Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters

While Stephen Ambrose may have originally introduced Easy Company to the world, it was arguably the mini-series that endeared us to the individuals that became known as the "Band of Brothers". And although the extraordinary deeds of this particular group of men have brought well-deserved attention over the last decade, I often remind myself that they are probably no more or less extraordinary than many other groups of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines that contributed to winning World War II. I believe that Easy Company serves as a microcosm of a generation of Americans that selflessly responded to their country's need at a crucial, desperate time. And Major Richard Winters is a microcosm of the type of leaders that emerged from the millions of citizen soldiers that comprised the American war effort. Generously portrayed in the mini-series as an inspirational, courageous, honest and decent man, Winters' own humble words about his life before, during and after leading Easy Company provide a few surprises, but still underscore the character traits that draw so much admiration from so many.

On the surface, BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS may appear to be a gratuitous attempt to squeeze more life out of the "Band of Brothers" franchise due to the existence of Larry Alexander's book about Richard Winters (BIGGEST BROTHER), but there are several reasons why BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS is a worthy read in addition to Alexander's book:

1)BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS is written by Winters himself.
2)More details are provided on many events depicted in the mini-series and in other books ... the additional information fills the gaps and answers many questions.
3)The reader gets a personal point-of-view of the men that were the "Band of Brothers" ... from the individual who led them into battle.
4)The reader is provided more insight to the Winters' personal life and how the whole "Band of Brothers" phenomenon developed.
5)A chapter on leadership principles.

A good portion of BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS does, in fact, recap events covered by the mini-series and other books written by several Easy Company men. While the general theme of events may be the same, the individual perspectives of such events are always different and Winters carries on that tradition by providing his own "take" on events. As Easy Company's commanding officer, Winters point-of-view tends to provide a stamp of veracity to many of the stories. Additionally, while the author's personal exploits are detailed, much of the book centers on the affection and respect Winters has for the men under his command. It is refreshing to see a proven leader and bona fide hero (recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross), spend more time lauding the deeds of his company's sergeants and privates than doting on his own laurels. It is very clear that he treasured the men under him and periodically throughout the book he laments that being a better leader may have saved more of his men's lives. But, this is how Winters comes across in his book, a humble, honest and caring man, not an arrogant, know-it-all officer. It is this trait, I believe, that makes the man such an endearing figure.
There are a few surprises in the book. I found the recollections of writing to a pen pal during the war quite interesting as it seemed to be the rare occasion in which Winters would lose his composure and unleash his frustration. It was also somewhat revealing that his most cherished friendships were with two men that were admittedly his virtual opposites: Lewis Nixon and Ronald Spears. The mini-series portrayed Nixon as more a functioning drunk than a soldier, but Winters clarifies that Nixon was a highly competent officer (refers to him as "the best"). Another interesting and somewhat shocking revelation was how much Winters soured on the military once the war ended. It seems like once the shooting stopped, the Army pretty much fell apart into a sea of incompetence and Winters wanted no part of it. The transition from military to civilian life was not a winding down process, but a hurry-up-and-get-the-paper-work done quickie. The end of the book sheds a small ray of light on his personal life after the war (he mentioned he married a woman named Ethel and alluded to having 2 children), but it is clear that outside his Easy Company experience, he prefers to keep his personal life private. There is a final chapter dedicated to leadership principles that is somewhat out-of-synch with the rest of the book, but is interesting and informative none-the-less.

BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS is not a dashing story of intrepid military action and chest-thumping self-praise as it is a quiet and fitting remembrance. Because it is written by Winters himself, it commands a rightful place on the shelf alongside the other "Band of Brothers" books. With Major Winters passing earlier this year (2011), BEYOND BAND OF BROTHERS now serves as the poignant last words of another fine example of the quickly fading "Greatest Generation".

The late Dick Winters waa every inch THAT GOOD. It just this book that unfortunately is NOT that good... It is just.... blaaah...
There are even some weird things. He says Bastogne was the worst campaogn of the whole war... What?!!!
Then he says the 101 Division had HUNDREDS of companies????
Well, probably the book was something he had to do after all the deserved recognition he and his pals got after Ambrose's bopk and the TV series. The book serms rushed and it lacks depth.

