By U.S. Army Spc. Kimberly K. Menzies
Task Force Currahee Public Affairs
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Nearly 2,000 copies of “Beyond Band of Brothers” were distributed throughout Paktika province to soldiers of Task Force Currahee, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Jan. 26.
“Beyond Band of Brothers” is a New York Times bestseller that documents the war memoirs of former U.S. Army Maj. Dick Winters, the third commanding officer of “Easy Company,” 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Abn. Div., and co-written by retired Col. Cole C. Kingseed. The books were personally donated by Winters and Kingseed, and were, in turn, matched by the publishers. The unit was also highlighted in the HBO Emmy Award-winning miniseries “Band of Brothers.”
Along with a copy of the book, soldiers received letters written by Winters and Kingseed to the Currahees. While the books were en route to Afghanistan, the world received the news that Winters had passed away and that made the letters enclosed in the shipment more poignant.
“I want to take this opportunity to wish you a blessed holiday season and to assure you that your efforts to preserve those values we hold dear as a nation are greatly appreciated,” Winters wrote. “I hope my book will be useful and beneficial to you, and that it is a token of sincere appreciation for your service to our nation. Hang Tough.”
Though the original plan was for soldiers to receive the books during the holidays, winter weather in the U.S. delayed the shipping process.
“This almost did not happen, but thanks to the help of men and women of the Berkley Publishing Group, the books were able to make it out to [the soldiers],” said Alexander Omhof, a personal friend of Winters.
“Major Dick Winters gained the respect and trust of the soldiers he fought alongside and the admiration of Currahees who follow in his footsteps,” read a Task Force Currahee statement about the donation of the books. “We are proud to say that we have had the honor as present-day Currahees to know him and the example he set, and to follow the historic path forged by one of the most celebrated U.S. Army leaders, Major Dick Winters. He is missed. He will never be forgotten.”
Some soldiers read the book within days of receiving it.
“Most of the [tactical operations center personnel] have already read it and many said they could not put it down,” said U.S. Army Maj. Mark Houston, executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade BCT, 101st Abn. Div., and native of Delmar, N.Y.
“I am honored to receive this gift from Dick Winters, a U.S. Army leader who has had such a huge impact on our unit,” said U.S. Army Spc. Nicole Reyes, a human resource specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT, and native of Sacramento, Calif. “It was also very surreal for me to think about how he never forgot his Currahee brothers and sisters.”