Major Richard D. Winters was commissioned as Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 27, 5 July 1942. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Executive Officer and Commander, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Battalion Executive Officer; Commander, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His military awards and decorations include: the Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Belgiium Fourragere and French Fourragere w/ Palm, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 4 Stars and w/ Arrowhead Device.