Pennsylvania Senate urges Medal of Honor for late Band of Brothers leader

The state Senate voted unanimously Monday to adopt a resolution urging Congress to award the Medal of Honor to the late Maj. Richard “Dick” Winters. Winters, a lifelong Pennsylvania resident, was the commanding officer of the 101st Airborne Division’s Easy Company during World War II. The acclaimed HBO miniseries Band of Brothers depicted his exploits. Winters died in 2011 at 92 years old.

The Pennsylvania Senate highlighted Winters’ heroic deeds in 1944, beginning with his parachute mission into enemy territory on D-Day. Months later, he led 35 men in a bayonet assault against over 250 German troops at Heteren Crossroads in Holland, preventing them from attacking a larger group of U.S. forces. One of Winters’ men was killed and 20 wounded, but more than 160 German soldiers sustained casualties and Winters and his men took 36 prisoners, according to the resolution.

State lawmakers said they would send the resolution to the leaders of both houses of Congress, as well as to all Congress members from Pennsylvania.

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