A while back, I came across the life of Richard "Dick" Winters online and was captivated to learn more about this man. Perhaps what inspired me to read this book and learn more about who Winter was was his character: somebody with high morals and a desire to serve his country.

There is a lot of tactical information about warfare inside this book, which, for me at least, can get quite difficult to follow and retain at times. However, this book really shines when Winters goes into a more personal level and reveals the personality and morality of the man beneath the uniform. Truly, Winters was quite a standout amongst what one personifies as the typical soldier. Winters didn't philander around, was somewhat solitary and docile, and enjoyed those precious and rare moments of peace. Strong in body and spirit, and through his love of God and for his men he commanded, Winters achieved greatness during his time in war. However, his qualities as a man are what endeared me most to him. A churchgoer and a teetotaler, Winters knew not to succumb to lust and desire if he was to lead his men to victory.

Winters makes it a point to be humble in recounting his experiences, and strives to be as genuine as possible in telling his story. One can almost feel a grandfatherly vibe emanating from the pages as if he is telling you his story to you live in the flesh.

Though this man and his comrades from the 101st Airborne Division are long since gone from this Earth, their legacy continues to live forever more. Their sacrifice, along with the sacrifices of so many others from that dreadful war, laid the foundation for the generations that followed to live a life free from tyranny and oppression. May their sacrifices never be forgotten and their stories live on forever. We don't have to be a solider to embody the qualities Winters had during his lifetime: loyalty, courage in the face of great adversity and good morality. If there is one thing that Winters can teach us, is that we can apply those qualities to ourselves as individuals. We salute the men who fought for us and for our freedoms during one of those most chaotic wars in history.

If you have seen the HBO series Band of Brothers you may not find much that is new in this book but it is still worth reading.

An exceptionally candid and personal commentary like the fraction of one percent who have truly been there and who personally recall the tragedy, courage, and honor of the challenging, and for some, the final moments of life. MAJ Winters was one of those men you would have been proud to know. Well worth reading!!

I read this book and also "Conversations With Major Dick Winters" since returning from Europe and visiting some of the battle sights where Easy company fought. Both books are very good and this one sheds further detail on the familiar events that the HBO series first introduced me to. Winters was an amazing man and excellent leader whom I highly admire. If you have an interest in Band of Brothers or the 101st Airborne in WWII you will enjoy this book.

I listened to the ~10 hour Audible production of this memoir narrated by Tom Weiner. The final paragraph of this review pertains to the audiobook production, specifically.

4 stars. One of the best commanding officer memoirs on combat!

Major Dick Winters, of HBO's BAND OF BROTHERS fame, was a junior officer (later commander) of the famous Easy Company of the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Div. Having both Ambrose and a highly-acclaimed cable miniseries detail your war record didn't stop Winters from getting together with Cole Kingseed to produce this 320-page memoir, which ultimately was pretty lucky, for us.

Winters covers similar ground found in the miniseries and the Ambrose BAND OF BROTHERS book: the frustrating training stint Sobel, the chaotic first hours of D-Day, the famous Brecourt Manor Assault, the Normandy Campaign, Market Garden/the Island, the Bulge and the Third Reich's death throes in early 1945. However this time these things are described from the perspective of a young teetotalin' lieutenant, and it's this focused insight on combat leadership and his openness on personal combat deeds (and subsequent reflection on casualties, battle rushes/fatigue and killing) that make this book hard to put down, especially the first half.

After an exciting account of D-Day and Market Garden, Winters begins to focus more on his leadership role. This happens halfway through the book and results in a more general battle history of Easy Co and its members' actions. There's still some harrowing and interesting content but less so compared to other airborne accounts on the last 6 months of the war described by others. Here and there too, Winters suffers from a similar, Ambrose-esque romanticism of his men but this is understandable considering the length of time he spent with them in rigorous training and visceral combat. Also, if anything this reverie gives us another one of the newer perks this account adds to the myriad of resources on the 101st.

One such perk is the bigger role certain members of Easy played from Winters' perspective. For example, Sgt. Talbert is definitely a recurring character in the Ambrose book and miniseries, but he represented the elite paratrooper NCO to Winters and he insists on this several times throughout the book. Winters is also open on his own flaws and mistakes he made as a combat leader, mentioning his overuse of one platoon(?) over another as possibly contributing to unbalanced casualty distributions amongst his men.

