Pennsylvania HR 515: A Resolution urging the members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to review Major Richard D. Winters' actions at Heteren Crossroads in Holland in 1944 and to award him with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3467
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 515
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MEHAFFIE, BANTA, BRENNAN, GREINER, JAMES, KUTZ,
MENTZER, NEILSON, REICHARD AND STAATS, MAY 29, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
OPERATIONS, MAY 29, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Urging the members of the United States Senate and the United
States House of Representatives to review Major Richard D.
Winters' actions at Heteren Crossroads in Holland in 1944 and
to award him with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
WHEREAS, Major Richard D. Winters, 101st Airborne, 506th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion Company, is most
widely known from the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers; and
WHEREAS, In addition to recognizing Major Winters, it is
important to remember September 2026 as the 25th anniversary of
the Band of Brothers mini-series; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters enlisted in August 1941 and attended
Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he
graduated in July 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters completed Paratrooper Training at Camp
Toccoa, Georgia, in August 1942 and Specialized Jump Training at
Fort Benning, Georgia, before being deployed to Europe; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters parachuted into enemy territory on
June 6, 1944, D-Day; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

WHEREAS, Major Winters was promoted to Captain of Easy
Company of the 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry
Regiment, 2nd Battalion Company on July 1, 1944; and
WHEREAS, On October 5, 1944, Major Winters, as a Captain,
sent out a four-member reconnaissance patrol to search for
enemies near Nijmegen; and
WHEREAS, The four-member reconnaissance patrol was ambushed,
resulting in all four members sustaining wounds, with PFC James
Alley, Jr., receiving 32 shrapnel wounds; and
WHEREAS, Despite the ambush, Major Winters' decision to send
the patrol saved the rest of the company from an enemy ambush;
and
WHEREAS, On October 5, 1944, Major Winters, as a Captain, led
a bayonet assault with 35 men against a company of more than 250
German SS troops at the Heteren Crossroads in Holland; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters' quick actions led to the German SS
company sustaining more than 160 casualties and 36 of the German
infantry taken as prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters' men sustained one soldier killed in
action and 20 other men wounded in action; and
WHEREAS, Major Winters' actions at Heteren Crossroads
prevented a large group of German SS troops from attacking the
1st and 2nd Battalion Headquarters; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the United States Senate and
the United States House of Representatives to award the
Congressional Medal of Honor to Major Richard D. Winters of Easy
Company, 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd
Battalion Company; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
20260HR0515PN3467 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
20260HR0515PN3467 - 3 -
1
2