Today I came across this really awesome photo I'd never seen before featuring Easy Company's celebrated commander, Richard Winters, seen in the foreground on the right. On July 1, 1944, Lt. Winters was informed that he had been promoted to the rank of Captain. This photo was taken the next day on July 2 at a ceremony where Winters was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross by none other than General Omar Bradley, the commander of the U.S. First Army. Winters received the DSC for his heroic actions in the Brecourt Manor assault where his team of 13 men destroyed a battery of German 105mm howitzers that were firing on Utah Beach. Winters was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his actions at Brecourt Manor, but due to a rule that only one Medal of Honor could be distributed to each division for actions during the D-Day assault, already awarded to Lt. Col. Robert Cole of the 101st, the recommendation was downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. I think that it's interesting that Capt. Winters is wearing a regular OD wool uniform and not the typical M42 jumpsuit of the paratroops. An amazing photo of an incredible soldier!
