R.I.P. Major Dick Winters

Richard D. Winters, the quiet, religious, teetotaling warrior made famous by the Stephen Ambrose book Band of Bothers died Jan. 2. He would have turned 93 on Jan. 21.

The book would be turned into a widely watched mini-series on HBO in 2001.

Winter’s death was announced after a private funeral service that was held on Saturday.

Winters was born in Ephrata, Pa. He lived much of his life after World War II in Hershey from where he ran a state-wide business selling animal feed products to farmers.

Band of Brothers is the story of  Easy Company or Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, which saw near constant action from D-Day until the surrender of Germany.

Winters would rise to be company commander then to battalion acting commander leaving service with the rank of major.

Winters received numerous medals including the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest military honor. The Distinguished Service Cross was bestowed for destroying a German battery of 105 mm howitzers during the Battle of Normandy in what is know as the Brecourt Manor Assault and is used at West Point as an example as to how small-unit tactics can overcome a larger enemy force.

An attempt is being made to upgrade Winters medal to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

 

R.I.P. Major Dick Winters

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