1LT Emil Winkler

1LT Emil Winkler was born in Peshtigo, Wisconsin on 11 May 1921. He was the 6th of the 7 children born to Frederick and Rose Amunda (Kuntz) Winkler. The parents and 2 oldest children were natives of Poland. Emil's father farmed near Peshtigo. About 1923 Rose left the family and married Edward Herman Hipke with whom she had 2 more children. The marriage didn't last and she moved back with Frederick where she was listed as his housekeeper on the 1930 census and the 2 young children were listed as his step-children. Emil left his confused family situation in 1939 by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps. 

While stationed at Napier Field in Dale County, Alabama Emil met and married Shirley Elizabeth Stinebaugh in May 1942. The couple would have a son born in Austin, Texas near another duty station although we don't know which it was. Emil then attended Officer Candidate School. We do not know where he served but he was a 1LT when he was assigned to B Company 116th Infantry on 1 Jun 1944 as one of the officers added to the companies in the hopes of ensuring that enough leaders survived the assault to continue the push inland. 1LT Emil Winkler is killed in action in the assault, shot dead on the beach after landing.  

1LT Emil Winkler was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Riverside Cemetery in Peshtigo, Wisconsin where he now lies between his mother and father. 

As noted in the newspaper report of his loss his brother Adolph served in the Merchant Marine and his sister Ruth served in the Navy (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service or WAVES) but we do not know any of the specifics of their service. Half-brother Ervin William Hipke Winkler served as a Coxswain aboard the LCI(L)-733 in the Pacific Theater. Shirley remarried and her husband adopted their son who did a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy.