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

Aug 31, 2012 Eric_W rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am willing to grant, I guess, that Winters was a remarkable leader, but in this ghost-written autobiography he comes across as a sanctimonious prig. He gets leave in Paris then complains that he learns too much about the construction of the Eiffel Tower because it doesn't help him as an infantry officer. He refuses to drink or get laid or do all the things everyone else was doing because he didn;t want to disrespect his unit, his army, his family, his country, etc., etc. blah blah, blah.

Compar...more I am willing to grant, I guess, that Winters was a remarkable leader, but in this ghost-written autobiography he comes across as a sanctimonious prig. He gets leave in Paris then complains that he learns too much about the construction of the Eiffel Tower because it doesn't help him as an infantry officer. He refuses to drink or get laid or do all the things everyone else was doing because he didn;t want to disrespect his unit, his army, his family, his country, etc., etc. blah blah, blah.

Comparisons to Audio Murphy's autobiography will be inevitable. Ironically I think Murphy's is the more introspective and more humble. Winters, clearly a talented company commander and great leader, talks too much about how humble he was (as was noted by another reviewer.) Winters just isn't as good a writer as Murphy, either. That being said, as a companion book to the HBO series, it's almost a must for the real-life perspective on the events. Winters, without the HBO series, would have been lost to the dustbin of history. And that's a shame. I suspect there were lots of other very talented men who served by doing their jobs and getting wounded or killed in the process, who never received the recognition. So I like to think of this book as a memoir for all the troops.

I was a little puzzled by the lack of explanation about Winters' promotion to executive officer of the Battalion following the Ardennes. If he was such a great company commander, why would the powers that be kick him upstairs to where he had no command authority at all and whose job seemed to consist mostly of paperwork and presiding over courts martials of looters -- this was apparently a severe problem.

The biggest problem with this book, is its lack of broad perspective. It's really quite myopic. It's so clearly everything from the view of E Company, it's almost as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Now perhaps that's not fair because I suppose that's a reflection of the world as seen by a company commander during battle. I don't know, never having been one. It has been said that only if there are great challenges and crises, can presidents become truly great. I suspect that might be true of many war heroes as well. Without the crisis, they might have just been ordinary folks like the rest of us.

It's perhaps ironic but I kept getting the sense that had Sobel, the hated company commander during training, not made their collective lives so miserable in his attempts to wash individuals out, that perhaps they might not have become such a cohesive unit before and later in combat.

For perhaps another perspective: Biggest Brother The Life Of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led The Band of Brothers (less)

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Aug 22, 2008 Brent rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am a huge fan of Band of Brothers. That is why I was so excited about this book. It was a bit of a let down for three basic reasons.

1. It is obvious he is not a writer. I can't fault him for that.
2. He did not really get into much detail as to what he did during the war.
3. He is a very humble person, that is very obvious. But he talks too much about how humble he is to the point of he doesn't seem humble. I think this relates back to the first point.

If you enjoyed Band of Brothers, this is a n...more

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Oct 23, 2012 hunter robinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALEART

Beyond Band of Brothers by Richard “Dick” D. Winters and Cole C. Kingseed
Biography

The book “Beyond Band of Brothers” is written by Major Dick Winters and Cole C. Kingseed. It gives the reader insight into the personal life of Major Winters before and after World War II, his war experiences and his relationships with the troops under his command. The book provides more detail of his life than the movie “Band of Brothers”.

This book was a very good because I could relate to it with fo...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

From Publishers Weekly

In his well-intentioned but impersonal memoirs, Winters tells the tales left untold by Stephen Ambrose, whose Band of Brothers was the inspiration for the HBO miniseries, but Winters's memoir is disappointingly sparse on details unrelated to troop position. It is in the battles and tactical maneuvers of Easy Company that Winters is most at home: on D-Day, when Easy Company's commanding officer is killed, Winters takes charge minutes after landing deep in German territory

