- A World War II veteran from Emmaus who died in late October was honored by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild on the floor of Congress in advance of Veterans Day
- Bertram "Bert" Winzer served in the First Special Service Force and 101st Airborne Division, seeing combat at the Battle of the Bulge and at Bastogne
- Winzer spent time in his later years appearing at local schools and other organizations to speak about his time in the service
EMMAUS, Pa. — A World War II veteran from the Lehigh Valley who died at the end of October was given national recognition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in advance of Veterans Day.
Bertram "Bert" Winzer, who was born and graduated high school in Emmaus, served with the Army in the First Special Service Force, a parachute commando group known as the "Devil's Brigade" and the 101st Airborne Division in WWII.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh Valley, whose father served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII and the Korean War and who was born in an air force base in West Germany, took time Thursday to commemorate Winzer and his service.
"Let us remember Mr. Winzer for his remarkable legacy and impact on his community and this country, and let us thank all of our veterans this Veterans Day," Wild said.
"When a German artillery attack sent shrapnel within an inch of his heart, he overcame his wounds and returned to the battlefield.
"A mere 10 days later, his grit and courageousness followed him to the Battle of the Bulge, where he held off the German advance during the Siege of Bastogne."
Representatives from Wild's office said recognizing Winzer on the floor of the House of Representatives enters the remarks into the official record of Congress.
Winzer died Oct. 24, at the Complete Care at Lehigh Center in Lower Macungie Township at the age of 101.
He also was recognized at a recent meeting of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.
Mr. Bert Winzer of Emmaus bravely served his country in WWII, earning a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Congressional Gold Medal. We honor his life and legacy – and may his service and dedication continue to guide and inspire us. pic.twitter.com/SyqEPKYO1y
— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) November 9, 2023
He received the Congressional Medal of Honor (the highest honor awarded by Congress), Canadian Medal and French Legion of Honor, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, two Presidential Citations as well as numerous campaign medals and citations.
Winzer often spoke at schools, historical societies, veteran organizations and other events to talk about his time in service.
"He was a good guy," his son Kim Winzer, also a veteran, said. "He had a lot of friends, a lot of people looked up to him."
In May, Bert Winzer recorded an interview with StoryCorps about his time as a paratrooper and his life.
"I'm just a guy who did what he had to do at the time," Winzer says in the recording. "And everything seemed to fall into place as things moved on. People have been wonderful."
After his service, he returned to the Lehigh Valley and worked in the automotive manufacturing industry, retiring from Mack Trucks and raising a family of two children with his wife.
Various Veterans Day events are set to take place throughout the weekend in the Lehigh Valley, including parades, memorials, special meals and other commemorations.
You can see a list of upcoming Lehigh Valley Veterans Day events here.
