William Gordon Windrich | |
---|---|
William G. Windrich, Medal of Honor recipient |
|
Nickname | "Windy" Bill |
Born | May 14, 1921 Chicago, Illinois |
Died | December 2, 1950 KIA near Yudam-ni, North Korea |
(aged 29)
Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1938-1945, 1946-1950 |
Rank | Staff Sergeant |
Unit | 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines |
Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Tarawa Korean War *Battle of Inchon *Second Battle of Seoul *Battle of Chosin Reservoir |
Awards | Medal of Honor (1950) Purple Heart |
Staff Sergeant William Gordon Windrich (May 14, 1921 – December 2, 1950) was a United States Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for outstanding heroism as a platoon sergeant during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Staff Sergeant Windrich was killed in action the early morning of December 2, 1950 near Yudam-ni, North Korea, during a savage night battle with Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) on Hill 1520. He had refused to be evacuated after being wounded twice, once when a grenade fragment ripped through his helmet. Later felled by gunshot wounds in the legs, he directed his men in setting up defensive positions and shouted words of encouragement until he succumbed to his wounds and the bitter cold. He was carried down from the hill and was buried. Now buried at Arlington National Cemetary Arlington, VA.
The Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest award for valor in combat, was presented to his widow by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball during ceremonies on February 8, 1952 in Washington, D.C.
Contents |
William Windrich was born on May 14, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended public schools in Hammond, Indiana. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on June 6, 1938, and was ordered to active duty in November 1940.
During World War II, he spent 20 months overseas in the South and Central Pacific as a machine gunner with the 2nd and 5th Defense Battalions and was on Tarawa. Discharged in November 1945, he reenlisted in the regular Marine Corps the following February.
In the summer of 1946, he participated in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll while serving aboard the USS Mount McKinley (LCC-7). After World War II, he served as a non-commissioned officer of the guard in Washington, D.C., at the Naval Gun Factory and at Marine Corps Headquarters, and in China.
At the outbreak of the Korean War, SSgt. Windrich was on military police chief duty at Camp Pendleton, California. He went overseas with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade and was among the first Marines to see action in Korea. He participated in the Inchon landing and in the capture of Seoul. It was during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, after the 1st Marine Division regrouped for its famous breakout to the sea, that he met his heroic death. His body was identified and was returned to the United States in 1955 for burial in Arlington National Cemetery.
Medal of Honor, two Purple Hearts, three Presidential Unit Citations, Combat Action Ribbon, two Good Conduct Medals, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze star, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal, two Korean Presidential Unit Citations, and Korea War Service Medal.
|
|||
|
|
||
|
|||
|
1st Row | Medal of Honor | Purple Heart with one gold star | Combat Action Ribbon | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row | Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with one bronze Star | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | ||||
3rd Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star | World War II Victory Medal | China Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal | ||||
4th Row | Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars | Korean War Service Medal | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | United Nations Service Medal |
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM G. WINDRICH
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN