Major Richard Davis Winters - Distinguished Service Cross, World War II
Name of Veteran: Richard Davis Winters Rank and Military Branch: Major, United States Army Award Name: Distinguished Service Cross Date of Action Leading to the Commendation: June 6th, 1944 Description of Veteran: Renowned American military commander Richard "Dick" Winters was born in New Holland, Pennsylvania, on January 21, 1918, and fought in World War II. He joined the US Army in 1941 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Franklin and Marshall College in 1937. Winters's contract was under 12 months until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marking the formal start of the American entry into the war. After completing infantry training and basic training at Camp Croft, South Carolina, Winters was chosen to attend Army Officer Candidate School in April 1942. On July 2, 1942, he received his OCS graduation and was commissioned as a 2d Lt of Infantry. He later served as a training officer back at Camp Croft before being admitted into the p...