World War II Honoree

Francis De Winston

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Alexandria, Virginia

Honored By

Barbara Jean Winston Spears

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON FEBRUARY 8, 1943 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON AUGUST 25, 1943 HE WENT ABOARD THE USS FISKE (DE-143), WHICH WAS A DESTROYER ESCORT SHIP. ON AUGUST 2, 1944 WHILE ON AN EMPLOYMENT OF CARRIER-ESCORT ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, THE USS FISKE WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO FROM THE GERMAN SUB U-804. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE SHIP HAD BROKE IN TWO SECTIONS AND BEGAN TO SINK. HE AND THE OTHER SURVIVORS REMAINED IN THE WATER FOR 4 HOURS UNTIL THEY WERE RESCUED BY THE USS FARQUHAR. FOR PARTICIPATING IN COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY WHILE OPERATING WITH TASK FORCE THIRTY EIGHT, THIRD FLEET FROM JULY 10TH THROUGH AUGUST 1945, HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS MEDAL, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 STAR. ON NOVEMBER 13TH HE WAS AUTHORIZED TO WEAR 1 BRONZE STAR ON HIS ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON FOR HIS DUTY DURING THE AIR STRIKES AND SHORE BOMBARDMENTS AGAINST JAPAN'S MAINLAND. HE WAS ALSO ENTITLED TO WWII VICTORY MEDAL FOR BEING ABOARD THE USS FRANK KNOX DURING THE SIGNING OF THE ARTICLES OF SURRENDER BY JAPAN ABOARD THE USS MISSOURI (BB-63) ENDING THE WAR ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945.