...more From Publishers Weekly

In his well-intentioned but impersonal memoirs, Winters tells the tales left untold by Stephen Ambrose, whose Band of Brothers was the inspiration for the HBO miniseries, but Winters's memoir is disappointingly sparse on details unrelated to troop position. It is in the battles and tactical maneuvers of Easy Company that Winters is most at home: on D-Day, when Easy Company's commanding officer is killed, Winters takes charge minutes after landing deep in German territory and leads an assault against a German battery. He carefully explicates the reasoning behind his strategy, leading the reader along as the Company attacks German machine gun and mortar outposts. The narrative is laced with Winters's soldierly exaltations of pride in his comrades' bravery: "My God, it's beautiful when you think of a guy who was so dedicated to his company that he apologizes for getting hit." Although the intrepidness of the group induces more than a tinge of pride, the memoir is devoid of powerful reflections. In the last, sluggish chapters, Winters devotes an excessive amount of time to letters he has received and to expositions on leadership. Winters is too humble for a genre that requires a little bit of conceit.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers (1992) and the HBO miniseries based on it made Easy Company--the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which fought from D-Day to the end of World War II, with 150 percent casualties--well known to more than -military-history buffs. After both publication and broadcast, Winters, Easy Company's commanding officer, received many requests for more information. Feeling that much of the material Ambrose didn't use deserved an audience, he chose to air it and satisfy all those requests in his memoirs. For those to whom the story is familiar, the major and his collaborator developed an excellent narrative voice to recount Winters' experiences, actions, and thoughts during everything from training to deployment to battle to subsequent occupation. Winters has been praised as an exemplar of leadership, and here he shows what he did to earn that praise and how he did it. Very well done, book as well as war service. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Apr 07, 2012 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, wwii, biography

I enjoyed Band of Brothers - the book and HBO mini-series - so I was interested in reading more about Richard Winters and Easy Company.

The book held some interesting content particularly the first three chapters before the invasion and the last few chapters detailing life after the war. Some other reflections on decision making as a military leader and on being a leader in general sprinkled throughout the book were also of interest. However, stylisticaly the book is a little boring as both a wa...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography, military-history

It's an excellent book! I always like to read books by or about great leaders, and this book is one of them. Major Winters story was first told by Stephen Ambrose in his book, Band of Brothers, and then Winters wrote this book from his own perspective. Winters' Ten Principles for Success, which he called Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet:
1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.
2. Lead from the front. Say, "Follow me!" and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shap...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Doug DePew rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone interested in military history or leadership

Recommended to Doug by: History Book Club

Major Dick Winters was a very humble man, and it is a pleasure to read the story of Easy Company in his own words. The writing and narrative are marvelous in this first person account of what it was like to serve in the proud unit. It is almost strictly an account of the military actions of E Company, 506th PIR in World War II, but it does delve more deeply into the personalities making up Easy Company. "Beyond Band of Brothers" shares many stories that were not included in the original book or...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This account of his World War II experiences by Richard Winters is often described as being rather dry. I've been told that he focuses mostly on military maneuvers, descriptions of battles and troop movements. I admit that despite my admiration for the man, I avoided reading his book for a long time because it sounded well, boring.
I was wrong. I hope anyone who reads this review who hasn't yet read the book will take my word for it that this is a fascinating memoir from a great and humble man....more

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Mar 04, 2009 FunkyPlaid rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, world-war-2

I have nothing but admiration for the soldiers around the world who put their lives on the line in the name of their government's orders. It's their job, what they get paid for, and theirs is perhaps the most dangerous of all occupations. To this, I'd add that WWII veterans receive my special respect because of the nature of the time in which they fought. America was a different country then, with different ways of doing things, and a different sense of what the word "patriotism" meant. They say...more I have nothing but admiration for the soldiers around the world who put their lives on the line in the name of their government's orders. It's their job, what they get paid for, and theirs is perhaps the most dangerous of all occupations. To this, I'd add that WWII veterans receive my special respect because of the nature of the time in which they fought. America was a different country then, with different ways of doing things, and a different sense of what the word "patriotism" meant. They say that it was the last "good war", if any could be attributed that way. And we're losing these men fast. Dick Winters, one of the most famous and most capable commanders of possibly the most famous combat unit in WWII, is perhaps the most exemplary of these men. As the leader of Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, he led an amazing group of men through an amazing time, and the unit's accolades have been dutifully expressed in a variety of sources: Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers, HBO's mini-series of the same name, and a number of memoirs from men who actually fought in the unit. These sources go some way in telling the story of these soldiers, the war, and their sacrifice. The telling needed to be done, because we should all know what happened during those unimaginably important years.

