NAME: Leslie D. Winship
ASN: O-371368
PLACE OF BIRTH: Deleware, OH
DATE OF BIRTH: 11 Jan 1913
DATES OF SERVICE: ?? ??? ???? - 20 Jan 1945
UNIT ASSIGNED:
Ohio Army National Guard
I Company, 508th PIR
542nd PIR
B Company, 509th PIB
CAMPAIGNS: Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace
AWARDS: Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal with oak leaf cluster, EAME Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Leslie Winship served in the Ohio National Guard
00 Oct 1940 - Leslie Winship commissioned a 2nd Lt when the Guard was activated
1941 - Leslie Winship volunteered for the paratroops
00 Dec 1943 - Leslie Winship went overseas with 508th PIR
?? ??? 1944 - Transferred to 542nd PIR
?? ??? 1944 - Transferred to 509th PIB
17 Jul 1944 - 1st Lt. Leslie D. Winship O-371368 509th PIB, SO 51 Relieved as Investigating Officer
Participated in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY FORCE) based on photos in Southern France. No documentation as to whether he jumped or came by sea with rear detachment. He replaced Capt. Miller who was B Company Commander for the jump, however he was MIA when the men on his plane jumped into the sea
1st Lt. Leslie D. Winship O-371368 B Co, 509th PIB Company Commander, served in Southern France and Bastogne listed on page 113, 114, 115 in the book First Airborne Task Force by Michel De Trez
Capt. Leslie D. Winship O-371368 page 391 in the book Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart
20 Jan 1945 - Capt. Leslie D. Winship O-371368 B CO 509th PIB of Deleware OH killed in action.
20 Jan 1945 (1200) - Combat Command B of the 7th Armored Division along with the 509th PIB approached Born, Belgium from the north through the Wolfsbusch forest. As they came out of the forest they were met with fierce resistance from a hill west of town where the 18 Volksgrenadier and 3 Fallschirmjager divisions supported by three tanks and tank destroyers of the 12 SS Panzer. Two Shermans were immediately destroyed and mortar fire zeroed in on the infantry. American forces withdrew to the forest. After several hours of American fire on German positions, Combat Command B attacked again at 1645. Five Shermans supported by A Company advanced on the eastern flank while a Sherman and a platoon of infantry approched along a road west of town. Capt. Winship at 1655 informed HQ of meeting slight resistance then again reported later meeting stiff resistance. A German Tank destroyer hit the lead Sherman and severly wounded Capt. Winship. While Medic was tending to Capt. Winship, a German tank and Soldiers overran their position and they were captured. Five other Shermans were knocked out and Americans had to withdraw from recently captured buildings in Born. After a 45 minute barrage starting at 2300 the Americans again pushed forward and captured 1500 prisoners in Born. Capt. Winship was found dead.
Capt. Winship mentioned in the book The Ardennes, 1944 - 1945 by Christer Bergstrom
11 Feb 1945 - Listed in Columbus Ohio Dispatch
Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Deleware, OH
(ALL IMAGES AND INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS PROPERTY OF THE WINSHIP FAMILY AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION. PLEASE CONTACT THE WEBMASTER AT THE E-MAIL BELOW)
©2006 509thgeronimo.org. All Rights Reserved.