Lana Turner, Judy Garland, And Hedy Lamarr In Publicity Photos For Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

Lana Turner, Judy Garland, and Hedy Lamarr in publicity photos for Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

[...]Winters spent much of this period bogged down in clerical and administrative duties. He was ably assisted by the recalcitrant Nixon who, though competent, was seriously hindered by his drinking. He seemed to have an endless supply of liquor, which he consumed freely. Winters overlooked much of this because of their friendship and Nixon’s ability to do the job when real work was needed. One main difference between the two was the hours they kept. Winters was an early riser. He loved getting up early and getting a start on the day. Nixon was a night owl. He did his best work in the afternoon and at night. When they were out on the line, this proved an ideal arrangement. Winters kept tabs on the men during the day; Nixon made the rounds at night. This kept company commanders on their toes because they never knew when one or the other would show up and expect a status report.

~ Larry Alexander

Ambrose wrote in his book that at the end Tab became a drifter and a drinker, and even described him as a “mountain man.” Tab drank after his service years as many vets did, but he was never a drifter. I confronted Ambrose about this, and my brother, Max, also discussed it with him. He told us both that he was going on assumptions and perceptions from some of the other men in Easy Company and said he would change that language in his next printing. He died and it was never changed. Tab’s daughter was deeply hurt when she read the book. We told her that we had talked to Ambrose and that he had acknowledged that he was merely going on the assumptions made by people he interviewed and was planning to change it. That seemed to satisfy her at the time. Most of Tab’s moves were due to changed employment. He settled in Redding, California, and lived there for approximately ten years prior to his death in 1982. In 1981 he was contacted and attended the Easy Company reunion that year. Because he showed up in his somewhat used hunting suit (knowing Tab, it could have been a joke), someone tagged him with the mountain man title. If he was in dire straits and needed help or clothing, my brother Max or I would have been happy to accommodate him (which we both did from time to time). He was never a drifter or a mountain man, but by his own admission, he drank. Looking back . . . whenever he and I fished, hunted or played golf, we often enjoyed some liquid refreshment afterward[...] Tab told me often that he was living life his way and was enjoying it. He was capable and had the ability to do almost anything. After his heart surgery, he lived one day at a time. The day he died, he and his wife went fishing in his camper. At one point, he told his wife he was returning to the camper. She said she wanted to fish awhile longer. When she returned to the camper, she found Tab lying on the floor where he had passed away. He died while doing what he loved to do. Linda, his daughter, told me that he “had his house in order” when he died.

~ Robert Talbert (Tab's brother)

webgott // “we should go to counseling”

what can be said about it? what can be said for such an ugly mess?

Sometimes a day or two, or just a few hours, off the line helped. Other times it didn’t. Winters considered T/5 Joseph D. Liebgott an excellent combat soldier, who had proven his worth in Holland. But in the woods outside Bastogne, Winters saw a change in the man; a serious moroseness brought on by unrelenting stress. Kneeling by Liebgott’s foxhole, Winters said, “Joe. I need a runner for a few days. I’d like you to take the job.”

Liebgott looked up at his captain, then nodded. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

After a few days, Liebgott requested permission to return to Easy. It was granted, but once back on the line his problems returned. Strayer intervened and temporarily reassigned Liebgott to division G2 intelligence, where his ability to speak German could be used to interrogate prisoners. Winters opposed this transfer. Liebgott was Jewish and had an undisguised hatred for the Germans. But the transfer went through.

~ Larry Alexander