Perhaps because I've been such a proponent of this idea, or maybe just because I'm such a passionate student of military history, or maybe even due to the fact that I've heard the story of Easy Company so many times, I found myself noticeably bored with the telling of the tale from the man who was in charge of that band of brothers. Yes, this is the fourth time I've been recounted the story from that angle of the war. Yes, Winters was an amazing leader, one of the last surviving members of the unit, and, for all purposes, the most astute archivist of Easy Company's social history. He deserves to be able to tell his story again, as he was there for all of it and is still sharp and thoughtful. But Winters and his contributing writer, Col. Cole Kingseed, are extremely poor at recounting it in a way that would remove the need for HBO's series or Ambrose's sober tone. What we get is a rambling, non-inspiring tour de force through Easy Company's time in the States, in the ETO, and beyond, all the while being continuously pushed and pulled between Winters' vacillations of humility and utter self-capability.

It's not that I have any problems with this absolutely prodigal combat leader telling his story in print. I just have a hard time getting past his pedestrian journalism. Even considering that this is a war memoir, I could not stop telling myself that it might have been better served with a series of extensive audio or video interviews. Of particular note and annoyance throughout the book is Winters' phantom modesty. For a man coming out of the woodwork in 1992 (via Ambrose's unit history) to be so humble and focused on the heroism of the men under his command was an inspiration and a lesson to us all about leadership. In desiring to convey a sense of that leadership in his book, however, Winters may have been instructed poorly by his publishers. We are indeed celebrating his life and his accomplishments, but to spend entire paragraphs describing how Winters, himself, was just doing his job, alternating between paragraphs of Winters telling us in detail about all the accolades showered upon him by the men under his command, his superior officers, and his legions of fans, feels a little disingenuous - or, at the least, conflicted. And if it happened once, it would be forgivable. But this formula is repeated over and over throughout the book, back and forth, from "just getting the job done" to telling us again and again how humble he really is. In effect, it felt very much like Winters did not really want to write the things he did about himself. Which leads me to ask why he did.

Beyond Band of Brothers is simply a case of one man telling his own story in his own words, when other renditions of his own words would have and have already sufficed. This account should not have been an auto-biography, but then again, there are already so many biographies out there about Dick Winters and the inconceivable trials over which he and his men triumphed. Don't let this review stop you from lauding this amazing commander, because his should be celebrated. Just be sure that he has contributed to the historical timeline and to our modern awareness of WWII in much better ways than this book conveys.(less)

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Apr 18, 2013 Francis Gahren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: military

Beyond Band of Brothers is Dick Winters' account of his experiences with Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the Second World War. Winters will already be familiar to many readers from his role in Band of Brothers by Steven Ambrose, and in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. As one of the last surviving officers of the unit and as custodian of a collection of diaries, letters, and other material, Winters has written his own war memoirs to complete the story of Easy Company.

It...more Beyond Band of Brothers is Dick Winters' account of his experiences with Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the Second World War. Winters will already be familiar to many readers from his role in Band of Brothers by Steven Ambrose, and in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. As one of the last surviving officers of the unit and as custodian of a collection of diaries, letters, and other material, Winters has written his own war memoirs to complete the story of Easy Company.

It must be noted that Winters lacks Ambrose's gifts as a writer; his style is somewhat technical but still interesting. More importantly, however, Winters provides the "How to" of being a successful leader of a highly effective unit. Winters was highly professional, morally and mentally disciplined, physically fit, constantly learning about his job, and acutely attuned to the spoken and unspoken voices of his troopers. He was supported by a strong religious faith. As Winters progresses from enlisted volunteer through officer candidate, junior officer, commander of Easy Company, and ultimately a battalion command in the 506th Infantry, he allows us to see his growth as a leader. Winters is honest about his fears and concerns throughout the war, especially in late 1944 when many soldiers began to break down under conditions of sustained combat. Throughout the book, Winters' care and concern for his soldiers is clear. He was a hard but fair leader who sought to bring as many of his troopers back alive as he could.

