Winters, Richard D. (Dick)
Born: January 21, 1918, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Vocations: Military Officer, Writer
Geographic Connection to Pennsylvania: Lancaster, Lancaster County; Hershey, Lebanon County
Keywords: Band of Brothers; Bronze Star; Distinguished Service Cross; US Army
Abstract: Richard Winters was born on January 21, 1918, to Richard and Edith Winters. He attended Franklin and Marshall College to attain a Bachelors Degree. Shortly after college, Winters enlisted into the military. After attending Officer Candidate School, Winters was assigned to Company E, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After the war, he returned stateside where he proceeded to create his family life. After three more years of service during the Korean War, Winters settled down in Hershey, Pennsylvania with his family. His story has been made famous from the novel and mini series titled Band of Brothers.
Biography:
Richard (Dick) D. Winters was born on January 21, 1918, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He resided with this parents Richard and Edith Winters in Ephrata, PA. He spent his time playing in the farm fields and stockyards. At the age of thirteen, his family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was at this time that Winters’s younger sister, Ann, was born. When it came time for college, Winters selected Franklin and Marshall College for the short distance located to his house. He spent the entire summer before hand doing odd jobs to raise the money he needed to go to school. During school, he was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. In 1941, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
Winters enlisted in the United States Army on August 8, 1941. At this time, he had hoped to shorten this time in service. He was hoping to avoid a full term of service due to the draft. By enlisting on his own, Winters planned on serving a one year tour instead of three. While attending basic training he would often write home to a local girl named Annid DeEtta Almon. Winters dated DeEtta for several years and she became his closest confidant. After basic training, Winters was selected to attend the Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It was during this school that Winters met and befriended Lewis Nixon, whom would become a longtime friend and war compatriot. After OCS, Winters was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a Second Lieutenant. He volunteered for paratrooper training and was assigned to Company “E” (Easy Company) of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. While at paratrooper training, he received a promotion to First lieutenant and a new job as Executive Officer.
In September 1943, the 101st Airborne Division was deployed to England in preparation for the Normandy invasion. During the invasion, the aircraft carrying the entire headquarters element of Easy Company was shot down by German anti-aircraft. Winters became the defacto Commanding Officer of Company E.
During this invasion, Winters led thirteen of his men in destroying a Battery of German 105mm Howitzers which were manned by a full platoon of Germans. He also obtained a detailed map of all German defenses along the Utah Beach. This assault became known as the Brecorut Manor Assault. For his actions, Winters was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross instead. Winters again showed renowned heroism in September of 1944, by successfully leading twenty of his men in attacking a German force of 200 soldiers.
In the winter of 1944, Captain Winters and his men were occupying the Bastogne area which was the brunt of the Battle of the Bulge. Winter and his men held their place until U.S. Third Army was able to break through the enemy lines. Shortly after, Winters received his promotion to Major, a rank he held for the rest of his military career. In November of 1945, Major Winters returned home.
Upon his return home, Winters worked for Lewis Nixon at Nixon Nitration Works. It was here while working in New Jersey that he met Ethel Estoppey. After several dates they were married on May 16 1948. In 1951, Major Winters was reactivated by the US Army, leaving behind his wife and a one year old son. This time luck was with Winters and he was stationed in Fort Dix, New Jersey, training infantry and Army Rangers units. He served three years in this position before leaving the Army for the last time. He returned back to New Jersey to find his position at Nixon Nitration Works filled. Winters worked some dead end jobs for a while before founding R.D. Winters Inc. His company specialized in selling livestock feed to the farmers in Pennsylvania. Shortly after the start up of his company, Winters moved Ethel and his two children to Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was at this farm house that he would eventually retire.
In the Autumn of 1988, the 101st Airborne had a reunion meeting in New Orleans. It was here that historian Stephen Ambrose was looking for his next story. Ambrose wanted to tell the story of D-Day. Winters, while attending the reunion sat back and listened to others boast about their stories. After returning home and reviewing his wartime notes, Winters decided to take action. On February 26, 1990, Winters met with Ambrose and started to tell the tale that would become Band of Brothers. The book, arguably one of Ambrose’s greatest works, was published in 1992. Six years later, Winters was informed that Tom Hanks was interested in purchasing Band of Brothers with the intent of turning it into an HBO miniseries. Principal filming began in April of 2000 under the guidance of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The first episode aired on September 9, 2001. This show launched Winters into the spotlight. For the next two years he was kept busy with public interviews and speeches. His wife, Ethel, used to manage his publicity.
Major Winters now seeks the peaceful life that he had long since promised himself. In 2006, he published his memoirs, Beyond Band of Brothers.
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This biography was prepared by Timothy E. Boland, Summer 2007.