World War II Honoree

Richard D. Winters

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Kelly R. Drop

Relationship

Good friend

COMMANDING OFFICER OF EASY COMPANY, AND LATER EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF 2ND BATTALION, 506TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. DROPPED BEHIND UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944. ON HIS FIRST FORMAL OBJECTIVE, DESPITE BEING EXTREMELY OUTNUMBERED, WINTERS LED A SMALL SQUAD OF PARATROOPERS TO CAPTURED FOUR GERMAN ARTILLERY PIECES. A SELFLESS MAN, HIS COMPASSION, TREMENDOUS COURAGE AND RESOURCEFULNESS IN FIELD SITUATIONS ENDEARED HIM TO ALL MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. SIXTY YEARS LATER, HIS STORIES ARE TREASURED AT THE D-DAY MUSEUM IN NEW ORLEANS AND IN THE EPIC NOVEL, 'BAND OF BROTHERS'. HE IS A JEWEL OF HUMANITY, MY INSPIRATION, INCREDIBLE FRIEND AND KINDRED SPIRIT.