Winters addresses a key question about leadership – are natural leaders born or made? It seems that Richard D. "Dick" Winters’ life has been a quest to answer that question. In the final chapters of Beyond Band of Brothers he provides the answer. Written in the autumn of his years, Winters culls a lifetime of inner reflection and a quest to live in peace, after leading soldiers in some of the most deadly combat of World War II. The result is a frank, sometimes brutally honest testament to the moral fiber of the American citizen soldier, who shouldered an undying responsibility to God, country, family, and above all, the men he led into battle. Sixty years from now, when the events of the Second World War sink ever so deeper into the pages of history, Winters’ message will still be sought. Like the men of Easy Company he led, he will gain the respect of new generations of soldiers, and, if events mirror those of his life, continue to save lives.

Winters pens only a dozen pages of his early life before delving right into his military career. He was the product of many good influences in his upbringing: his family, Mennonite background, a strong work ethic, and he had no vices. Winters confesses early on that his aim in writing the book is to tell the stories that Ambrose and HBO left out. There are some new addenda. Sadly, Winters updates us of the most recent passing of the men from Easy Company we have come to know and admire for their portrayal in the film, and in the documentary, "We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company." It is evident that Winters loves and respects those men as much as they do him. For the most part, however, Winters’ version holds true to Ambrose's book, and Hanks and Spielberg's film, barring artistic license of the latter, of course. One can easily detect the strong contribution Winters had on Ambrose's work. In some places, the narrative is so similar to Ambrose, one gets the impression Ambrose quoted Winters liberally, without the customary quotation marks. Winters admires the late historian immensely, however, and devotes a chapter to Ambrose at the end of the book.

The bulk of Winters' memoir is devoted to the people and events that left an indelible mark on his life: the men and battles of Easy Company. He goes on at length about the man we have all come to despise: Herbert M. Sobel. Despite Sobel's brutal leadership style, Winters credits him with molding the character of the core of Toccoa men that made up Easy Company. Winters offers his take on the myths surrounding Ronald Speirs, who was rumored to have murdered German prisoners, and shot an American sergeant who was allegedly drunk and disobeyed an order to attack. Likewise, Winters makes no qualms about utilizing what he called "my killers," in vital tactical situations, most notably, the silencing of four 105mm guns at Brecourt Manor, the textbook execution that was without a doubt, Winters' crowning moment in combat. For devoted Band of Brothers fans, the two individuals he singles out will not surprise. There are also heart-felt accolades for his two closest friends, Lewis Nixon, and Harry Welsh, as well as, a cadre of Easy Company enlisted men, most notably, Floyd Talbert and Carwood Lipton, just to name a few. The loving relationship Winters formed with the English couple he was quartered with at Aldbourne, Wiltshire, his "second parents," never left him.

Winters' life after the war is treated as briefly as his life before. Winters was a self professed "ninety-day wonder," whose warrior spirit was molded running up Currahee, and tempered in combat. As a combat leader, he felt there was no place for him in a peacetime and the "chickenshit army" he saw forming. His chapter spelling out his principles of good leadership should be memorized by every aspiring military officer or corporate manager.

So were Winters' leadership abilities innate, or nurtured? That is for the reader to decide.

