Comments on: Dick Winters: Reflections on the Band of Brothers, D-Day and Leadership http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:03:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: A.S. http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-135226 A.S. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:04:39 +0000 #comment-135226 One of my grand-grandfathers served in the 15th Waffen-Grenadierdivision der SS (Latvian legion). Other was in the 130th Rifle Corps of Red Army. War is never easy. The grand-grandfather who served (was conscripted) in the Red Army was killed in action and the other was captured somewhere around Berlin by Soviets and had to spend some 10+ years in Soviet GULAG camps. But eventually he returned and lived a long life. I would so like to be able to speak with him... he saw me when I was two years old but died soon after... War is hell. I really enjoyed the BofB miniseries and found these men to be no different than what my grandfather told me about how his dad was taking out commies... He wasn't a nazi and he couldn't be since Germans didn't take untermenschen in their party but he was conscripted and was forced to fight- otherwise he and his family would suffer... And we never really liked commies so I believe he fought for a just cause- even if he was in Waffen SS, he protected his family by doing that and killed the bloody pigs that occupied my country first and stayed after the war for another 50 years... One of my grand-grandfathers served in the 15th Waffen-Grenadierdivision der SS (Latvian legion). Other was in the 130th Rifle Corps of Red Army.

War is never easy. The grand-grandfather who served (was conscripted) in the Red Army was killed in action and the other was captured somewhere around Berlin by Soviets and had to spend some 10+ years in Soviet GULAG camps. But eventually he returned and lived a long life. I would so like to be able to speak with him… he saw me when I was two years old but died soon after…

War is hell. I really enjoyed the BofB miniseries and found these men to be no different than what my grandfather told me about how his dad was taking out commies… He wasn’t a nazi and he couldn’t be since Germans didn’t take untermenschen in their party but he was conscripted and was forced to fight- otherwise he and his family would suffer… And we never really liked commies so I believe he fought for a just cause- even if he was in Waffen SS, he protected his family by doing that and killed the bloody pigs that occupied my country first and stayed after the war for another 50 years…

]]> By: Kristin Saplala http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-118977 Kristin Saplala Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:45:44 +0000 #comment-118977 Thank you Major Winters, Sir. It is with great honor to know your story and your sacrifice for us generations of late posterity. My own grandfather (Captain Ruben L. Saplala RIP) was a Filipino WWII veteran who fought alsongside the Americans in the Pacific. He also got out of retirement and served in the Vietnam war. If he were alive today, he would have loved your book and the series, and I'm pretty sure he could relate a lot to it, and opened up about his own story during the war. Looking forward to HBO's "THE PACIFIC" next year, same directors and producers of "BAND OF BROTHERS". I am incredibly happy, and genuinely moved to tears that we are able to pay respect in tribute for the guys who fought and died for us. Thanks again, God bless. Kris Saplala Thank you Major Winters, Sir.

It is with great honor to know your story and your sacrifice for us generations of late posterity. My own grandfather (Captain Ruben L. Saplala RIP) was a Filipino WWII veteran who fought alsongside the Americans in the Pacific. He also got out of retirement and served in the Vietnam war. If he were alive today, he would have loved your book and the series, and I’m pretty sure he could relate a lot to it, and opened up about his own story during the war.

Looking forward to HBO’s “THE PACIFIC” next year, same directors and producers of “BAND OF BROTHERS”. I am incredibly happy, and genuinely moved to tears that we are able to pay respect in tribute for the guys who fought and died for us.

Thanks again, God bless.
Kris Saplala

]]> By: Great article by Maj. Winters of the 101st. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source! http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-109572 Great article by Maj. Winters of the 101st. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source! Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:14:38 +0000 #comment-109572 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Gary T Jay http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-107185 Gary T Jay Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:53:53 +0000 #comment-107185 Band of Brothers should be required viewing in its entirety at every high school class in America! Fox News had a poll back in 2006 that said 40% of the HS in the US think that IN WWII WE FOUGHT WITH THE RUSSIANS AGAINST THE GERMANS! ( I'm afraid the current administration would've tried to talk Hitler to death!) Going back to WT A&M @ Stephenville to get my teaching certificate eventually led me to Fort Worth Dunbar a week before Spring Break in 2004. (They'd had to escort the previous teacher out of the HS from his "losing it" trying to handle the terrible discipline problems.) Using Major Winters' leadership metheds enabled me to handle all the malcontents and finally spend the time to get them to "buy in" to WWII, which was by concidence the timeline where I'd started. I'd slip in video segments of the Battle of Britain and started getting them hooked on Schindler's List to the point that they'd get upset when I'd fastforward, but I had to stick to my lesson plans! But when Band of Brothers was viewed, they were so engrossed that they'd come to class a few minutes early and would cue it up for me so they could watch its entirety!! No one was counted absent for that whole week! Being over 90% Afro-American became significant, because when they saw the segment where Bull Randleman's group came across the concentration camp you could've heard a feather drop! At that point they realized that slavery was a Sunday School picnic compared to the Holocost! THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE until that point! Every class member passed the TAKS test in history, that in Texas is required to graduate! I've read every BofB related publication that I can get my hands on. Keep them coming! Thank you Major Winters. My success at that school was due to you. I personally think that you had a "gift" of leadership. I went to NCO school @ Fort Benning & served with the Blackhorse along the Cambodian Border back in 1970-71. Didn't go to Jump School due to some concussions I encountered during Basic Training @ Ft Bliss. May you live forever in peace until you join the rest of your brothers in that heavenly band!!!!! Band of Brothers should be required viewing in its entirety at every high school class in America! Fox News had a poll back in 2006 that said 40% of the HS in the US think that IN WWII WE FOUGHT WITH THE RUSSIANS AGAINST THE GERMANS! ( I’m afraid the current administration would’ve tried to talk Hitler to death!)

