Dick Winters and His Views on Leadership

[PimpYourAFV]

ORIGINAL: azraelck

The sad thing is; I have never seen Band of Brothers. I need to just buy the damn thing on DVD one day. At least I know it's name though. Most movies and shows I see, I can't remember what they're called.

I just saw another sad thing called 'Band of Hatemongers'. And it was on this very thread! The psychology of the entire regular crowd in this forum is typically seen in various places like sports teams, workplaces and especially in grade school where the one guy who doesn't fit in cause he's either inferior in some way or radically superior in another is ganged up on by all the others in a tornado of hate and abuse or is simply shunned completely. A fluctuating trend of abuse followed by shunning and back to abuse again is most common. The crowd hanging out here everyday has followed this pattern over and over dozens of times with exceedingly diligent by-the-book adherance. Without a doubt, my pointing out of this fact will be denied, ignored and possibly even spark another hate storm. I feel like I am poking a stick into a cage full of maddened, retarded apes with even a completely innocent post I make. A mind really is a terrible thing to waste.

[Zardoz]

What do you think.... can a commander take to much care for the life of his soldiers?

I have Monty in my mind and Operation Varsity....was it a mistake not to try the Rhine crossing immediately after the Wehrmacht had evacuated the Wesel bridgehead and resulted the drop in losses which could have been avoided by NOT performing a parachute drop on the FLAK?

[m10bob]

Omar Bradley was also a "soldiers' soldier", a leader who would not ask his men to do what he was not willing to do himself.
Irresponsible people with asinine ideas regarding the misuse of human flesh is not exclusive to this forum, but are encountered in real life as well.
No soldier, armed, with a rifle, will suffer a disregard of his fellow soldiers for long.
As Major Winters "promoted" a poor 2LT to get rid of him, he also saved that mans life....

It is one thing for a common grunt to risk his life in a worthwhile cause.
It is another to know you are being foolishly risked and/or sacrificed for a short term gain.

When Richard Winters recognized the importance of hitting an enemy company before it had a chance to consolidate their positions, he personally charged across the field and to the top of that dyke,*hoping* his men were nearly there..Finding himself still alone, he went to work taking out his nearest potential threats first. He disregarded danger to his own safety in order to accomplish the mission he was asking his men to perform. He inspired *and led* from the front.
This is a concept of combat leadership which has been taught since at least Caesers' days..
Maj. Winters existed in a thousand names, and a thousand faces in that war, most unrecognized. This is the reason rank insignia is what is saluted by other soldiers, not just the man, ( and that was another lesson Major Winters tried to teach Cpt Sobel, (reportedly a typical "gung-ho" officer with no common sense and a reckless disregard for human beings.)

[IBTyrone]

ORIGINAL: azraelck

The vast majority were ignored. Unless you were a major commander, or did something so extraordinary that they have no choice; the media isn't going to care.

The sad thing is; I have never seen Band of Brothers. I need to just buy the damn thing on DVD one day. At least I know it's name though. Most movies and shows I see, I can't remember what they're called.

It makes a great Christmas present. That's how I picked up my copy. I asked my wife to sit and watch the series with me and although she has no interest in military matters, even she enjoyed it.

[azraelck]

I'm not waiting that long. I'm waiting until Thursday; which is payday; to see what kind of change I have to spare.

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: azraelck

I'm not waiting that long. I'm waiting until Thursday; which is payday; to see what kind of change I have to spare.

You can't go wrong with adding BoB to your collection. However, I'd recommend that you watch the documentary on disc six ("We Stand Alone Together"), before you get into the series itself. Much of the interview footage was done while Ambrose was researching the book, and sadly, some of those vets have since passed away.

While I'm at it, I also recommend getting both Ambrose's and Winters' books. Once you see the series, you'll want to know more about these men.

PS see this website: http://www.majordickwinters.com/index.html

[m10bob]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

ORIGINAL: azraelck

My post was in direct response to TBT's. This is why I don't block view of someone's posts; you can't always see whats going on. My disrespect wasn't aimed at Winters but at TBT. If you don't like it, feel free to block me as well.

No, my friend. I wouldn't do that. In my years of being a member of this forum, I've only invoked the "ignore" button once.

Hmmmm?
Well Glenn, why don't you like asparagus????

[IBTyrone]

ORIGINAL: azraelck

I'm not waiting that long. I'm waiting until Thursday; which is payday; to see what kind of change I have to spare.

It'll be money well spent. I don't watch movies repeatedly as a rule. Once is usually enough for 99% of the movies I watch. I've watched BoB through three times and enjoyed it each time. You pick up on many things missed the first few times through. And the hour long blocks are easy to get through in one sitting without too much interruption.

And KG is right--take time to watch the interviews. The first time through, I rented the set a DVD at a time from Blockbuster over several months as I could afford it and had time. The Blockbuster DVD had the interviews at the beginning of each episode which set the tone for the episode. The set I purchased in the store did not have those interviews at the beginning which I felt subtracted from the overall experience. They are on the separate DVD that KG mentioned. If you watch those interviews before you watch the series, you begin to match real life guys with their characters.

After you finish watching the series, you might want to give the SP:WAW BoB scenarios a try.

[azraelck]

I definitely will get the set then, if bills allow. I'll also be sure to watch the interviews first as well. Thanks for the reviews of the set.

[KG Erwin]

Yes, I agree with IBTyrone on trying out the scenarios, and playing the "Screaming Eagles" MegaCampaign.

I didn't intend this to become an overview of "Band of Brothers", but there are few war epics that have gained so much notoriety in print.

The MegaCampaign brings home the point that Easy Company was just a small part of the whole division, so the fame these particular men have achieved is somewhat embarrassing to them. They are just a microcosm of an elite American outfit.

However, I gotta get back to the "We Stand Alone Together" documentary -- some of the men interviewed, such as Forrest Guth, are not represented in the movie at all. Mark Bando, an airborne historian, has correctly pointed out that a comprehensive overview of who WAS portrayed, and a comparison between the actors and the real men, would've helped tremendously.

A few are obvious -- Richard Winters, Bill Guarnere, "Babe" Heffron, C. Carwood Lipton, "Popeye" Winn and "Shifty" Powers.

Of these, I thought that Damian Lewis as Winters and Frank J. Hughes as Guarnere did particularly outstanding jobs, but there are so many wonderful portrayals, and so many characters, that it IS hard to keep up with who's who. THIS is just one reason why the series can reveal new facets and deepen understanding with repeated viewings.