We are indeed privileged to have this memoir of a truly extraordinary and humble man. But I am sure he would be the first to agree, that there were probably scores of Dick Winters who fought their way across the fields of Europe, or the deserted islands of the Pacific. Many lie beneath thousands of white marble crosses, or Stars of David. Many more, like the men Winters led, are embarrassed by the word "hero," and prefer to remain silent. Dick Winters is their messenger, their representative, and a model field grade officer of the Second World War. The media has made Winters a celebrity, and his peaceful life that he promised himself on D-Day has been shattered by well-wishing, and autograph seeking fans from all over the world. There is even a campaign to up-grade his Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor. This memoir is, I suspect, Winters' final word on the subject. Read it and learn from its many lessons, and respect the officers and men of Easy Company. That is Dick Winters' legacy, and worth more to him than a chest full of medals.
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Aug 01, 2011 Dachokie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-war-ii

The Humble Memoir of a Proven Leader ..., July 26, 2011

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, airm...more The Humble Memoir of a Proven Leader ..., July 26, 2011

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".(less)

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Dec 30, 2008 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Katy by: Dad

I read this during a vacation in France... we were able to visit Normandy and had a personal tour of the beaches and the german and American cemetery. It was an extraordinary experience. I already new the Hollywood version of the story from the Band of Brothers mini-series (which I recommend for EVERYONE)... but I liked reading the actual story from Major Dick Winters. This man is a humble hero and served with heroes. Whether you want to go into the politics of whether it was the right decision...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Reds_reads rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, biography, history, wwii

I have read quite a few of the books written by the Easy Company soldiers as well as Band of Brothers by Ambrose. This one is not one of my favourites, mostly because of the style. It is rather dry and there are a few odd choices of words which make me question who edited it. But what marred my enjoyment most was that I didn't feel that Dick Winters came across as well as he should have. He was a man revered and loved by his fellow soldiers and although this book does a good job of showing why h...more

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May 07, 2011 Tim rated it 4 of 5 stars

This memoir by Major Dick Winters is worth reading if you have any interest at all in World War II or simply enjoyed the the HBO series Band of Brothers (based on the book by Stephen Ambrose).

Major Winters goes into more detail about Easy Company's initial training than you will find in the Ambrose book. He also presents each of Easy Company's engagements in detail, providing a command perspective on each one.

Major Winters does his best to explain what made Easy Company so effective and what m...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biographies, non-fiction, war-history

I have a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for Dick Winters not just as a WWII Hero and leader but as a man. He held himself to a very high standard not just as an Army Officer but as principled Christian.

No drinking or smoking for him and very little cursing. When he served his time in the military in Europe he always conducted himself with the utmost in professionalism, bravery, humility and a fierce inner strength and intelligence that was so typical of most of the great officers th...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Personally, I was intrigued by this book. The actions of so many men stationed overseas during WWII simply take my breath away and surely should be honored, the actions of the men of Easy Company are beyond inspirational and the actions of major Dick Winters should be held as outline for true leadership.

Readers looking for the sweeping saga of Band of Brothers, this simply may not be the book for you. It is a memoir, not a novel.

If you were compelled by the bonds, strength of character and coura...more

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Feb 10, 2009 Audra rated it 3 of 5 stars

All in all, this is a terrific testament to the fighting prowess and comradeship of Easy Company (101 PIR). Still, I found it a bit of a slog; if you don't have a mind attuned to military campaigns and battles, then you might find the same thing to be true. What I thought was most interesting were the passages where Major Winters discussed various decisions in and out of battle, and provided his rationale and defense of those decisions. Also, if you read nothing else, read the last two chapters....more

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Oct 10, 2010 Robert rated it 2 of 5 stars

The writing style is a bit simple and at times even bad, but the combat descriptions while Winters was still on the front lines are great. The book loses steam when he is promoted to more of a non-combat role, although there are some humorous stories that take place when the war in the European theater is winding down that gave me a good laugh. In my opinion the book should have ended well sooner than it actually does, as the post-war reflections and follow-ups are somewhat dull. Finally, there...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, history

Major Richard Winters was not a writer, he was a soldier. For that reason, and because 'Beyond...' attempts to fill some of the gaps of Stephen E. Ambrose's 'Band of Brothers', the story isn't always as eloquently told as it could be.