The book claims to reveal more information not discussed in the miniseries or Ambrose book. Some newer angles on events are relayed and some ambiguous or embellished (mostly in the miniseries) things are fleshed out/described differently, but this isn't too extensive. Probably the most insight given concerns the infamous deeds of Captain Speirs - more info on his notorious background from the Normandy invasion are unpacked more so, compared to the miniseries and even more so than the book.

Despite the drawbacks and the things mentioned in the previous paragraph, the revelations and his openness on his own deeds along with the pacing of the overall account make this a 4-star combat memoir!

If you're interested in another paratrooper account from the perspective of an officer, then check out [[ASIN:0891418369 All the Way to Berlin: A Paratrooper at War in Europe]] by James Megellas, the highest decorated paratrooper from the 82nd - which I would rate slightly higher than this account, though the action isn't quite as compellingly-written. And if you haven't yet, check out Burgett's 907-paged series on his own combat experience in the 101st, comprised of four books, starting with [[ASIN:0891416811 Currahee!]] - probably the best airborne account out there and one of the best combat accounts period! I have a few lists of war memoirs that feature several accounts from paratroopers that rate them based on description of combat (with emphasis on revelation of one's personal actions) and writing if you want to read more from this subject!

Concerning the audiobook: This is probably one of the best-narrated combat memoirs I've listened to. Weiner varies his cadence and tempo, changes his accent and delivery with each character and reads at a pace, complementing the well-paced writing. Combat memoirs are usually read by older gentlemen, with a slow, unvaried narrative-style, that's a severe drawback when it comes to the parts of memoirs that I enjoy the most (descriptions of combat or general action). But Weiner, who is an older gentleman, doesn't go this route (a route seen in [[ASIN:B009EE1EL2 Fighting with the Filthy Thirteen: The World War II Story of Jack Womer-Ranger and Paratrooper]] by Jack Womer and S. C. DeVito, for example) and it is most appreciated. Weiner also delivered with an air of confidence and positivity, that made Winters' story sound like the competent, precise commander that he certainly was!

This book will leave you drained. Words will fail you after you come to the end of this book, there just isnt enough time to really let it all sink in. Those who consider themselves war buffs or people who appreciate a real moving war memoir, pick this up before anything else! This isnt some sci-fi work from George Lucas, this is THE story of what normal men went through, the struggle, the over whelming odds constantly, and the never ending stress of having to keep pushing another day with less and less of your brothers around you. I came across an article on yahoo before the new yr.. of the great people we lost in 2011.. And to my amazement Major Richard "Dick" Winters was not on that list. Due to his great character this wouldnt have been an issue, because the man he was wouldnt have wanted any attention brought upon himself. So he had the news of his death withheld for 2 weeks before being released, in efforts to not draw attention. But that doesnt mean it shouldnt be done regardless, as we all value the wrong things when it comes to who is really a person worth remembering.

It is only after being completely mesmerized by the band of brothers series that i began to learn about and study the history on E-Company 506th PIR. Being a young age of 24 i didnt know of such loyalty and bravery amongst men could ever exist. Upon reading Stephan Ambrose's book Band Of Brothers, i thought i had read it all about E-Company and its hero's among hero's. But then i discovered this gem and it was literally like having a sit down with Major Winters himself. Immerse yourself into this book and the men its about and you will feel as if your recalling it all with him. This book takes you back to the start with a young kid who didnt want any part of a major war, he just wanted to do his service of 2 yrs and be done with the whole mess. But like most things you cant plan for the unexpected.

It gives you an in depth look into the leader who only wanted to lead E-company, who only ever wanted to serve with the best of the best and bring everyone home alive. Major Winters goes beyond Ambrose's surface scratching look at the first ever experimental group the paratroopers, and he takes you through the stages. You learn what hard work is in training camps, the uncertainty of awaiting to be deployed over seas, the shock of this is actually happening finally, to the hard nose and quick wits required to stay alive day after day on the life threatening front lines. Major Winter's memoirs is a richly deep story of a man who showed what a leader should be and do daily, What true leadership is, You say follow me instead of giving orders. I found it at times incredibly hard to stop reading once i began this amazing book.

