The compelling WWII correspondence and artifacts of Major Dick
Winters, commander of the Band of Brothers.
Major Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne gained international acclaim
when the tale of he and his men were depicted in the celebrated book and
miniseries Band of Brothers. Hoisted as a modest hero who spurned
adulation, Winters epitomized the notion of dignified leadership. His
iconic World War II exploits have since been depicted in art and
commemorated with monuments.
Beneath this marble image of a reserved officer is the story of a common
Pennsylvanian tested by the daily trials and tribulations of military
duty. His wartime correspondence with pen pal and naval reservist,
DeEtta Almon, paints an endearing portrait of life on both the home
front and battlefront--capturing the humor, horror, and humility that
defined a generation. Interwoven with previously unpublished diary
entries, military reports, postwar reminiscences, private photos,
personal artifacts, and rich historical context, Winters's letters offer
compelling insights on the individual costs and motivations of World War
II service members.
Winters's heartfelt prose reveals his mindset of the moment. From
stateside training to the hedgerows of Normandy, his correspondence
immerses readers in the dramatic experiences of the 1940s. Via the lost
art of letter writing, the immediacy and honesty of Winters's
observations takes us beyond the traditional accounts of the fabled
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's Easy Company. This engaging
narrative offers a unique blend of personal wit, leadership ethics, and
broader observations of a world at war. Hang Tough is a deeply
intimate, timely reflection on a rising officer and the philosophies
that molded him into a hero among heroes.
Hang Tough "will help people better understand the man I knew and
respected so much. Folks should know what we all went through during the
war." --Bradford Freeman, Foreword
