World War II Honoree

Robert Leroy Winkel

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Audubon, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS OCTOBER 29, 1943 AND PARTICIPATED IN BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT AS A RIFLEMAN WITH HOTEL COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 11TH MARINES, FIRST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1944 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS LANDING IN THE BATTLE FOR PELELIU, ONE OF THE PALAU ISLANDS OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC (INVASION DATES: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15-NOVEMBER 25, 1944). ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND WAS BURIED IN THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON PELELIU. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY, AUDUBON, IOWA.