Monday, Becky called to tell me that Major Dick Winters had died. If you don't know who Major Winters was, you should. He was the commanding officer of "Easy Company" of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division made famous in Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers that was later turned into the HBO series of the same name. Portrayed so ably by British actor Damian Lewis, Winters was a warrior who never lost sight of his humanity nor the humanity of those around him, friend or enemy. If you were to write a novel about a group of soldiers who were present at D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and Bastogne; who helped liberate Dachau and were the first to arrive at Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat, any sane editor would turn down your manuscript as totally unbelievable. Yet, Easy Company was there for all of it.
I have no intention of giving a history lesson today. I urge you to read the book and watch the mini-series which is available on DVD. Band of Brothers also has a Facebook Page through which you can keep track of Easy Company news. That page posted an excellent piece on Major Winters' including a touching excerpt from his own book.
I feel inadequate in writing about Major Winters, for words, even as highly as I value them, are small compared to the actions of a man such as he. I will say this, however. As a young man, Dick Winters was what you would want your son to be like and as an old man Dick Winters was what you would want your grandfather to be like.
Here's to Major Richard Winters: May you finally have the peace which you have been seeking since those awful days of your youth.
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