World War II Honoree

Russell E. Winkler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Vimy Ridge, Arkansas

Honored By

Dale

Relationship

Son

DRAFTED INTO ARMY ON APRIL 3, 1942 AND TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA. SENT TO CAMP DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA FOR MORE TRAINING AND ASSIGNED TO THE 66TH 'PANTHER' INFANTRY DIVISION. ON NOVEMBER 4, 1944, SHIPPED TO ENGLAND AND AFTER SHORT STAY IN DORCHESTER, SHIPPED TO CHERBOURG, FRANCE AS REPLACEMENT DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. WHILE ON THE SS LEOPOLDVILLE, A BELGIUM SHIP, WAS TORPEDOED. TROOPS KNEW THE SHIP WAS SINKING SO EVERYONE GRABBED LIFE JACKETS AND WENT TOP SIDE. THE MEN OF THE 66TH INFANTRY HAD TO TAKE CHARGE. AN ENGLISH DESTROYER CAME ALONG SIDE AND THEY HAD TO JUMP TO OTHER SHIP IN ROUGH SEAS. REGROUPING THEY WENT ON TO FRANCE AND AFTER THE WAR ENDED, THE UNIT WENT ON TO KOBLENZE, GERMANY. HE STAYED IN OCCUPATIONAL FORCES UNTIL RETURNED TO STATES AND DISCHARGED IN FEBRUARY 1946.