

God Bless and God Speed,

RGK
 
He was a true hero, and leader of men. He is somebody that is outstanding in his achievements, and should not be forgotten(nor should any of the other men who have fought for our country).

RIP Maj, Winters
 
RIP Major Winters

I was hoping to try to seek him out this summer to thank him and give him a handshake.
 
Randwijk: October 5 1944

Thirty five men under the command of Captain Winters routed two companies of German SS consisting of over 300 men killing 50, capturing 11 and wounding over 100. The cost to Captain Winter's company was one killed and twenty two wounded. This was the last day Winters ever fired his weapon. Captain Winters later stated that this was "Easy Companys" best day

http://views.washingtonpost.com/leadership/guestinsights/2010/05/foosteps-band-of-brothers.html

Don't read the comment section as with the Washington Compost they are mostly inane and/or uninformed.

God Bless The Greatest Generation.
 
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I am thankful for the mini series. I was so (still am) ignorant regarding this history. My teenaged sons (all 3) watched the series but already knew so much more about it than I did at their age. It was one of those shows where I could look over at my tough-guy husband and see such an emotional reaction to the story. Darn pollen! I can only imagine how good the book must be.
Thank you heroes.
 
Major Dick Winters....

For anyone interested there will be a public memorial for Major Winters, Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 1400, at the Hershey Theater, Hershey PA

RGK
 
Maj Winters left us a tremendous legacy as a role model for what a leader is:
....The men Mr. Winters led expressed their admiration for their company commander after learning of his death. William Guarnere, 88, said what he remembers about him was “great leadership.’’

“When he said, ‘Let’s go,’ he was right in the front,’’ Guarnere, who was called Wild Bill by his comrades, said Sunday night from his south Philadelphia home. “He was never in the back. A leader personified.’’.....

Mr. Winters talked about his view of leadership for an August 2004 article in American History magazine. “If you can,’’ he wrote, “find that peace within yourself, that peace and quiet and confidence that you can pass on to others, so that they know that you are honest and you are fair and will help them, no matter what, when the chips are down.’

When people asked whether he was a hero, he echoed the words of his World War II buddy, Mike Ranney: “No, but I served in a company of heroes.’’.....
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/o...nters_his_exploits_inspired_band_of_brothers/
Farewell to a great soldier and a good man.
 
In a story in Franklin & Marshall Magazine in 2003, Winters talked about his definition of leadership:

“It’s something you have within you that gets the job done,” explains Winters, a corporate manager in the feed business before he retired. “You start with a cornerstone—honesty—and from there you build character, you build knowledge. With honesty goes being fair, making decisions, and being right, most of the time.”

http://magazine.fandm.edu/winter03/wn03_story4.html

Great lesson to impart in your MBA classroom and should be the standard for every person looking to become a leader in the military or the corporate world.
 
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