101 st Airborne 2 nd Battalion 506 th Regiment EASY COMPANY Richard Dick Winters By Alexander Yuen “From this day to the ending of the World, …we in it shall be remembered …we band of brothers”

Life Before His Military Career Born in Lancaster, PA Born on January 21, 1918 Looked up to Babe Ruth and Milton S. Hershey Graduated from Franklin Marshall College He was a business Major

Beginning of his Military Career June 1941, he volunteers for the Army Intend to serve one year, and return to civilian life August 1941 he goes through basic combat training at Camp Croft in South Carolina

Evolving into an Officer Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and he applies for Officer Candidate School Sent to Fort Benning for Officer Candidate School Graduates in July 1942 Is promoted to Second Lieutenant of the Infantry “We were in a store and that guy told us to put our uniforms on. We were like “what the hell are you talking about”. He says the USA is in a war with Japan. We couldn’t believe it…” –A member of Easy Company

Beginning Career in Paratroop 101 st Airborne is one of the first divisions of paratroopers ever created. Richard joins the Airborne to challenge himself, he was sent to the 101 st Airborne. He joins so he can help pay off his father’s home mortgage “Who would like to volunteer for the tank corp. Who would like to volunteer for the navy, or whatever. Then someone said who would like to volunteer for the airborne. Somebody says, “What the hell is the airborne?” Nobody ever heard of it…” – Member of Easy Company (Left) “Screaming Eagles”, the symbol of 101 st Airborne division

Early years in 101 st Airborne 506 th Parachute Infantry is created in August 1942 Winters is an original member of Easy Company He trains with Easy Company at Camp Tocca, Ga. Assigned to become leader of 2 nd platoon Mid-April 1943, Winters assumes the position of Executive officer of the Company Promoted to first lieutenant in Mid-April 1943 July 1943 the 506th Regiment deployed to England to prepare for D-Day. He completes his five jumps in training to receive his jump wings. (Left) Jump Wings (Right) Symbol of his training camp.

Pop Quiz !! The correct answer is E! Richard Winters is what rank when he is deployed in England? A. Sergeant B. 2 nd Lieutenant C. 5 Star General D. Private E. 1 st Lieutenant F. Captain

D-Day June 6, 1944 Winters destination is behind enemy lines and behind the heavy defenses of Utah Beach Winters and the rest of his men are forced to be able to draw a map of Operation Overlord off of memory and be able to memorize the goals of other divisions They jump out of C-47s at 150 miles per hour at 500 ft above sea level Winter’s division completely missed their destination Winters rallies men he found near his drop zone and luckily stumbles across another division The following day, Easy Company consisted of 9 rifle men and 2 officers No one knows where was the leader of Easy Company, so Winters takes charge of the company

Did you know Quiz… What was the great event that took place in D-Day that Richard Winters performs? A. Capturing many German Soldiers B. Eliminating all the howitzers on the Utah Beach head C. Discovering a map with the complete German defenses of Normandy D. All of the above. The correct answer is D.

Heroic Acts Later in WWII “They went to Bastogne to do a hell of a job.” –unknown soldier Winters leads his company and captures a town known as “Carentan”. Lead his men to victory in Operation Market Garden Defended a 5km wide island from German forces With 35 men, he sent an army of 300 German Soldiers in panic and full retreat. –Killed 50, captured 11, wounded 100 with only lost of one man Defended Bastogne from German soldiers in the middle of winter, they were very low on supplies and didn’t even have the right equipment for winter. Many soldiers suffered from frostbite.

Why I Admire Him His ability to lead brave soldiers to victory Despite the odds, he manages to survive in tough situations The accomplishments he has done in his military career He treated his men as brothers and would listen to all their complains

Bibliography _courageous_january_2002.htmlhttp:// _courageous_january_2002.html otherse506pi/dick%20winters% 20interview.htm /%7Ep.vandewal/index2.htm

THE END Alexander Yuen