RIP Maj. Richard "Dick" Winters

[JOVE23]

From Maj. Winters' official website:

Dear friends, I regret to inform you that Major Winters passed away earlier this week after a long illness.

Please do not contact the Winters family and respect their privacy.

Mrs. Winters will release the news to the public shortly.



That is all info I have for now dear members...I'm still recovering from the news :'(

 

[BigPete]

This is a big loss. As a former Screaming Eagle and huge fan of the books and HBO series that chronicled his unit's experiences in WWII I have a big sadness in my heart on this day. MAJ Winters was a huge personality with a great legacy, but if you ever met him you would never believe what he had done or where he had been. He was the most humble of great leaders I have ever known.



RIP Sir, Airborne! Air Assault!



It was because of great men like this that the Screaming Eagles have such a proud legacy.



"We have a rendezvous with destiny

Our strength and courage strike a spark

That will always make men free

Assault right down through the skies of blue

Keep your eye on the job to be done

We are the soldiers of the 101st!

We'll fight till the battle's won

Air Assault!!

 

[supraman]

We lost a real american hero. I've seen Band of Brothers and I read his memoirs. That man was the definition of a soldier

 

[BigPete]

In honor of MAJ Winters and those lost during the war, and since:

http://www.west-point.org/greimanj/west_point/songs/bloodontherisers.htm

He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright.

He checked off his equipment and made sure his pack was tight.

He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar.

You ain't gonna jump no more.





Chorus:

Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.

Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.

Gory, gory, what a hell of way to die.

He ain't gonna jump no more.



"Is everybody happy?" cried the sergeant looking up.

Our hero feebly answered, "Yes", and then they stood him up.

He jumped into the icy blast, his static line unhooked.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



He counted long, he counted loud, he waited for the shock.

He felt the wind, he felt the cold, he felt the awful drop.

The silk from his reserve spilled out and wrapped around his legs.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



The risers swung around his neck, connectors cracked his dome.

Suspension lines were tied in knots around his skinny bones.

The canopy became his shroud, he hurtled to the ground.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



The days he lived and loved and laughed kept running through his mind.

He thought about the girl back home, the one he left behind.

He thought about the medicos and wondered what they'd find.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



The ambulance was on the spot, the jeeps were running wild.

The medics jumped and screamed with glee, rolled up their sleeves and smiled.

For it had been a week or more since last a 'chute had failed.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



He hit the ground, the sound was "Splat," his blood went spurting high.

His comrades they were heard to say, "A helluva way to die."

He lay there rolling 'round in the welter of his gore.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.



There was blood upon the risers, there were brains upon the 'chute.

Intestines were a-dangling from his paratrooper suit.

He was a mess, they picked him up and poured him from his boots.

And he ain't gonna jump no more.

 

[R K]

RIP!



Thankyou for your service!

 

[sth]

A terrific leader of men. Everyone that was at Bastogne was a hero no matter what their rank. But Dick Winters was a real hero. Rest in peace Major.

 

[bri]

Was that Ron Livingston's character. I think I only saw one episode of the show, but I have great respect for him. My grandpa was in the 82nd Airborne in WWII and my dad was in the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

A guy who truly defined badass. Read his memoirs and obviously saw Band of Brothers. Guy saw about everything a soldier could possibly see in Europe from 1944 on. Its people like him and my grandpa that make me feel like a pussy when I fear things, regardless of what it is big or small problem, emotionally and physically. What those guys went through was hell on earth.

 

[supraman]

Was that Ron Livingston's character. I think I only saw one episode of the show, but I have great respect for him. My grandpa was in the 82nd Airborne in WWII and my dad was in the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam.

Daniel Day Lewis played Dick Winters. Livingston played Richard Nixon (Not the president guy)

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Daniel Day Lewis played Dick Winters. Livingston played Richard Nixon (Not the president guy)

Damian Lewis played the Major, not Daniel Day Lewis. And Livingston's characters first name wasnt Richard......

 

[supraman]

Yeah you are right too earky in the morning for me to be thinking



Ron played lewis nixon. Been awhile since i watched

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Yeah you are right too earky in the morning for me to be thinking



Ron played lewis nixon. Been awhile since i watched

I can understand the think process though, throughout the series, Nix calls Winters "Dick" so the assumption/connection to richard nixon is easy.

 

[BigPete]

Was that Ron Livingston's character. I think I only saw one episode of the show, but I have great respect for him. My grandpa was in the 82nd Airborne in WWII and my dad was in the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam.

You need to watch the entire series. It is amazing. Not simply for how well they portrayed the activities of our soldiers during the war but also for the character development, interpersonal relationships of the characters (and actors off screen), the score (soundtrack), and finally the message of what 'the greatest generation' did for the world.

 

[supraman]

You need to watch the entire series. It is amazing. Not simply for how well they portrayed the activities of our soldiers during the war but also for the character development, interpersonal relationships of the characters (and actors off screen), the score (soundtrack), and finally the message of what 'the greatest generation' did for the world.

That series made me realize they are the greatest generation.

 

[Samurai]

Great series, greater man.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

You need to watch the entire series. It is amazing. Not simply for how well they portrayed the activities of our soldiers during the war but also for the character development, interpersonal relationships of the characters (and actors off screen), the score (soundtrack), and finally the message of what 'the greatest generation' did for the world.

I have watched every episode at least 10 times! I will just say thanks to all who served. I don't think war veterans can get enough credit for they're sacrifice.