I have just lifted this from the 506th Currahee site, and I thought you all might like to read this.
Upgrading of Major® Richard Winters DSC to the Congressional Medal of Honor - The Battle Cry, CURRAHEE! Has Been Sounded:
As reported previously, Association Members in 2002 voted unanimously to support an effort to upgrade the Major's DSC to the CMH, our nation's highest award for valor. Update Info: on November 18, 2004, then Acting Secretary of the Army R. Lee Brownlee issued a letter the Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum in which he stated "After careful consideration of all the input, my review concludes that Major (Ret.) Winters earned the correct award for his valor. There is no evidence of material error or impropriety in the original processing of Major (Ret.) Winters' award. It is my determination that the previously approved award of the Distinguished Service Cross remains the appropriate award to recognize the heroic acts of Major (Ret.) Winters.
This Currahee along with many others totally disagree. So the Battle continues; an effort is being mounted for the introduction of a Congressional Bill that if passed would only require the President's signature for the upgrading of Major Winters award to the CMH. So we encourage all to contact their Congressmen and also to submit an entry to the online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/Winters/petition.html.
While this petition is addressed and going to the current Secretary of the Army, Francis J. Harvey, it is being monitored by Pennsylvania Congressman Curt Weldon, who is working on the bill.
Currahee! Airborne - Airmobile - Air Assault
Gene Overton [C 1st Bn - 1967 / 1968]
Cofounder / President
3/4/05 Letter Writing
I have 2 comments to make about this, firsty, I feel that it was wrong on the part of the Secretary's office to write to Senator Santorum before they wrote to the major.
Secondly, there is now new facts that have come to light which may well change the view of the army.
Whilst I agree with all the sentiments stated here about letting the Major have his peace, and to be left alone, I hope that nothing I or fellow members at Major Dick Winters.com have done will upset his peace. I know we will never embarasse him or his family. In closing, kindly remember that all of this, the campaign for the upgrade was started by his men, not us, started by the people that really know what happened, they were there.
Barry Poulter
Admin www.majordickwinters.com