William G. Windrich
United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Staff Sergeant William Gordon Windrich (May 14, 1921 – December 2, 1950) was a United States Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for outstanding heroism as a platoon sergeant in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.
William Gordon Windrich | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "Windy" Bill |
Born | (1921-05-14)May 14, 1921 Chicago, Illinois |
Died | December 2, 1950(1950-12-02) (aged 29) near Yudam-ni, Chosin Reservoir, North Korea |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1938–1945, 1946–1950 |
Rank | Staff Sergeant |
Unit | Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal (2) Combat Action Ribbon |
Staff Sergeant Windrich was killed in action the early morning of December 2, 1950 near Yudam-ni, North Korea, during a savage night battle with Chinese forces on Hill 1520. He had refused to be evacuated after being wounded twice, once when a grenade fragment ripped through his helmet. Later felled by gunshot wounds in the legs, he directed his men in setting up defensive positions and shouted words of encouragement until he succumbed to his wounds and the bitter cold. He was carried down from the hill and was buried. He is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
The Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor in combat, was presented to his widow by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball during ceremonies on February 8, 1952, in Washington, D.C.