Major Winters never wanted more other then for his men to be recognized for their heroics, and in my humble opinion is why he was and is one of the greatest men to ever live. Several times in the book i found myself laughing or falling into the story as if i could imagine myself being there with him and the rest of the 506th PIR. This goes to show how compelling and detailed the book is as it drives you further into it. It is with great sorrow now that nearly the entire 506th E-Company PIR is no longer with us. As being someone from very humble up brings, I would have loved and greatly desire thanking these men for their efforts, their stories, their acts of undaunted valor.

There is times of fond memories that he has no fear of sharing with the world in his book, the heart ache of losing his men during the war, and after the war due to age and natural causes. From Just some struggling kid to finding his way after what seems a lifetime of uncertainty and death, Major Winters paints a vivid description of the hell that is war to how does one go back to being "normal" after what you are put through. And it is thoroughly emotional in the last few chapters!

It is in great respects i pay homage to Major Winters and the entire Easy Company 506th reg. 101st 2nd Battalion PIR.
"from this day to the ending of the World, ... we in it shall be remembered ... we band of brothers."

Major Dick Winters was a singular American. He commanded Easy Company for a time and parachuted with them into France on D-Day, 1944. E Company fought all the way to Hitler's Berchtesgaden and then participated in occupation duties after the surrender of the German army. E Company became the subject of historian Stephen Ambrose's book, "Band of Brothers," and the subsequent Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg mini-series of the same name.

Richard Winters lived to be 92, passing away January 2, 2011, the last surviving officer of his company. He was beloved by his men, won the Distinguished Service Cross, became a successful businessman after the war, and was indisputably an American hero.

I recommend you read Ambrose's book, [[ASIN:074322454X Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest]], and then read this one. Both books will bring out the patriot in anyone who reads them, and both books will teach you a lot about leadership.

Amazing men, amazing leader, amazing story, great read.

As with another review in the BofB memoir series, I find it hard to `critique' a book and author whose story and accomplishments deserve so much respect. Having said that, a few points are still worth mentioning for potential readers to consider.

First, the book is lucidly written and easy-to-follow with a clear timeline of events, experiences and thoughts. Whether you've seen the miniseries or not, or are familiar with the unit's history, this book is well worth reading as a memoir. His more detailed and extensive coverage of the training, preparations and the company's time in England were interesting, especially his private recollections of the family he stayed with. If you're a fan of the show, this book is a terrific companion. It adds detail and sets the record straight on some individuals, events and scenes presented as "facts" in the miniseries.

I did however find that the book was repetitive in some places (or on some issues), while lacking in detail and depth in other areas (or on some individuals and events). For instance, while the author does spend time discussing several members of the company, I would've liked to see a page or paragraph on all the members of E company that were in the show. For instance he only mentions Frank Perconte, Shifty Powers and George Luz in passing or in a few short lines. As well, while I understand where the author comes from, his overly repetitious tone on the quality of the Airborne versus the seemingly inept (sometimes barely combat capable) status of other units or trades gets a bit tiresome. BUT, he has certainly earned the right to write and publish whatever he wants... so who am I to judge.

Details of the units' moves from D-Day to the taking of Berchtesgaden and life in post-war Germany were interesting, and really fills the gaps left by the show and Mr. Malarkey's book. Similarly, Mr. Winters writes with a more balanced feel by refraining from voicing personal dislikes of specific unit members leaving the reader in the position of observer, or house guest/listener, rather than picking sides or favorite players along with the author. As well, while Mr. Malarkey's book claims no recollection of liberating a camp at Landsberg, Mr. Winters discusses the event and includes 2 Signal Corps photographs.

Overall, the book is a good personal account with plenty of pre and post-war coverage. If you've seen the show, you'll have a hard time stopping your mind's eye from seeing the actors and scenes.

The product: the book (paperback) is of good quality binding, paper and clear printing with average sized letters causing no eye strain. There are 8 pages of photographs (training and war time) and the book includes a final section on leadership and Mr. Winters' 10 'Principles for Success'. Amazon lists it as 320 pages, but the book goes to 292 + index.