Going back to WT A&M @ Stephenville to get my teaching certificate eventually led me to Fort Worth Dunbar a week before Spring Break in 2004. (They’d had to escort the previous teacher out of the HS from his “losing it” trying to handle the terrible discipline problems.)

Using Major Winters’ leadership metheds enabled me to handle all the malcontents and finally spend the time to get them to “buy in” to WWII, which was by concidence the timeline where I’d started. I’d slip in video segments of the Battle of Britain and started getting them hooked on Schindler’s List to the point that they’d get upset when I’d fastforward, but I had to stick to my lesson plans!

But when Band of Brothers was viewed, they were so engrossed that they’d come to class a few minutes early and would cue it up for me so they could watch its entirety!! No one was counted absent for that whole week! Being over 90% Afro-American became significant, because when they saw the segment where Bull Randleman’s group came across the concentration camp you could’ve heard a feather drop! At that point they realized that slavery was a Sunday School picnic compared to the Holocost! THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE until that point! Every class member passed the TAKS test in history, that in Texas is required to graduate! I’ve read every BofB related publication that I can get my hands on. Keep them coming! Thank you Major Winters. My success at that school was due to you. I personally think that you had a “gift” of leadership.

I went to NCO school @ Fort Benning & served with the Blackhorse along the Cambodian Border back in 1970-71. Didn’t go to Jump School due to some concussions I encountered during Basic Training @ Ft Bliss.

May you live forever in peace until you join the rest of your brothers in that heavenly band!!!!!

]]> By: Serena Kelly http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-106123 Serena Kelly Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:50:38 +0000 #comment-106123 I just want to say Thank you so much to Richard winters and all who served our country so we could have our freedom. There is no words to express my appreciation and what each of you sacraficed. May god bless you and Id like to add the B of B was truly remarkable movie . You Richard Winters and all who served are truly a inspiration to me and so many . I just want to say Thank you so much to Richard winters and all who served our country so we could have our freedom. There is no words to express my appreciation and what each of you sacraficed. May god bless you and Id like to add the B of B was truly remarkable movie .

You Richard Winters and all who served are truly a inspiration to me and so many .

]]> By: bettyna de borda http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-99966 bettyna de borda Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:30:37 +0000 #comment-99966 DICK es uno de los hombres que marco a EASY COMPANY le diò la gloria y eso siempre estarà en el recuerdo de los veteranos del dìa D y en el recuerdo de todo el mundo occidental que sufrìa esa locura de un HITLER totalmente desubicado...Los grandes hombres como WINTERS dejan un sello en la vida que nunca se borra... DICK es uno de los hombres que marco a EASY COMPANY le diò la gloria y eso siempre estarà en el recuerdo de los veteranos del dìa D y en el recuerdo de todo el mundo occidental que sufrìa esa locura de un HITLER totalmente desubicado…Los grandes hombres como WINTERS dejan un sello en la vida que nunca se borra…

]]> By: Joel Powell http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-96236 Joel Powell Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:42:28 +0000 #comment-96236 I would just like to send my thanks and appreciation to all that have served. I too am a great fan of BoB and anything concerning WWII. My greatest enjoyment came from the actual interviews of the men in their own words. I heard Major Winters say that he was interviewed for several hours , but they only used just a few minutes of it. My desire is to see not only the rest of his interview but all the others also. Popeye Wynn is a favorite of mine. There is something special about the men and that comes across during their conversations and I can't get enough. They remind me of my father who served in Korea. It was in the last years of his life that we talked about his service and I heard the same humble comments about what he did. All true soldiers must be cut from the same cloth, so to speak. jp I would just like to send my thanks and appreciation to all that have served. I too am a great fan of BoB and anything concerning WWII. My greatest enjoyment came from the actual interviews of the men in their own words. I heard Major Winters say that he was interviewed for several hours , but they only used just a few minutes of it. My desire is to see not only the rest of his interview but all the others also. Popeye Wynn is a favorite of mine. There is something special about the men and that comes across during their conversations and I can’t get enough. They remind me of my father who served in Korea. It was in the last years of his life that we talked about his service and I heard the same humble comments about what he did. All true soldiers must be cut from the same cloth, so to speak. jp

