[Major] Dick Winters, of 'Band of Brothers' fame, dies

pennlive.com ^ | Sunday, January 09, 2011 | MONICA VON DOBENECK

[Born Conservative]

A true hero. RIP Major Winters.

[brothers4thID]

Currahee, sir. You have earned a peaceful rest and may the angels salute you.

[pabianice]

RIP, Shipmate.

[SupplySider]

The very definition of a good man. God bless him.

[wtc911]

Two books you should read....

To Hell and Back & Breakout (Martin Russ - the USMC at Chosin)

Murphy's book is full of insights and un-real actions. A very eye-opening read.

Breakout is detailed beyond description and, imo, the flat out best first-person(s) book about combat ever. I re-read it every two or three years and cannot reccommend it strongly enough.

[wbill]

The film makers discarded his advice because filming the event as it actually happened would have been, "unbelievable." ...I'd not heard that one, before. FWIW, I think that it was Frost who thought that the movie was terrible....had nothing to do with the actual events. I suppose that he'd know (/sarc), but it does't sound like the director paid too much attention to him.

I read another story much like yours, as told by Michael Caine - he played Col. Vandeleur (leader of the British attack up the road).

The script / director had him making a rousing speech to the troops before the attack - really swaggering, hollywood-type stuff. Fortunately, Col. Vandeleur was on-set the day that this was scheduled to be filmed and Caine took the opportunity to ask him what was actually said. "OK, Let's go.", or somesuch, was the reply.

And that's what made it into the movie. So at least it was partially accurate.

[wbill]

I'll put "Breakout" on my list.

I've got a copy of 'Semper Fi Mac' that I re-read every so often. All 1st hand accounts of the Marines in the Pacific. Excellent reading, and made up of stuff that people would never, in a million years, believe happened...the one that sticks in my head is about the 1st Lt. who took Bloody Nose ridge by himself (well, he wound up atop it by himself), controlled the ridge for some time by standing up and firing a belt fed 30cal from the hip, then, when the ammo was spent, he grabbed one of the wounded and came back down again.

People would look at a scene like it in a movie and say "pah, never happened". The true stories are the ones that are the least believable, IMHO.

[bmwcyle]

St. Peter needs to give him a place of homor from a greatful Nation.

[CPT Clay]

RIP

He is among heros now.

[mad_as_he$$]

RIP Richard. Sorry we could not get you the MOH before you passed.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Currahee!
Hang Tough, Sir.

[Bulldaddy]

“The Mansions of the Lord”
Words by Randall Wallace

To fallen soldiers let us sing
where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
to the mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
just divine embrace, eternal light
in the mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard tho the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep the mansions of the Lord

---

(excerpt from “Sgt. MacKenzie” by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie)

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

http://compuball.com/av/mansionsofthelord.htm

[baseballmom]

A truly great American. May he rest in peace, as he so richly deserves.

[kevinm13]

Watched Band of Brothers when it was first on HBO. Excellent series. Admired the character of Major Dick Winters in the show and figured he was a compilation of characters from the War that became Major Dick Winters. Then I had the chance to see the real Major Dick Winters interviewed when the series was released. He was humble and as with many men from WW II, didn’t want to talk a lot about his experiences directly. He was a true hero. I admired him even more as a person.

RIP Major Winters. Prayers for the repose of your soul and for your family.

[the scotsman]

RIP to a great man and a real hero.

Very sad to hear he has passed.

[reg45]

The funeral was a few days ago. Major Winters wanted it kept private.

[Brucifer]

RIP He and millions of other American men and women showed, and continue to show us, what true courage and integrity are. God Bless.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

airborne wrote: "Oh no! Rest in peace, brother...."

CURAHEE! The bravest of the brave! Prayers out from the Screaming Eagles! One Oh Worst! The Chicken Men! Viet Cong quote; "Never fight the Chicken Men! You can not win against the Chicken Men!) May the good Lord protect him and keep him. (We know he will!)

[Liberty Valance]

There you are Bruce. I remember well when you and I went to Schreiner Univ here in Kerrville to hear Stephen Ambrose talk about his research and writings. That night he talked mostly about the Lewis & Clark voyage of Discovery because that was his new book/pbs series at the time. But toward the end he talked about Band of Brothers and the incredible stories of the Soldiers he had documented. We were lucky to get to hear Stephen in person before he passed shortly after that. I'll have to give Stephen Ambrose credit for bringing the stories of these many heroes to the forefront.

Stephen Ambrose