Editing Richard Winters (section)

==== Summer 1944 ====
Meehan remained in command of the company until the invasion of Normandy, when at about 1:15&nbsp;a.m. on June 6, 1944, [[Normandy landings|D-Day]], the [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47 Skytrain]] transporting most of the company Headquarters Section was shot down by [[Wehrmacht|German]] [[anti-aircraft]] fire, killing everyone on board.<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|78–79}} Winters [[American airborne landings in Normandy|jumped that night]] and landed safely near [[Sainte-Mère-Église]].<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|80}} Losing his weapon during the drop, he nevertheless oriented himself, assembled several paratroopers, including members of the [[82nd Airborne Division]], and proceeded toward the unit's assigned objective near [[Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Manche|Sainte-Marie-du-Mont]].<ref name=Band/>{{rp|76}} With Meehan's fate unknown, Winters became the ''[[de facto]]'' [[commanding officer]] (CO) of Easy Company, which he remained for the duration of the [[Operation Overlord|Normandy campaign]].<ref name=Band/>{{rp|92}}

Later that day, Winters led the [[Brécourt Manor Assault]] which successfully destroyed a [[Artillery battery|battery]] of German 105mm [[howitzer]]s,<ref>{{cite news |author=Perl Finkel, Gal |url=https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/75-years-from-that-long-day-in-Normandy-we-still-have-something-to-learn-592307 |title=75 years from that long day in Normandy – we still have something to learn|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] | date=June 12, 2019|df=mdy-all}}</ref> which were firing onto the causeways that served as the principal exits from [[Utah Beach]].<ref name=Band/>{{rp|78–84}} The Americans estimated that the guns, which were south of the village of Le Grand-Chemin, were defended by about a [[platoon]] of 50 German troops, while Winters had 13 men.<ref name=Band/>{{rp|78–84}} The attack has since been taught at [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] as a textbook example of an assault on a fixed position by a numerically inferior force. In addition to destroying the battery, Winters also obtained a map that showed German gun emplacements near Utah Beach.<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|88}}

On July 1, 1944, Winters was told that he had been promoted to [[Captain (United States)|captain]].<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|112}} The next day, he was presented with the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (DSC) by [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Omar Bradley]], then the commander of the [[First United States Army|U.S. First Army]].<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|112}} Shortly after, the 506th Parachute Infantry was withdrawn from France and returned to Aldbourne, England, for reorganization.<ref name=Beyond/>{{rp|112}} The citation for his DSC reads as follows:

{{Quote|The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard D. Winters (ASN: 0-1286582), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. First Lieutenant Winters with seven enlisted men, advanced through intense enemy automatic weapons fire, putting out of action two guns of the battery of four 88-mm. that were shelling the beachhead. Unswerving in his determination to complete his self-appointed and extremely hazardous task, First Lieutenant Winters and his group withdrew for reinforcements. He returned with tank support and the remaining two guns were put out of action, resulting in decreased opposition to our forces landing on the beachhead. First Lieutenant Winters' heroic and determined leadership exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.<ref name="Valor"/>}}