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-Obits-

A true hero leaves us. Major Winters dies.

2011-01-10

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Maj. Richard "Dick" Winters, the man whose quiet leadership was chronicled in the World War II book and television miniseries "Band of Brothers," has died in central Pennsylvania.

Winters died Jan. 2, a family friend confirmed Monday. Winters was 92. He lived in Hershey but died in Palmyra, Pa.

In September 1944, Winters led 20 men in a successful attack on 200 German soldiers. He and his men later helped hold the Bastogne area of Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge.

The exploits of Winters and the other members of Easy Company were chronicled in the Stephen Ambrose book "Band of Brothers" and later the HBO miniseries of the same name. Winters also published a memoir in 2006 entitled "Beyond Band of Brothers."

Winters was buried in a private funeral. Arrangements for a public memorial service are pending.
Let us all pause a moment to remember the true heroes that kept this country free.
A selfless man, a leader, a hero, a citizen. Thank you, sir.
AoS at 1310 CT: pic added; found this at Ace.

Posted by:DarthVader

#8 My dad was a 155mm howitzer gunner at Bastogne. There were two batteries of six/eight, I'm not sure how many, attached to the 101st. Some of the tales he told...

Posted by: Old Patriot 2011-01-10 20:53

#7 David winters not only was an officer but led out front and was true soldier who went no where he wouldn't ask the men following him. Not too take away anything did from the men who did get the MOH throughout the years but if anyone whoever deserved it this man sure did. Not just one D day but throughtout the entire war in Europe.

Posted by: chris 2011-01-10 18:23

#6 There is an campaign to get him the MOH:

Link: Major Dick Winters Website

Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-01-10 18:02

#5 God bless Major Winters.

Posted by: JohnQC 2011-01-10 17:54

#4 I heard somewhere that the only reason he didn't get the Medal of Honor for taking out the German battery was that the military leaders had decided ahead of time that there would only be on MOH for the whole Normandy landing.

Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2011-01-10 17:51

#3 My father was in the 7th Armored from the Ardennes offensive all the way through to V-E Day. They ran a BoB marathon one Memorial Day weekend a few years ago, and I made a point of having my two boys watch it. It's probably as close as I'll ever get to experiencing what my father did, and I hope my boys never have to get any closer.

Oh, and that attack on the German battery at Brécourt Manor on D-Day? Thirteen paratroopers against an emplaced battery defended by entrenched infantry? It happened more or less exactly as they depicted it in BoB. Whatever else you might say about Maj. Winters, he was one seriously badass individual. Rest in peace.

Posted by: Mike 2011-01-10 17:33

#2 I have (and watched) the series and read the book. What I got from it was that he was an example of true leadership. Not just a 'manager' or 'boss' (or 'commander') but a real leader who balances the concern of those under his command with obtaining the objectives and makes it work out.

In my limited experiences I've only known a few men like that.

Rest in Peace - you richly deserve it.

Posted by: CrazyFool 2011-01-10 15:25

#1 I've watched BoB many times and visited Normandy and Bastonge last year. I was humbled to walk in the footsteps of men like Major Winters - a real hero. Read "Beyong Band of Brothers" if you have a chance. Rest in peace Major.

Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2011-01-10 13:38

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