a collection of thoughts

🧡: What's your favourite scene in episode 1?

💙: What's your favourite scene in episode 2?

🤩: Who is your favourite background character in episode 1-2?

💬: Favourite quote in episode 1-2?

🎦: Which scene/part would you have liked to be longer in episode 1-2?

🎁: If you could add one 'missing scene' to episode 1 or 2 of the show, what would it be?

🔄: Is there one thing you wish the show had done differently with any character in episode 1 or 2?

👩: Who is your favourite female character in the show?

3️⃣: Use 3 words to describe [character name]

💞: OTP?

🤭: Who's your favorite out of pocket ship?

"You can't find a better man than Speirs."

Veterans at the begging of Crossroads:

- “Seems like he [Winters] always made the right decisions along the way he was a real soldier.”

- “He [Winters] never thought about not being first or sending somebody in his place”-Popeye Wynn

Tom Hanks (from this video, after Dicks memorial service):

- “Is life changing to met a man like that.”

- “I like what Eric Jenerson said, he [Winters] was probably the most balanced human being in the world”.

- “He [Winters] was a great guy, magnificent men, a complicated magnificent human being”.

Steve Ambrose about Dick in Band of Brothers:

- “He [Winters] is incapable of a violent action, he never raises his voice, he is contemptuous of exaggeration, self-puffery, or posturing. He has achieved exactly what he wanted in life, that peace and quite he promised himself as he lay down to catch some sleep on the night of June 6-7, 1944, and the continuing love and respect of the men he commanded in Easy Company in World War II.”

From the preface Damian [Lewis] wrote in September 2004 for the book Biggest Brother:

- “After the series had filmed I went and visited Dick and Ethel at home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We chatted and joked as he showed me some of his momentos and walked me around their beautiful farm (another major achievement in his life). He treated me like a son and told me that he thought I’d done a pretty good job portraying him, although he was unsure at first! I thought, yup, that’s him. Authoritative, nurturing and honest all at once. I felt immensely proud that I’d had the opportunity to portray this man, a decorated war hero whose story I’d been entrusted with. It had needed a precision and an unfailing commitment to the truth. It’s what Dick always demanded, of himself and others.” ( found this in this website)

From Conversation with Major Dick Winters by Colonel Cole C. Kingseed:

- Tab’s letter: “Dick you are loved and will never be forgotten by any soldier who ever served under you. You are the best friend that I ever had … You were my ideal, and motor in combat…. You are to me the greatest soldier I could ever hope to meet” ( also saw the quote on this post today)

- “Burr” Smith letter: “You were blessed ( some would say rewarded) with the utter respect and admiration of 120 soldier, essentially civilians in uniform, who would have follow you to certain death. I’ve been a soldier most of my adult life. In that time, I’ve met only a handful of great soldiers, and of that handful, only half of less come from my WWII experience, and two of them came from ol’ Easy-you and Bill Guarnere. The rest of us were O.K.-Good soldiers by-and-large, and a few were better than average, but I know as much about “Grace Under Pressure” as most men, and al lot more about it than some. You had it !”

-Shifty’s daughter send Dick this letter, and mention something that Shifty said about Winters in Holland: “I saw Major Winters on top of a dike in Holland, in a totally exposed position, waving and yelling commands and directions to his men while Germans were doing everything they could to shoot him. Major Winters always put himself at risk where his men were concerned. Because Major Winters’s leadership, many men came home who might not have had he not been in command. Many of the veterans you led have stated that “I don’t know how Major Winters survived the war because of the risk he took to lead us.”

- Doug Lovejoy ( one of the country’s [US] leading insurance salesmen men): “His leadership mantra “Hang Tough” echoes in my mind; his example is helping guide my journey” (same)

- A letter that Colonel Cole Kingseed wrote: “ For much writing as I do, this letter is very difficult to write. I think I do far a better job writhing history than I do expressing my true feelings. First things first: Mary, John, and Maura join me in wishing you the happiest of birthdays. Reaching the exalted age of eighty-seven is an achievement in itself-must be the result of hard work and good living.”

“I looked for the perfect card, but I was unable to find one that reflected my deep admiration and sincere respect for a man, who next to my own father is the finest man whom I have ever known. Your willingness to share the last decade with me has enriched my life more than I can say. On reflection of the past several years, I recall a sermon I heard as an undergraduate in 1970, in which our dormitory priest said, “You can never touch others without being touch yourself.” Dick, in a lifetime of heroic achievement, you have touched literally thousands of lives, a good many in war, far greater numbers in peace. I should consider myself fortunate if I could image that I would ever become such a positive influence to mankind.”

“Thank you especially for the many kindness that you have bestowed on my family. To John and Maura, you are the most inspirational man they know. To Mary, you are a wonderful friend. To me, you are not only my friend, but you are my dearest friend.”

- The author’s daughter ( if I’m not mistaken), Maura, said this: “He [Winters] is my friend, my family. I love the Major and Mrs. Winters in the same way I love my Grandpa and Grandma. I have learned more about people, life, leadership, and myself in those shorts visits than I could ever have imagined. In light of this, I thank Dick for a lifetime of knowledge and happiness. I feel so very blessed to have spent even a moment’s time in his presence and will never forget the memories I have of one of my best friends. Farewell.”

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Well thats it ! I actually have yet to read “Conversations with Major Dick Winters” I just skipped to the last chapters in an attempt to find quotes like this, I probably left out so many.

Also with the quotes from tge videos I hope I said everything right, maybe I misheard something 🫠.

I wanted to gather all of this. Dick was so loved by everyone who met him and even by people who didn’t, but felt inspired by him ( like me ).