World War II Honoree

Robert Clarence Winters

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Wichita, Kansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Relationship

Friend

Rank: Storekeeper Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy September 8, 1943, at Kansas City, Missouri with Basic Military Training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp and with additional training; he was transferred to the USS Bismarck Sea Escort Aircraft Carrier (CVE-95) for duty. February 16, 1945, the USS Bismarck with her Shipmate’s, along with an Armada of U.S. Warships rendezvous off the coastal shores of Iwo Jima, Island. The Floating Fortress was in the area, supporting the impending invasion/occupation, located in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations. February 21, 1945, Imperial Japanese Kamikaze Naval Fighter Pilots flew into the Seagoing Airbase, and she went down with all hands, off the coastal shores of Mount Suribachi. He was reported “Missing-in-Action” or Buried at Sea, along with his gallant crew members, gone without a trace and will “Remain on Eternal Patrol”. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory, this American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.