A true hero...

aptech77 · 01-10-2011, 09:58 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40994986...-lancaster_pa/

"I am still haunted by the names and faces of young men, young airborne troopers who never had the opportunity to return home after the war and begin their lives anew. Like most veterans who have shared the hardship of combat, I live with flashbacks--distant memories of an attack on a battery of German artillery on D-Day, an assault on Carentan, a bayonet attack on a dike in Holland, the cold of Bastogne[...] If you had a man who was killed, you looked at him and hoped that he had found peace in death. I'm not sure whether they were fortunate or unfortunate to get out of the war so early. So many men died so that others could live. No one understands why.
To find a quiet peace is the dream of every soldier. For some it takes longer than others. In my own experience I have discovered that it is far easier to find quiet than to find peace. True peace must come from within oneself. As my wartime buddies join their fallen comrades at an alarming rate, distant memories resurface. The hard times fade and the flashbacks go back to friendly times, to buddies with whom I shared a unique bond, to men who are my brothers in every sense of the word. I live with these men every day".

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:

Major Richard "Dick" D. Winters (January 21, 1918 - January 2, 2011)

God speed....... :'(

nukem556 · 01-10-2011, 10:02 PM

Amen, from a former infantry soldier who stands in awe of those who have gone before.

jimmythejug · 01-10-2011, 10:35 PM

Really sad news. I'm a huge fan of Band of Brothers and I sort of feel like I knew him a little. At least I was lucky enough to have admired him from a distance but I regret the fact that I was never able to meet him, shake his hand and thank him for who he was and what he did....he and the countless "brothers" that served with him during those critical years; I thank you all.

aptech77 · 01-10-2011, 10:59 PM

^ Me too...

rivieraranch · 01-11-2011, 07:36 AM

God Bless Dick Winters. As portrayed in the Band Of Brothers and in his book, he was a great American. I have no doubt that this portrayal was accurate.

During the The War, Dick aspired to live a quiet life afterward and he did have that opportunity.

I hope he can finally be in peace and shake off the horror of what he had to do over there.

tudorbug · 01-11-2011, 09:05 AM

So sad!

David

Jack Lawman · 01-13-2011, 02:04 PM

I'm sure he's glad to see some of the brothers he hasn't seen in a while.

MikeP · 01-16-2011, 01:14 PM

My dad toured Europe with the 506th.
Not E Company, but similar experience.
He died in 1956, but many of his letters had been preserved by my grandmother.
Inspired me to go Airborne.
He had very bitter feelings after seeing the camps and had a lot of pics he took at one.
He made a lot of negative remarks from the time they were in Austria waiting to rotate home.
Both grandfathers had to leave the farm in 1917 for France as well.

Still some WW2 guys serving in SF in the late 60s including some Axis guys.
It was amazing getting to know some legendary characters as associates and team mates.

01-10-2011, 09:58 PM	#1
aptech77 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 85 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	A true hero... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40994986...-lancaster_pa/ "I am still haunted by the names and faces of young men, young airborne troopers who never had the opportunity to return home after the war and begin their lives anew. Like most veterans who have shared the hardship of combat, I live with flashbacks--distant memories of an attack on a battery of German artillery on D-Day, an assault on Carentan, a bayonet attack on a dike in Holland, the cold of Bastogne[...] If you had a man who was killed, you looked at him and hoped that he had found peace in death. I'm not sure whether they were fortunate or unfortunate to get out of the war so early. So many men died so that others could live. No one understands why. To find a quiet peace is the dream of every soldier. For some it takes longer than others. In my own experience I have discovered that it is far easier to find quiet than to find peace. True peace must come from within oneself. As my wartime buddies join their fallen comrades at an alarming rate, distant memories resurface. The hard times fade and the flashbacks go back to friendly times, to buddies with whom I shared a unique bond, to men who are my brothers in every sense of the word. I live with these men every day". We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: Major Richard "Dick" D. Winters (January 21, 1918 - January 2, 2011) God speed....... :'(

01-10-2011, 10:35 PM	#3
jimmythejug User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 36 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Really sad news. I'm a huge fan of Band of Brothers and I sort of feel like I knew him a little. At least I was lucky enough to have admired him from a distance but I regret the fact that I was never able to meet him, shake his hand and thank him for who he was and what he did....he and the countless "brothers" that served with him during those critical years; I thank you all. Last edited by jimmythejug; 01-11-2011 at 02:53 PM.

01-13-2011, 02:04 PM	#7
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	I'm sure he's glad to see some of the brothers he hasn't seen in a while. __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

01-10-2011, 10:02 PM	#2
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	Amen, from a former infantry soldier who stands in awe of those who have gone before.

01-10-2011, 10:59 PM	#4
aptech77 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 85 Thanks: 10 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	^ Me too...

01-11-2011, 07:36 AM	#5
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	God Bless Dick Winters. As portrayed in the Band Of Brothers and in his book, he was a great American. I have no doubt that this portrayal was accurate. During the The War, Dick aspired to live a quiet life afterward and he did have that opportunity. I hope he can finally be in peace and shake off the horror of what he had to do over there.

01-11-2011, 09:05 AM	#6
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	So sad! David

01-16-2011, 01:14 PM	#8
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	My dad toured Europe with the 506th. Not E Company, but similar experience. He died in 1956, but many of his letters had been preserved by my grandmother. Inspired me to go Airborne. He had very bitter feelings after seeing the camps and had a lot of pics he took at one. He made a lot of negative remarks from the time they were in Austria waiting to rotate home. Both grandfathers had to leave the farm in 1917 for France as well. Still some WW2 guys serving in SF in the late 60s including some Axis guys. It was amazing getting to know some legendary characters as associates and team mates.