Major Richard "Dick" Winters (January 21, 1918 - January 2, 2011) was an officer of the United States Army and a decorated WWII veteran. He is best known for commanding 'Easy' Company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II; eventually being promoted to major and rising to command of the entire 2nd Battalion. As a first lieutenant, Winters parachuted into Normandy in the early hours of D-Day, 6 June 1944, and landed safely near Sainte-Mere-Eglise. After having lost his weapon, from
a detached "leg bag",
during the drop, he was able to orient himself and assembled several paratroopers including members of the 82nd Airborne Division. He and his add-hoc group of troopers proceeded toward the unit's assigned objective near Saint-Marie-du-Mont.
During World War II, the 101st Airborne Division never failed that prophecy... it is renowned for its role during World War II as part of several pivotal operations. In the early morning hours on D-Day 6 June 1944 as part of Operation Overlord in Normandy, France. The 101st Airborne Division's objectives were to secure the four causeway exits behind Utah Beach between St Martin-de-Varreville and Pouppeville; to ensure the exit route for the 4th Infantry Division from the beach later that morning. The other objectives included destroying a German coastal artillery battery at Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, capturing buildings nearby at Mesieres believed used as barracks and a command post for the artillery battery, capturing the Douve River lock at La Barquette (opposite Carentan), capturing two footbridges spanning the Douve at La Porte opposite Brevands, destroying the highway bridges over the Douve at Saint-Come-du-Mont and securing the Douve River valley. Their secondary mission was to protect the southern flank of VII Corps. They destroyed two bridges along the Carentan highway and a railroad bridge just west of it. They gained control of La Barquette locks, and established a bridgehead over Douve River which was located north-east of Carentan.
In the process units also disrupted German communications, established roadblocks to hamper the movement of German reinforcements, established a defensive line between the beachhead and Valongnes, cleared the area of the drop zones to the unit boundary at Les Forges, and linked up with the 82nd Airborne Division. Two other noteworthy actions took place near Sainte Marie-du-Mont by units of the 506th PIR, both of which involved the seizure and destruction of batteries of 105mm guns of the German lll Battalion-191st Artillery Regiment. During the morning, a small patrol of troopers from Company E 506th PIR under (then) 1st Lt. Richard D. Winters overwhelmed a force 3–4 times its size and destroyed four 105mm guns at Brecourt Manor, for which Winters was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the accompanying airborne troops were awarded Silver and Bronze Stars.
In Operation Market Garden, an offensive operation designed by British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery to liberate the Netherlands, 101st Airborne troopers were able to complete their assigned tasks of securing the bridge at Niijmegan, even though the operation failed in its attempt to advance Allied forces into Germany and end The War by Christmas 1944.
When the war progressed and the 101st was surrounded in Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe was sent a message by the German forces asking for the surrender of Bastogne and the 101st Airborne forces... he answered "NUTS!" and the Screaming Eagles fought on until the siege was lifted. For their valiant efforts and heroic deeds during World War II, the 101st Airborne Division was awarded four campaign streamers and two Presidential Unit Citations.
MINT CONDITION IN ORIGINAL KING & COUNTRY BOX!
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Note: In addition to visiting All Five of the Landing Beaches along the Cotentin Peninsula and many of the historical locations, and museums in an around Normandy, we have also visited the Bastogne area, including the Baugnez '44 Museum, the site of the Malmedy Massacre, the still existing foxholes of the 502nd and 506th P.I.R. and the pastoral surrounding area in Belgium on several occasions. We have found both the French and the Belgian people, especially in the towns in Normandy and area near Bastogne, to be very friendly and still grateful to the Allies, especially the American forces, for their liberation… despite the huge loss of life and property to the French and Belgian civilians. In addition, should you want to visit the area in and around Normandy or Bastogne, we would be willing to share our experiences or trip itinerary with you, which may help to make your travel through the area easier and perhaps make the historical experience more valuable.
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