The more that I read about Major Dick Winters, the more that I want to get to know him. Colonel Cole Kingseed had the fortunate privilege to become friends with Winters and Conversations with Major Dick Winters: Life Lessons from the Commander of the Band of Brothers captures their friendship and life lessons. Who is Major Dick Winters? Winters stepped into the limelight when the Band of Brothers series came to be. Winters was one of the company commanders assigned to Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. When I say one, he is the one who is most commonly associated with Easy Company, even though others served longer in the position.
Conversations with Major Dick Winters is part lessons learned across a lifetime and part reflection of a friendship. In the book, Kingseed talks about how he met Winters. Kingseed met Winters when Winters spoke to the Corps of Cadets at West Point. From there, Kingseed helped Winters write his memoirs, Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters. The relationship evolved into monthly visits, some for business and many others for social. You could tell through the writing that Kingseed truly admired and appreciated Winters.
Conversations with Major Dick Winters is 281 pages long arranged into 12 chapters and three major parts. The parts were arranged as seasons of the year: Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Spring focused on Winters’ military career and the writing and production of Band of Brothers. Summer explored different concepts: leadership, friendship, character, and courage. Finally, Autumn touched on Winters coming to the end of his life and Mrs. Winters.
As noted in the title, these were conversations. Each topic was shared as a discussion between two people who were really interested in the topic. This was a behind the scenes look into the life of a significant figure.
I thought the book was really well written. I looked forward to reading it every chance I could. Winters shared a wealth of knowledge and insight on how to be a man of character.
This was a great way to finish my deep dive into the men of the Band of Brothers. Conversations with Major Dick Winters helped to bring the topic to a close. Since it is now December, I will again watch the Band of Brothers series but with more insight into the characters who led Easy Company. If you are a fan of the Band of Brothers series, I would definitely recommend this book.
Additional Reading
- Book Review: Shifty’s War: The Authorized Biography of Sergeant Darrell “Shifty” Powers, the Legendary Sharpshooter from the Band of Brothers
- Book Review: Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers
- Book Review: Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from World War II’s “Band of Brothers”
- Book Review: Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story
- Book Review: Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters
- Book Review: Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest
- Book Review: Call of Duty: My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers
- Book Review: A Company of Heroes: Personal Memories About the Real Band of Brothers and the Legacy They Left Us
- Book Review: Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper’s Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich
- Book Review: D-Day Through German Eyes
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