Richard Winters was the average young American in the 1930s, just trying to get through college while also maintaining a steady job. He attended Franklin & Marshall college four a few years and with knowledge of the chaos brewing in Europe, he enlisted in the military in late August of 1941 in attempt to shorten his time in service. He was a peaceful man, by no means did he want any part of the war he would be fighting in but, like countless other young American men he would serve his country with honor. " They wanted to throw baseballs, not grenades, shoot a .22 rifle, not an M-1. But having been caught up in the war, they decided to be as positive as possible in their Army careers."(Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers.)
Richard Winters was a true leader by nature. " When he said 'Let's go, ' he was right in the front. He was never in the back. A leader personified." (- Sgt. William "Wild Bill" Guarnere ). He was there on D-Day, he was there in Holland, unfortunately he was there in Bastogne, he was there in France, and finally he was there in Germany drinking Hitler's champagne with the rest of Easy company when they got to Hitler's Eagle's Nest first. This simple-minded man from Pennsylvania was basically involved in the entirety of the Allied advance.