World War II
In August of 1942 Richards was assigned to Company E (Easy Company). Winters started out as serving as the platoon leader. Shortly later after show his leadership skills, he was promoted to lieutenant then became the Easy Company executive officer. The first day Richard Winters went out into war was on "D Day" in the most dangerous place he could have been, Normandy. Being a paratrooper, Winters and his men were all in the sky on the morning of D Day. They were not aware Normandy would be waiting for the Americans to come into fire range. When the U.S. planes were in range hundreds of planes holding paratroopers were shot at and shot down. The plane Richard Winters was on did get hit. Due to this he and his men were forced to jump out of the plane into the battleground of Normandy. Many of Winters platoon did not survive the first day of war. He traveled and searched to form a group that would help look for a U.S. base. They did not have any vehicles and had to search on foot. After finding a base and re-assembling with U.S. officers, lieutenants, and captains Winters was told he had been promoted to a Captain himself. Richard Winters led his men through Normandy. On his way to Eagles Nest many men died. By the time Winters had finally reached Eagles Nest Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. Although Winters did not kill Hitler he found import information in Eagles Nest that helped end the war.