Today’s post covers another aspect of the D-Day invasion -- Dick Winters’ experience in Normandy in June 1944.

This year, I am doing a series on leaders and leadership in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in World War II. This is 16th in the series. Check out the blog to see them all or go to the links at the bottom of this article to see the most recent ones.

Dick Winters and Normandy

It was not a foregone conclusion that Dick Winters was going to be a great leader. He graduated from Franklin and Marshal in 1941 and enlisted in the Army soon afterwards. He spent his time as an enlisted soldier at Camp Croft, South Carolina — first in basic training and then training other soldiers. He was selected to attend Officer Candidate School in April 1942 and was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant. Dick volunteered for the paratroopers and joined the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment for its rigorous training in Toccoa, Georgia; North Carolina; and England. Remember the 506th PIR, when it formed in Toccoa in 1942, conducted selection, basic training, airborne training, and advanced infantry training all as a unit.

In the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Dick was known for his incredible physical fitness. He was selected to serve a platoon leader in Easy Company. However, he clashed with his commander, Captain Herbert Sobel. The clash came to a head in the winter of 1943-1944 — Dick Winters was removed from Easy Company and reassigned as Battalion Mess Officer. Eventually, Captain Sobel was also reassigned — he was selected to serve as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division’s parachute school at Chilton Foliat which trained both the division staff (which wasn’t airborne qualified at the time) and replacements for the Screaming Eagles.

With the departure of Sobel, Colonel Robert Sink picked Thomas Meehan to be Easy Company’s Commander. Meehan was from Pennsylvania and had been a leader in Baker Company. Meehan would lead Easy Company for the final preparations and jump into Normandy. Winters was given the opportunity, for a second time, to serve as a platoon leader in Easy Company in the spring of 1944.

On June 5th, 1944 Dick Winters had been in the Army for 3 years. He had not seen combat. He had clashed with his boss. He was removed from his leadership position. And was eventually given a second chance to be a leader in Easy Company.

For D-Day, the 101st Airborne Division was chosen to land behind Utah Beach and seize four causeways (roads) that were the only way off the beach and through the marsh for the 4th Infantry Division (the unit that landed by sea on Utah Beach). As part of the plan, the 506th PIR would seize the two southern causeways. As part of the 506th PIR, Easy Company’s mission was to seize causeway #2, just to the north of the town of Saint Marie-du-Mont.

As the hundreds of C-47 transport planes approached the Normandy coast, the night sky was lit up with tracers and flak. The transport pilots scattered to avoid the deadly fire. Unfortunately, Meehan’s plane was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and crashed near the village of Beuzeville-au-Plain (approximately 2 miles northeast of the town of Sainte Mere-Eglise), killing all of Easy Company’s headquarters group.

Winters plane avoided the flak. However, it did not put the paratroopers out over the proper drop zone. Also, as Dick exited the plane, his leg bag that contained his weapons was torn from him. Without a rifle, Winters landed safely and eventual found twenty men. As they worked their way to their objective, they ambushed a German patrol. It was their first taste of combat. Winters and his small band of paratroopers eventually made their way to Saint Marie-du-Mont and helped the 506th PIR liberate the town.

As the sun came up in Normandy, Winters was put in charge of the elements of Easy Company who had made it to Saint Marie-du-Mont. His battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Strayer, ordered him to take a group of 23 paratroopers — 12 paratroopers of Easy Company, 9 paratroopers of Dog Company, 1 paratrooper of Able Company, and 1 paratrooper from Fox Company — to knock out four German 105mm howitzers and their 50-person crew at Brecourt Manor.

Upon arriving near Brecourt Manor and after making a quick reconnaissance, Winters put together his plan: he positioned a pair of machine guns for covering fire and sent several soldiers, including Lieutenant Lynn D. Compton, Private Donald Malarkey, and Sergeant William J. Guarnere, to one flank to destroy a machine gun position with grenades.

While the trenches connecting the artillery positions provided the Germans with an easy way to supply and reinforce the guns, they also proved to be their biggest weakness. After destroying the first gun position, Winters and the rest of his team used the trenches as covered approaches to attack the remaining guns in turn. Each gun was destroyed by placing a block of TNT down its barrel and using German stick grenades to set off the charges.

Reinforcements from Dog Company, led by Lieutenant Ronald C. Speirs, arrived to complete the assault on the fourth and last gun. After the four guns were disabled, Winters's team came under heavy machine gun fire from Brécourt Manor and withdrew. Winters actions leading the ad-hoc group of paratroopers to destroy the guns earned him the respect of his men and the reputation as a calm, cool, and collected leader in combat.

Later, General General Omar Bradley presented Captain Winters with the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor, for leading the assault. Here is Winters citation for the DSC:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard D. Winters (ASN: 0-1286582), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. First Lieutenant Winters with seven enlisted men, advanced through intense enemy automatic weapons fire, putting out of action two guns of the battery of four 88-mm. that were shelling the beachhead. Unswerving in his determination to complete his self-appointed and extremely hazardous task, First Lieutenant Winters and his group withdrew for reinforcements. He returned with tank support and the remaining two guns were put out of action, resulting in decreased opposition to our forces landing on the beachhead. First Lieutenant Winters' heroic and determined leadership exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

In 2012 a statue to Winters and his leadership during the attack at Brecourt Manor was dedicated just 500 yards from where the battle occured.

On June 12, 1944 Easy Company led the 2nd Battalion attack to take the critical town of Carentan. Despite intense machine gun fire, Winters maneuvered the company well and cleared the town. An intense German tank and infantry attack the next day caused Dog and Fox Companies to break and run. Easy Company stood its ground, enabling the 506th to retain the town until American tanks arrived to tip the balance.

After 33 days in combat, Easy Company was relieved. Only half the paratroopers who jumped into France sailed back with the outfit to England. The tough training at Toccoa had paid dividends: Easy Company had garnered an extraordinary combat reputation. Dick Winters had also gained the respect of the Easy Company paratroopers as a leader that was calm and courageous under fire. Returning to Aldbourne, England the men recovered, received replacements, and began training for their next rendezvous with destiny.

Application

Do leaders in your organization get second chances like Dick Winters got? Should they? When was the last time you gave one of your team a second chance? Where have you overlooked a leader that later turned out to be a great asset to your organization?

Conclusion

The last five blog posts on leaders and leadership from the World War II European Theater of Operations are:

Pegasus Bridge

The D-Day Decision

The D-Day OPORD

Easy Company

Admiral Ramsay

Would your team benefit from a keynote speech on some of the leadership techniques Dick Winters and the Band of Brothers used and how they can be applied to your corporate challenges? Then hit one of the buttons below to schedule a keynote for you next off-site or retreat.

In the meantime, go on the offensive and use Dick Winters and his second chance to inspire you this week.