Richard Winters

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Lore & Background

Born in New Holland, Pennsylvania, Winters graduated from Lancaster Boys High School in 1937 and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Franklin and Marshall College in June 1941, achieving the highest academic standing in his business college. He joined the U.S. Army on August 25, 1941, initially training at Camp Croft before attending Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he graduated as a second lieutenant on July 2, 1942. During training, he befriended Lewis Nixon and chose to volunteer for the airborne forces despite having "no desire to get into the war," feeling only a "strong sense of duty." He arrived at Camp Toccoa in mid-August 1942 as part of Company E (Easy Company), serving under First Lieutenant Herbert Sobel. Winters became platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon, earning promotion to first lieutenant in October 1942 and acting company executive officer by May 1943. Tensions with Sobel peaked in late 1943 when Winters faced trumped-up charges; after his punishment was set aside by Major Robert L. Strayer, he was temporarily moved to Headquarters Company before returning as leader of the 1st Platoon following an ultimatum from Non-Commissioned Officers demanding Sobel's removal.

In Their Own Story

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the C-47 Skytrain carrying most of the Easy Company Headquarters Section was shot down near Sainte-Mère-Église, killing everyone on board. Winters landed safely but lost his weapon; he nevertheless oriented himself and assembled several paratroopers, including members of the 82nd Airborne Division, to head toward their objective near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. With Company Commander Thomas Meehan missing (later confirmed dead), Winters became the de facto commanding officer for the remainder of the Normandy campaign. Later that day, he led the Brécourt Manor Assault with just 13 men against a German battery of four 88-mm guns defended by about 50 troops. The Americans estimated the guns were firing on the causeways exiting Utah Beach. Winters advanced through intense enemy automatic weapons fire to disable two guns, withdrew for reinforcements, and returned with tank support to destroy the remaining two. During this action, he also secured a map showing German gun emplacements near Utah Beach.

Reader's Guide

On July 1, 1944, Winters was promoted to captain. The following day, Lieutenant General Omar Bradley presented him with the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on June 6. The citation highlights how he and seven enlisted men advanced through fire to put two guns out of action, then returned with tank support to destroy the remaining two, significantly decreasing opposition to landing forces. After the Normandy campaign, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment returned to Aldbourne, England, for reorganization before deploying to the Netherlands in September 1944 for Operation Market Garden. On October 5, 1944, a German force threatened the 2nd Battalion's flank near Son; Winters took one squad from the 1st Platoon and moved toward a crossroads where they observed a German machine gun firing on battalion headquarters.

Did You Know?

• Winters graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in June 1941 with the highest academic standing in his business college.
• During the Brécourt Manor assault, Winters led only 13 men against approximately 50 German troops defending four artillery pieces.
• After facing unjust charges from commander Herbert Sobel, Winters' court-martial was set aside by battalion commander Major Robert L. Strayer.
• Winters served as the de facto commanding officer of Easy Company after the plane carrying his predecessor, Thomas Meehan, was shot down on D-Day.
• The Brécourt Manor assault led by Winters is taught at West Point as a textbook example of an assault on a fixed position by a numerically inferior force.