Dick Winters: Reflections on the Band of Brothers, D-Day and Leadership

There was only one thing to do. I withdrew my men to an adjoining gully to assess the situation. I got in touch with company headquarters and told them to send up the reserve platoon. After I was joined by another platoon and some additional machine guns, I went off by myself a little way to assess the situation and decide what to do. My group was the only thing separating the Germans from the rear of my battalion. So I decided we must charge them. I returned to the gully where the rest of the platoon was, and after ordering fixed bayonets, which makes every man have a second thought, I signaled when to throw a smoke grenade. This was the order to charge. As I leap off and begin the charge I am pretty pumped up. In fact, I have never been more pumped up in my life. I ran faster across the field separating us from the Germans than I have ever run in my life. All the men in the company are behind me, but they seem to be moving so slow. Nobody seemed to be moving normally, only me. When I got up to the road where the Germans were, there was a German in front of me, so I shot him. I then turn to my right, and there I see a whole company of Germans. I began firing into them, and they seemed to be moving so slow and then the rest of the company joined me. As the boys said later, it was a duck shoot. They never had a target like that before. We had caught two companies of SS soldiers pinned to the dike, and as they retreated we poured fire into them, and then I called in artillery fire. We destroyed those two companies.

I remember when I was interviewed for the movie, I told one of the writers that as I shot the German, he looked up at me and smiled. Well, I kept going with my story, but later, as it turns out, the writer wanted to play up the thing about the smile. He wanted to play that up as a flashback, the type of bad flashbacks you can have. I have flashbacks every day. But the writer wanted to play up that point. And that is why in the series that German is portrayed as a kid and why later on when I am in Paris they portray me looking at this kid on the train and having another flashback. It’s stupid, but I didn’t get the chance to review the scenes.

Winters believes his ability to inspire men to follow him into harm’s way on the dike in Holland and elsewhere was attributable to his bedrock beliefs in basic leadership qualities.

The qualities you are looking for in a leader include: Does the individual have the respect of the men? How do you get the respect of the men? By living with them, being a part of it, being able to understand what they are going through and not to separate yourself from them. You have to know your men. You have to gain their confidence. And the way to gain the confidence of anybody, whether it’s in war or civilian life or whatever, you must be honest. Be honest, be fair and be consistent. You can’t be honest and fair one day, and the next give your people the short end of the stick. Once you can achieve that, you will be a leader.

It’s a matter of adjusting to the individual, and you do this every day. You don’t have just one way of treating people; you adjust yourself to who you are talking to. I might talk to one person one way, someone else another. Ambrose had spent a good deal of time thinking about leaders and leadership. He had it about right. If you have character, that means the guy you are dealing with can trust you. So when you get into combat, and you get in a situation such as we were in along the dike in Holland, when I gave the orders, ‘Ready, aim,’ and this cook who had been in the unit only a short time but was experiencing his first combat action interrupted and said, ‘Don’t talk so loud!’ nobody else there was thinking about anything except what he had been told to do. They trust in you, have faith in you and they obey right now, no questions asked.

You get it done by making a decision quick, getting to it and getting the thing done. Don’t sit back and let the other guy make a decision that will put you on the defensive. Make up your mind quickly and get it done, right or wrong. Were you going down the tube, like running across that damn field? I could have been caught in the middle of the field if the Germans had been on the ball, and lost every goddamn man in that platoon. In some ways we lucked out.

23 Comments to “Dick Winters: Reflections on the Band of Brothers, D-Day and Leadership”
I always learn a lot whenever I ready any article related to Mj. Dick Winters! I like Easy company members dead or alive. I like Band of Brothers movie, in fact I have watched it more than 20 times. I give respect to Mj. Dick Winters for his professional leadership skills! take an example like at the Cross Roads battle, running ahead of his men!! I learnt from you where you said with yr words that “If you are a leader you lead the way!! I salute to you Major!!

