"correction" to "Band of Brothers"-they were Fallschirmjaeger...

[J.von Canon]

An interesting point to the recent Band of Brothers film account...
I've just received notice through the "Currahee"506 P.I.R. organization,of which I'm a member,that there is an effort to have (then)Lieut.Richard Winters' D.S.C.(Distinguished Service Cross)upgraded posthumously to the Congressional Medal Of Honor.
Lieut.Winters was ORIGINALLY nominated for the Medal of Honor for his leadership in the destruction of the four gun battery near Le Gran Chemin,Normandy.These guns were shelling the U.S landings on-going at Utah Beach.
There was some "rule",at the time,that the M.O.H. could only be awarded to "one man per division" in any campaign.Winters' M.O.H. instead was presented to another 101st.officer,Lieut.Col.Robert Cole(a West Pointer killed in action)
Many at the time were incensed at the downgrading of Winters' M.O.H. recommendation to the D.S.C.
Another interesting point is that Winters led his 12 paratroopers against
what amounted to some 50 Fallschirmjaeger manning the guns(the movie did'nt reflect this.)
Had Winters and his 12 not neutralized those guns the Utah Beach would have been far bloodier.
Winters himself killed some 5 Fallschirmjaeger in close combat.
Another 10 Fallschirmjaeger were killed by his men,wounded many more,destroyed all the guns,and withdrew with 12 Fallschirmjaeger prisoners.They had wrecked a 50 man Fallschirmjaeger platoon.
The 506 organization is continuing its efforts...

[Don D.]

Truely America's Greatest Generation

[spectre]

You mention posthumously awarded, has Maj. Winters passed away then if so I had not heard. He was a truly great man and I love his ending to the series of how he “served in a company of hero’s”.

The rule you mention was an order from Eisenhower that only one man per division could be nominated for the MOH for D-Day. Although one per campaign is what it turned out to be for the airborne at least, I don’t know about how the MOH was presented to the other divisions involved in Normandy and beyond. I really feel that was really short-sighted on his part and many men who ended up with the DSC could have been awarded the MOH without this restriction in place. I hope your organization can make this happen, the 442nd R.C.T. certainly did a few years ago with their upgrades.

Alan

[J.von Canon]

You mention posthumously awarded, has Maj. Winters passed away then if so I had not heard. He was a truly great man and I love his ending to the series of how he “served in a company of hero’s”.

The rule you mention was an order from Eisenhower that only one man per division could be nominated for the MOH for D-Day. Although one per campaign is what it turned out to be for the airborne at least, I don’t know about how the MOH was presented to the other divisions involved in Normandy and beyond. I really feel that was really short-sighted on his part and many men who ended up with the DSC could have been awarded the MOH without this restriction in place. I hope your organization can make this happen, the 442nd R.C.T. certainly did a few years ago with their upgrades.

Alan

Yes,this is posthumous.
Maj.Winters died several months ago.
The W.W.II vets are rapidly thinning out daily.
It's interesting that the 506 P.I.R./101 and the 6 Fallschirmjaeger Regt. routinely found themselves facing each other in combat;Carentan(Normandy),Holland,and the Bulge...

[Ben]

Yes,this is posthumous.
Maj.Winters died several months ago.
The W.W.II vets are rapidly thinning out daily.
It's interesting that the 506 P.I.R./101 and the 6 Fallschirmjaeger Regt. routinely found themselves facing each other in combat;Carentan(Normandy),Holland,and the Bulge...

FYI,

Major Winters is actually still alive and in pretty good health.
He is aware of the process that is currently going on to upgrade his DSC to MOH.

Col. Robert Cole (CO 502) was killed in the Netherlands (Best) by a headshot from a German sniper.

Cheers,

Ben

[J.von Canon]

That's good news...

FYI,

Major Winters is actually still alive and in pretty good health.
He is aware of the process that is currently going on to upgrade his DSC to MOH.

Col. Robert Cole (CO 502) was killed in the Netherlands (Best) by a headshot from a German sniper.

Cheers,

Ben

Thank you for the correction.Great news that he is still around.
I heard he had died(source of info was a reenactor)so I should have been more alert.

[Willi Z.]

Was fortunate to have seen him a few times over the eyars. Even got to closely examine the splinter FJ smock he brought home from Normandy. Quite the interesting piece for a number of reasons. I was able to photograph it and it will be featured in a smock book.

Willi

[J.von Canon]

The smock you saw...

Was fortunate to have seen him a few times over the eyars. Even got to closely examine the splinter FJ smock he brought home from Normandy. Quite the interesting piece for a number of reasons. I was able to photograph it and it will be featured in a smock book.

Willi

I can't help but wonder if the bonesack you saw and photographed was taken off one of the prisoners Lieut.Winters and his men brought back from the battery-action(where Winters was put in for the Medal of Honor.)If so,that would make an interesting footnote in your coming book.
I looked at the 506 e-mail list last night but Maj.Winters' is'nt listed although many of his men are on it.Maybe some of the others who were in this action might have interesting gear too.
The most incredible Fallschirmjaeger helmet I ever saw belonged to an 82 Abn.vet who was quite unaware of its monetary value or rarity.It was a double-decal with light mustard tan wash that accented the decals.The original owner's name was inside the rear lip too.
By the way,is your book still available?Schiffer said its out of print...

[Greg Way]

Brecourt Manor

Gentlemen,
My ongoing, long going research into FJR.6 in Normandy between 6th-15th June 1944 is still unfinished. This research includes the memoirs of Major Von der Heydte himself, as well as veterans of the aforementioned Rgt. I am still stumped by the absense of any reference to Fallschirmjaeger being sent to Brecourt to defend those guns. I am not in a position to cross examine those who were their, but i cannot find any explanation as to why men of FJR.6 were present in that area, early on the morning of 6th June 1944. Does anyone have information they would like to share. Another anomoly is the order for men of I./FJR6 to counterattack the bridges over the Carentan Canal at Le Moulins. Not noted by VDH. Surely a commander would maintain accountability of the men under his command, especially in the circumstances of early June 6th 1944.
Alles gute
Greg Way

[Militaria Ace]

Does anyone know what the germans reported after Major Winters action against the guns? 12 man vs. 50?.