Macungie WWII Vet Finally Receives Bronze Star

World War II Veteran Bertram Winzer of Macungie finally received the Bronze Star he earned during the war in a ceremony last week at the Macungie Veterans Association VFW Post 9264 thanks, in part, to the efforts of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa) and his staff.

Toomey asked the Army to make sure Winzer got this long-overdue recognition honoring his service in WWII 69 years ago, along with other military awards he earned but never obtained.

According to a press release from Toomey’s office, Winzer served on active duty in the Army from December 1942 to September 1945. He was a member of the 1st Special Service Force, an elite commando unit comprised of American and Canadian forces that came to be known as the Devil’s Brigade.

As a result of his service, Winzer was awarded, among other things, both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. While Winzer was presented his Purple Heart during the war, the Bronze Star was never formally awarded. The Bronze Star is the fifth-highest combat decoration and the 10th-highest U.S. military award.