By Gervas H on Jul 1, 2008 at 2:24 pm
This year, at my request, my partner got me the BofB DVR for my birthday. I had already watched the series 3 times, but knew this was a movie I would never tire of. It goes down deep– a movie so rich, it’s like a symphony with perfection and depth in every single note. Every time I see it, I find myself immersed more and more in their world. I thank everyone who helped to make it part of mine.

By stephanie la fortune on Jul 8, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I knew Maj. Richard Winters from the mini-series BoB and was inspired by his leadership. I give my greatest salute to you Major and all the Easy Company men, either still alive or already passed away.
Major Dick Winters, a true leader. Not to stand behind the other men and let them advanced by themselves, but to really be in front of the line together with his people.
I give you my sincerest salute Major.
I salute the man, not the rank.

By Yohannes Jatmiko on Jul 28, 2008 at 5:21 am
Maj. Richard Winters . Is one of many reasons why I wanna join up for the army. I also believe that he deservers the MEDAL OF HONOR. He lead E company through things we can’t even think about. When I join up for the Army I want a leader just like Maj. Richard Winters. I also salute you Major!

By Youjen Chang on Aug 1, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Like many others I have watched BOB several times and my respect for the men who served in Easy Company grows with each viewing. I am also upset that some sites seem to be trying to white wash Captain Sobel. This is like someone trying to whitewash Judas for what he did to Jesus Christ.

By Richard Cooley on Aug 30, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Hi. i love this page cuz i’m only 12 years old and i am doing a report on Dick Winters. I just love that he went to war and faught for our country. I think he had so many accomplishments. bye.

By Stephanie Wagner on Sep 20, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Hi iam doing a research on Sgt.Bill Garnier and was woundering if you could help me with it because I can’t find any thing about him

By mathew stith on Sep 22, 2008 at 8:35 am
Always i was addicted to world war 2 movies and when i saw “band of brothers” and maj winters portrait i found myself amazed by his personality and leadership in the battlefield, all my regards to him

elie from lebanon

By Elie on Oct 20, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Watching the series for the 6th time and as always I come away
with great respect for those brave men. God bless them every one.

By Bill Giffin on Oct 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I have watched BofB so many times I just finished the series for
the 4th time just 30 min ago every time i watch it it makes me
want to join the army more and more and if i do mj winters i hope
one day i could be a reflection of your historic image in my life
you have shown me a new meaning of respect and dedication and
to stand up for what you believe in.
I love the part when the guy said how many wifes get a wedding
present from hitler.

Major Winters I solute you

By Nicholas Buford on Nov 3, 2008 at 1:31 am
It’s never easy to be such a good leader under such extreme
environment more than 60 years ago. I admired Major Winters
guts and also his capability to gives solutions.
I will hope to meet him to know more. Please send my regards to
him and wish him best of health.

Alex (Singapore)

By Alex on Nov 10, 2008 at 7:42 am
i never was into war movies and since im a 16 year old girl thats
probably not uncomon but i fell in love with band of brothers and
major winters and everyone in the 506 101st airbourne ! it made
me so much more appretative and i think they are really special

By hannah on Nov 17, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Major Dick Winters is an inspiration to us all. He epitomizes the citizen soldier. I did not watch Band of Brothers when it first came out because I just could not bring myself to watch these brave young men die. Eventually, I stumbled across it one night and before I realized what I was watching, I became hooked on the story of “E” Company and the comraderie those men shared and still share. God’s blessings to you Dick Winters. Thank you for leading the way and sharing your story. Perhaps, we will learn from them one day.

By Shelia on Nov 29, 2008 at 10:54 am
I would love to tell you about the strangest thing that has happened to me! On the anniversary of D-day, this year (2008) the picture we have…Silencing the Guns…fell off the wall and the frame and glass shattered. It had no reason to fall! The nail hole and wall were perfectly in tact.
We have told many this story and it raises the hair on your arms to think of this happening on that fateful day!!

By James Stellema on Nov 29, 2008 at 8:51 pm
i just cannot get enough of ban of brothers dick winters is a true hero as they all are. i would like to tell all of them thanks for everything and god bless them all.it was the best true story with a bunch of true heros i’v ever watched

By robin cedrone on Dec 1, 2008 at 4:14 pm
HI I AM DOOING A PROJECT ON MAJIOR DICK WINTERS AND I WAS WONDERIN IF YOU COULD HELP WITH GETTING INFORMATION.THANKS!

By JUSTIN RICHARDS on Dec 11, 2008 at 1:54 pm
sevgili komutan sizinle ilgili filminizi defalarca izledim 10 larca defa size hayran?m.sizinle tan?smak onur verecektir eger bu yaz?m? okuyup tercüme ettirirseniz cevaben bi?iler yazarsan?z sevinirim sayg?lar sevgiler huseyin /tekirdag /turkey

By huseyin on Dec 16, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Having served in the Navy and the Army, I appreciate all things military. I’ve lost count of how many times I have watched the Band of Brothers mini-series. Along with so many others, I really grew to respect the men of Easy Company, and especially the leadership of Major Winters.
Imagine my surprise, when, in my 50’s, I was back in the military again, serving in Iraq from 2007-2008. I was the assistant OIC (officer-in-charge) of my section when my OIC was re-assigned to a training position and I became the OIC . I determined then that my goal was to take care of my soldiers in the same manner that Major Winters had done. Major Winters, to me, is what leadership is all about. I thank God for men like him.

By Seng Young on Dec 18, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I just finished the viewing of the blu ray version of BoB. Visually stunning ,but not that much over the regular dvd version. The entire series is very emotional. Dick Winters is true hero and defines the heroic nature of the effort in WWll. Muliple viewing of the entire story is necessary to get a total appreciation of the story and the production of the HBO min series.

By Dennis Sulam on Dec 22, 2008 at 9:49 am
I too own the DVD set of the Band of Brothers. From the first time I saw it on television years ago I fell in love with it. The soldiers from the WW2 era were gallant men. Everytime the series is shown on cable I sit through each episode. In fact, I can’t step away from the TV. I’m so proud of Winters, Nixon and all of the soldiers portrayed in the series. God bless them for all they lived through.

One thing I must say–Winters, Nixon, et al You are heroes!
By the grace of God you survived and came home to share your battle stories. I do have an appreciation for what you endured. I am thankful for the freedom you have preserved for me here in the USA.

By Laura J Skadsen on Dec 28, 2008 at 7:59 am
I went to a WWII conference in Kingston, NY in October 2005. I had the unbelievable honor of sitting at a table with three medal of honor winners from WWII.

There were three or four E Company veterans there as well. Talking with all those hero’s was an experience I will never forget. Watching BoB was an education that every American child should receive before they leave high school.

I live in Riverside, CA near the National Cemetery. I visit the Memorials there and when I go to the Medal of Honor Memorial, I can’t for the life of me figure out why Major Winters name is not on the wall.

We Americans (and the rest of the free world) owe Major Winters and every other WWII participant a debt that can never be paid. They are all hero’s, the likes of which we will never see again.

God Bless these men, alive or dead. Everyone should thank God for allowing us to have some of these very special men still with us. Take the opportunity to sit and talk with them whenever you can. You will walk away with a renewed pride in your country and you will be in awe of their deeds.

By Brent Whitehead on Dec 31, 2008 at 1:28 am
Like a previous poster I too, a New Zealander, avoided watching BoB when it aired on TV, though for different reasons. I too started watching when it was replayed, more or less by accident. Within a very short time I was absolutely captivated. This story should be compulsory viewing for anybody outside of the US who has been led to believe that the US troops contribution to WW2 was that they were overpaid, oversexed and over here. This story demonstrates how very disciplined and brave these young men were and some mothers loved son just like every other participant in this terrible conflict. And although I do believe that Easy co and 506th were special, the same sort of thing was happening in regiment after regiment after the US entry into the war. I am now watching it again on DVD and intend getting my own copy of this as is such an important story it should never be forgotten. Americans, you can be very proud of your country’s contribution during this terrible time. Dick Winters you are a remarkable man and an inspiration.

By Mary O'Connor on Jan 2, 2009 at 7:08 am

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Dick Winters: Reflections on the Band of Brothers, D-Day and Leadership

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