It is, however, all heart. While Winters repeats some of what Ambrose (and subsequently Tom Hank and Steven Spielberg) told us, having it all through Winters' eyes means that the duplication is irrelevant. What we're left with is an honest account of a gentle man wh...more

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May 09, 2013 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, biography, my-all-time-favorites

I really enjoyed reading the story of Easy Company through Major Winter's eyes. I can see why other people think he has false modesty, but I thought it was good anyway. But how could you write a story about yourself and your role in the war, and NOT tell what other people said about you? I think that was why he felt obliged to always say that he "never thought of himself" as hero. I have never read Band of Brothers, but am a big fan of the movie. I really enjoyed all the details not given in the...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Major Dick Winters was one of the commanders of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in World War II. Easy Company was the subject of "Band of Brothers." This book was written after Stephen Ambrose wrote "Band of Brothers". This book contains some stories of Easy Company that aren't in "Band of Brothers". The last couple of chapters also cover the responses from people to "Band of Brothers" and Dick Winters' thoughts on leadership.

Dick Winters is pretty candid...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Esther rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, audio-book, history, life-and-death, memoir-biography, war

There's nothing quite like a first-hand account of war-time combat. Dick Winters is no writer, or I would've given his book 5*, his story is so compelling. I did watch the series "Band of Brothers" years ago, so many of the scenes came back to me as I read - which made me realize how closely the film followed the facts. Dick Winters is a fascinating person, to say the least. I was taken aback by the realization that the man who lead his men though those harrowing battles was only 27 years old. A...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book haunted me for a while. I read Band of Brothers, as well as some related spin-offs, but I knew that this book had something else in for me. The author, Richard Winters, made a great impression on me in Band of Brothers, with his leadership style and bravery. I wanted to hear from him firsthand, his thoughts on his part in World War II. I had this feeling that when I finished it, that he would pass away, as if he was waiting for me to read it. Sure enough, on January 2, 2011, Richard Wi...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Jacob Knox rated it 3 of 5 stars

First of all, don't misunderstand this as a shot at Dick Winters. It is obvious he was a great man that held very high standards. But about this book, in the preface he talks about people wanting additional stories and ones that did not make it into ambrose's book. So him writing this book was the only way to get those stories to everyone that wanted them, myself included. However, there are very few details in this book that are not in band of brothers, if you have read band of brothers, dont w...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just rewatched the mini series, Band of Brothers DVD's from the library, and this book is a great accompaniment to the movie. It is the story of the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, through the eyes of Major Dick Winters. This book just made me understand so much of what my father went through during WWII, and I just cried though so much of it, because of the sacrifices of these men, to let us live the way we do now in this great country of ours. This book basically talks you though what was s...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Les rated it 4 of 5 stars

Strip away the glamor of Easy Company and their well deserved accolades and Dick Winters is still worthy of recognition as an ideal leader. Any person in position to lead people will benefit from reading what Winters has documented here about what it takes to be a competent leader and what is required to mold a group of people into a cohesive team. A true American hero.

Also if you have watched the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers the book also adds some nice detail and additional stories about t...more

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May 16, 2012 Harley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Hero is a title that is used much too often.
But there is little doubt that besides being a kind and humble man, Dick Winters deserves the title of Hero.
As I read his memoirs,I found myself shedding tears of compassion for what he and his men were enduring,while a sense of pride grew in my heart for their "brotherly" dedication to each other.
It was an honor to be able to read Major Winters words.His story and that of Easy Company should never be forgotten or allowed to fade from memory. For they...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-non-fiction, wwii, own, biographies-memoirs

I've read few books as quickly as I read Major Winters' memoirs, and all of those have been fiction until now. That in itself I believe is a testament to the quality of the book in the sense that if it is material that you enjoy on a regular basis it is rather difficult to put down. That being said, that is partially due to the writing style being so pedestrian, but that is no fault of Winters' - the man is not a writer.

When I purchased this book, I was hoping to get a more personal account of E...more I've read few books as quickly as I read Major Winters' memoirs, and all of those have been fiction until now. That in itself I believe is a testament to the quality of the book in the sense that if it is material that you enjoy on a regular basis it is rather difficult to put down. That being said, that is partially due to the writing style being so pedestrian, but that is no fault of Winters' - the man is not a writer.

