39 Facts About Richard Winters

Richard Davis Winters was a United States Army officer who served as a paratrooper in "Easy Company" of the 506th Infantry Regiment within the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.

Richard Winters's exploits were featured within numerous books and in the 2001 HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, in which he was portrayed by actor Damian Lewis.

Richard Winters graduated from Lancaster Boys High School in 1937 and attended Franklin and Marshall College.

At Franklin and Marshall, Richard Winters was a member of the Upsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and participated in intramural football and basketball.

Richard Winters had to give up wrestling, his favorite sport, and most of his social activities in favor of his studies and the part-time jobs that paid his way through college.

Richard Winters graduated in June 1941 with a bachelor's degree in economics, earning the highest academic standing in the business college.

Richard Winters was inducted into the Army on August 25,1941, at the New Cumberland Reception Center near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Richard Winters was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry after graduating from OCS on July 2,1942.

For some time, Richard Winters had privately held concerns over Sobel's ability to lead the company in combat.

Richard Winters later said that he never wanted to compete with Sobel for command of Easy Company; still, Sobel attempted to bring Richard Winters up on trumped-up charges for "failure to carry out a lawful order".

Richard Winters tried unsuccessfully to talk them out of taking this step.

Richard Winters' court-martial was set aside and he returned to Easy Company as leader of 1st Platoon.

Richard Winters later said he felt that despite his differences with Sobel, at least part of Easy Company's success had been due to Sobel's strenuous training and high expectations.

Later that day, Richard Winters led the Brecourt Manor Assault which successfully destroyed a battery of German 105mm howitzers, which were firing onto the causeways that served as the principal exits from Utah Beach.

The Americans estimated that the guns, which were south of the village of Le Grand-Chemin, were defended by about a platoon of 50 German troops, while Richard Winters had 13 men.

On July 1,1944, Richard Winters was told that he had been promoted to captain.

Richard Winters returned with tank support and the remaining two guns were put out of action, resulting in decreased opposition to our forces landing on the beachhead.

Still serving as XO of the 2nd Battalion, Richard Winters helped defend the line northeast of Bastogne near the town of Foy.

On March 8,1945, the 2nd Battalion was moved to Haguenau in Alsace, after which Richard Winters was promoted to major.

Shortly afterwards, Robert Strayer, now a lieutenant colonel, was elevated to the regimental staff and Richard Winters took over as acting commander of the 2nd Battalion.

Richard Winters finally embarked from Marseille aboard the Wooster Victory on 4 November 1945.

Richard Winters was separated from the Army on November 29,1945, although he was not officially discharged until January 22,1946, and he remained on terminal leave until then.

Richard Winters was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his leadership at Brecourt Manor, but instead received the US Army's second-highest award for combat valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On May 16,1948, Richard Winters married Ethel Estoppey and continued to pursue his education through the GI Bill, attending a number of business and personnel management courses at Rutgers University.

In June 1951, Richard Winters was recalled to active duty in the Army during the Korean War.

Richard Winters was ordered to join the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, but he was given six months to report and in this time he traveled to Washington, DC, to speak to General Anthony McAuliffe, in the hope that he could convince the Army not to send him to Korea.

Richard Winters explained to McAuliffe that he had seen enough of war and apparently McAuliffe understood his position, but explained that he was needed because of his command experience.

Richard Winters then reported to Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he was assigned as a regimental planning and training officer.

Richard Winters then received orders to deploy to Korea and traveled to Seattle, where, during pre-deployment administration, he was offered the option of resigning his commission, which he accepted.

In 1972, Richard Winters went into business for himself, starting his own company and selling animal feed products to farmers throughout Pennsylvania.

Richard Winters attended the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 22,2002 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles when the Band of Brothers miniseries was nominated in multiple categories.

When it won Outstanding Miniseries, Richard Winters spoke at co-creator and executive producer Steven Spielberg's invitation on behalf of Easy Company while other surviving members of the company watched from the Los Angeles St Regis Hotel.

Richard Winters gave a number of lectures on leadership to cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Richard Winters died on January 2,2011, at an assisted living facility in Campbelltown, Pennsylvania, aged 92.

Richard Winters had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years.

Richard Winters was buried in a private funeral service, which was held on January 8,2011.

Richard Winters was buried in the Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, next to his parents in the Winters' family plot.

Richard Winters's grave is marked "Richard D Winters, World War II 101st Airborne".

Richard Winters agreed for the statue to bear his resemblance on the condition that the monument would be dedicated to all junior officers who served and died during the Normandy landings.