World War II Honoree

Joe N. Winterling

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Downing, Wisconsin

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CORPORAL. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SEPTEMBER 25, 1939 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS SERVICE COMPANY, FOURTH MARINE REGIMENT STATIONED ON LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA DURING THE INVASION OF THE ISLANDS BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HE ESCAPED TO THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR ‘THE ROCK’ LOCATED ACROSS THE BAY FROM MANILA TO AVOID CAPTURE ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS REGIMENT. HE WAS CAPTURED WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE JAPANESE. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF HIS CAPTURE AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL. THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE MARINE FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, A NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION WITH 3 BRONZE STARS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.