35 and a deeper meaning. The surface meaning can be found and analyzed in the text
of the book, by reviewing Winters experiences during his military service. Then, the deeper meaning can be found after reading the whole text of the book and be
analyzed by using psychological approach and it is not written in the book. The analysis of the surface and the deeper meaning of Richard Dick Winters action
during his military service were provided in the discussion below.
1. Surface Meaning of Richard Dick Winters’ Actions During His Military Service
The most important thing in this study is about Richard Winters action in the war. The surface meaning is to serve his country in positive time, so he does
action combat seriously, without any sad excuses. Richard Winters is a ranking officer of Easy Company. On D-day at Normandy, he has to be the commander of
Easy Company since their Commander Lt. Meehan, has been shot on the plane before he jumped. His first action combat was when he leads the company to take
the four-gun battery of German 105 mm cannon. Winters is told by the intelligence that there is a German battery cannon
firing Utah beach, a place for Ally infantry landed. Winters and his company are ordered to take that battery. For the combat, Easy Company only consists of no
more than 15 people. It means that requiring the good leadership of Richard Winters is needed in order to be able to capture the German cannon.
The 2nd Battalion was less than 100 men strong at that point. Lieutenant Colonel Strayer had responsibilities in all four directions from Le Grand-
Chemin. He was trying to build his battalion up to somewhere near its full strength of 600 men, and to defend from counterattacks. He could only
afford to send one company to attack the German battery. Hester told Winters to take care of that battery. p .22
36 Richard Winters usees the solid tactic to take the German battery. He
places machine guns as covering fire, and then put two teams for the attack from flanks, left and right. Winters becomes the main assault team with his men. After
getting the first attack, he orders his men as soon as possible to put TNT or grenade blowing the first gun, as soon as possible and continued for the next guns.
The attack successfully destroyes the German battery, with little reinforcements from D company; however the main tactic is by Richard Winters.
This action makes Utah beach opened which can be comfortable landed for Ally infantry. Furthermore, the action raises moral for all of the ally to win the war,
especially for Winters and Easy Company, it really affects them. He did give a full account of the capture of at battery at Holdy, near
causeway No. 1, by the 1st Battalion, 506th. Marshall wrote that the battalion had 195 men lined up to take the battery. Winters commented,
“With that many E Co. Men, I could have taken Berlin”. p. 86
From the action combat above, there are some characteristics of Winters that appeared, such as decisive, self-confidence and hardworking. Decisive
characteristic can be seen from Winters’ action meaning when he could decide suitable tactic for the combat and be confidence with the rest of the men that he
had. Hardworking characteristics were proved when he could take the battery. In addition to the action during the combat, there is also a moment when
Winters gives a treatment for his men. Being a company commander makes Winters should know the recent situation or the moral condition of his men.
Whenever a conflict among the soldier raises, Winters should know how to solve it.
37 At Carentan, France there is a wounded soldier named Private Blithe. As
the commander, he also checks the mental condition of his soldiers. Winters asks Blithe calmly and he says that he could not see anything. He thinks that
everything is dark, spooky and scary. As a soldier, it is a common feeling that appears when the war is coming and feels scary for each soldier. However, as a
commander, he has to know it and has to help him to overcome it. Winters then talks to him and makes him relax. He thinks that what Blithe needs is just
somebody to talk and to make him calm. After the conversation, Blithe can see everything and better is not scared. Blithe then rejoins up his friends.
Winters circulated among the wounded. One of them was Pvt. Albert Blithe.“How’re you doing, Blithe? What’s the matter?”
“I can’t see, sir. I can’t see”. “Take it easy, relax. You’ve got a ticket out of here, we’ll get you out of
here in a hurry. You’ll be going back to England. You’ll be O.K. Relax, “Winters said, and started to move on.
Blithe began to get up. “Take it easy,” Winters told him. “Stay still.” I can see, I can see, sir I can see you.
Blithe got up and rejoined the company. “Never saw anything like it,” Winters said. “He was that scared he blacked out. Spooky. This kid just
completely could not see, and all he needed was somebody to talk him for a minute and calm him down. p. 98
The action above was not related to gun or ammunition, but it is about the soldier morality. Winters are caring, wise and kind. He gives his attention to the
wounded soldier, Blithe. He is also wise and kind by saying to the wounded soldier. Basically, for the wounded soldier is able to go home. In this moment
Blithe decides does not go to home. Because of his good leadership at the combat, Winters fits the promotion
into battalion regiment. As a result, he can no longer become the commander of
