World War II Honoree

Wayne Q. Winsett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Elmer, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1941 AND RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER IN A COASTAL ARTILLERY BATTERY AT SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. UPON HIS GRADUATION, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE FIELD ARTILLERY AND ASSIGNED TO THE 84TH INFANTRY 'RAILSPLITTERS' DIVISION. FURTHER ASSIGNED TO THE 325TH FIELD ARTILLERY (FA) BATTALION. HIS BATTALION DEPARTED THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 1, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, INCLUDING AS A SMALL UNIT COMMANDER, WITH THE 325TH FA BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. THE BATTALION WAS COMMITTED TO COMBAT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) AFTER LANDING IN FRANCE ON NOVEMBER 4, 1944. HIS UNIT WAS AT NECKARELZ, NEAR MOSBACH, GERMANY AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II WHEN JAPAN SURRENDERED. SERVED IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF GERMANY FROM MAY 20-AUGUST 4, 1945 AND THEN AGAIN FROM SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 31, 1945. THE BATTALION RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES VIA THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 23, 1946. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.