P/Sgt. Richard Carl Winkler Jr.
Born: 15 February 1920 – Forest Park, Illinois
Parents: Richard C. Winkler Sr. & Anna Lohr-Winkler
Siblings: 1 sister, 2 brothers
Home:
– 1042 South Troost Avenue – Forest Park, Illinois
Education:
– St. Bernadine School
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1937
Enlisted:
– 18 September 1940
– Central Recruiting Division – Chicago, Illinois
Reenlisted: 12 March 1943
– U.S. Marines
Serial Number: Unknown
Training:
– Camp Pendleton – Pendleton, California
– 1940 – 3rd Recruit Battalion, Recruit Depot, Base Troops
– Camp Elliott – San Diego, California
– 1941 – Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Battalion, 8th Marine Division
– 1941 – Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Battalion, 2nd Marine Division
– 1942 – Company B, 2nd Parachute Battalion, Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet
– 1943 – Post Headquarters Company, Post Troops, Marine Barracks – Parris Island, South Carolina
– Camp Tarawa – Hawaii, Hawaii
– sent there for training after Battle of Guam
Unit:
– I Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion, Amphibious Corps – Pacific Fleet
– 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division
– activated – 11 November 1943
– platoon sergeant
Engagements:
– Battle for Vella Lavella – Solomon Islands – 15 August 1943 – 18 September 1943 – Americans relieved by New Zealand Troops
– Battle of Bougainville – 1 November 1943
– Battle of Guam – 21 July 1944 – 8 August 1944
– held in reserve – did not take part in the battle
– Battle of Iwo Jima
– landed on 19 February 1945
Wounded:
– 22 February 1945
– during the battle to take Mount Suribachi
– boarded onto hospital ship – U.S.S. Samaritan
Died:
– 2 March 1945 – from wounds on Guam
Buried:
– 28 April 1948
– Forest Home Cemetery – Forest Park, Illinois
– Section: 57 Lot: 253
Medals:
– Purple Heart
– American Defense Medal
– Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
– World War II Victory Medal
– Presidential Unit Citation / Oak Leaf Cluster