]]> By: Ant http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-95674 Ant Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:22:58 +0000 #comment-95674 Hi, I am someone who born in China, raise in Hong Kong, and live in Singapore the past 10 years. I am writing here to let people know Major Dick Winters and the Easy Company has had their admirers not only in US, Europe, but probably the whole world. Basically, I believe every army has its hero, be it the American Army, the Chinese Army, the Brits, the Germans, or even the Japanese. Every army has characters like Major Winters, who leads by example. Heros like the Easy Company who would die for each other. Or cowards who would run away when the heat is on. The stories of Major Winters and the Easy company is a fine reminder of how human nature would rise to its best in the time of hardship. And truly inspired people all around the world. Hi, I am someone who born in China, raise in Hong Kong, and live in Singapore the past 10 years. I am writing here to let people know Major Dick Winters and the Easy Company has had their admirers not only in US, Europe, but probably the whole world.

Basically, I believe every army has its hero, be it the American Army, the Chinese Army, the Brits, the Germans, or even the Japanese. Every army has characters like Major Winters, who leads by example. Heros like the Easy Company who would die for each other. Or cowards who would run away when the heat is on.

The stories of Major Winters and the Easy company is a fine reminder of how human nature would rise to its best in the time of hardship. And truly inspired people all around the world.

]]> By: Robert http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-95589 Robert Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:44:21 +0000 #comment-95589 I met Major Dick Winters at the Hershey area Panera's restaurant in winter of 2008. When I was going to fill up my soda. I passed this older gentleman with a bomber jacket on who looked like Major Winters...He had a nurse with him who said "Dick, do you want coffee," I looked down and saw at his jacket and saw a ""band of brothers patch on his bomber jacket" he was wearing. As he was leaving --- he pushed his walker passed my table. I turned and said, "Major Winters, how are you today, sir? He looked down at me as I was working on my laptop and said; It looks like you are having a harder day than me, and laughed -- and then pat me on my shoulder. A tear came to my eye, and I chokingly thanked him for his service to our country -- and he pushed his walker and walked his nurse to the door. Two other business guys next to me saw the whole thing and could not believe who that was. Major Winters still lives in Hershey, with a "do not disturb" sign in front of the house. The locals, (like myself) respect his privacy! Just a brush of greatness story! I met Major Dick Winters at the Hershey area Panera’s restaurant in winter of 2008. When I was going to fill up my soda. I passed this older gentleman with a bomber jacket on who looked like Major Winters…He had a nurse with him who said “Dick, do you want coffee,” I looked down and saw at his jacket and saw a “”band of brothers patch on his bomber jacket” he was wearing. As he was leaving — he pushed his walker passed my table. I turned and said, “Major Winters, how are you today, sir? He looked down at me as I was working on my laptop and said; It looks like you are having a harder day than me, and laughed — and then pat me on my shoulder. A tear came to my eye, and I chokingly thanked him for his service to our country — and he pushed his walker and walked his nurse to the door. Two other business guys next to me saw the whole thing and could not believe who that was. Major Winters still lives in Hershey, with a “do not disturb” sign in front of the house. The locals, (like myself) respect his privacy! Just a brush of greatness story!

]]> By: Richard Slee http://www.historynet.com/dick-winters-reflections-on-the-band-of-brothers-d-day-and-leadership.htm/comment-page-1#comment-92766 Richard Slee Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:02:21 +0000 #comment-92766 Richard (A simple Englishman) Men of few words are the best men. Henry V, 3. 2 Major R Winters The acts of extreme bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty shown by you and the men of 101st Airborne Easy Company is the torch of light to lead others to their path of self awareness and respect of your fellow man, alas which can be so easily forgotten in our modern society. I can only admire men of such standing. For the fellowship they have shown to all they have encountered as they pass through this life. May your deeds inspire many to greater achievements. I wish you and your family and the remaining members of the 101st Airborne Easy Company peace in the twig light years of you incredible lives. Richard (A simple Englishman)

Men of few words are the best men.
Henry V, 3. 2

Major R Winters

The acts of extreme bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty shown by you and the men of 101st Airborne Easy Company is the torch of light to lead others to their path of self awareness and respect of your fellow man, alas which can be so easily forgotten in our modern society. I can only admire men of such standing. For the fellowship they have shown to all they have encountered as they pass through this life. May your deeds inspire many to greater achievements. I wish you and your family and the remaining members of the 101st Airborne Easy Company peace in the twig light years of you incredible lives.

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