When I purchased this book, I was hoping to get a more personal account of Easy Company's trials and tribulations during World War II. Stephen Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" told it from a broader perspective, and I was looking forward to seeing it through the eyes of one man. However, I think in that aspect this book failed. Winters rehashes a lot of the things addressed in Ambrose's book to a technical stand point, and I felt that he negated to actually make it a more personal account. That may not have ever been his intention, but it was what I hoped I would receive while reading.

Much to my disappointment, I had more criticisms about Winters' memoirs than I anticipated, and again, that may be because I was delivered somewhat the opposite of what I had wanted in reading this. At the same time, I try to look at my criticisms from an objective standpoint - I've never experienced an iota of what this amazing soldier, leader, and man went through. I really disliked his categorizing of some of his own soldiers as "killers" (whether they appreciated such a title or not). Furthermore, anyone who's read Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" or seen the HBO series knows that Winters is a very humble man; but he drives this point home so often that one truly has to wonder how humble he actually is.

All of that being said, it was a fantastic read. As I said, I wouldn't take my criticisms to heart. I'm sitting in my warm bedroom sipping a cup of tea and listening to The Beatles, when at my age this man was commanding soldiers in places such as Normandy and Bastogne. Anyone who has any desire to read it certainly should. The personal touches Dick Winters does afford us are eye opening, and both heart warming and breaking. I wept while he detailed some of the men who has passed on since the release of Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" back in 1992.

While Dick Winters may not be a fantastic writer, he is certainly a fantastic, heroic, and inspiring man. Hang tough! :)(less)

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Apr 19, 2010 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military, leadership, history, biography, ww2, memoir

Pretty decent insights from a true hero...and leader. Better insights than most books on leadership.

Like: "An officer should never put himself in a position where he takes anything from the men. Never abuse them by act or omission. As a commander, a leader must be prepared to give everything, including himself, to the people he leads. You give your time and you strive to be consistently fair, never demonstrating favoritism."

Like: "When...you realize the weight of your responsibility and do somet...more Pretty decent insights from a true hero...and leader. Better insights than most books on leadership.

Like: "An officer should never put himself in a position where he takes anything from the men. Never abuse them by act or omission. As a commander, a leader must be prepared to give everything, including himself, to the people he leads. You give your time and you strive to be consistently fair, never demonstrating favoritism."

Like: "When...you realize the weight of your responsibility and do something about it, you soon become old beyond your years...I felt the simpler times...when I did as I pleased, were long past. It must have been a dream, a small and short but beautiful part of my life. Now all I did was work---work to improve myself as an officer, work to improve my soldiers as fighters, and work to develop them as men. The result was that I was old before my time; not physically old; but hardened to the point where I could make the rest of them look like undeveloped high school boys; old to the extent where I could keep going after my men fell over and slept from exhaustion, and I could keep going as a mother who works on after her sick and exhausted child has fallen asleep; old to the extent where if it was a decision or advice needed, my decisions were taken as if the wisdom befind them was infallible. Yes, I felt old and tired from training these men to the point where they were now efficient fighters. I hoped that the effort would mean that more of them would return (to those girls in the states...)

Like: Leaving Easy company was the hardest thing I had done in my life. Life in an infantry company is extremely intimate and the result is that men share their collective experiences each and every day. As I reflected on my two years in the company, from a platoon leader at Toccoa to Easy's commanding officer since D-day, I knew that I was leaving the greatest group of men with whom I had ever served...Hardship and death brought the men together as close as any family or any husband and wife. It was this bond that made Easy company a "band of brothers" that exists to this day. I was fortunate enough to have been part of it, but the cohesion that existed in the company was hardly the result of my leadership. The company belonged to the men--the officers were merely the caretakers.(less)

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Feb 09, 2009 Teija rated it 4 of 5 stars

Major Dick Winters gives a more technical, tactical description of some of the stories Easy Company fans and followers know; the qualities that put him in charge of teaching others and leading them shine through the book, and his experience is certainly worth reading about. I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot, it gave quite a lot of insight to the way Winters worked and thought. He's also full of advice that applies to life in general, not simply life in battle -- and that's always valuable.

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