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David F. Widner

Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Army

Organization: Headquarters Company 1st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade

Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 13 May 1970

Entered service at: Columbus, Ohio

Home Of Record: Mansfield, Ohio

Born: 10 August 1946, Edinboro, Pa

Place of burial: Mansfield Memorial Park, Mansfield, Ohio

Citation

Pfc. Winder distinguished himself while serving in the Republic of Vietnam as a senior medical aidman with Company A. After moving through freshly cut rice paddies in search of a suspected company-size enemy force, the unit started a thorough search of the area. Suddenly they were engaged with intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire by a well entrenched enemy force. Several friendly soldiers fell wounded in the initial contact and the unit was pinned down. Responding instantly to the cries of his wounded comrades, Pfc. Winder began maneuvering across approximately 100 meters of open, bullet-swept terrain toward the nearest casualty. Unarmed and crawling most of the distance, he was wounded by enemy fire before reaching his comrades. Despite his wounds and with great effort, Pfc. Winder reached the first casualty and administered medical aid. As he continued to crawl across the open terrain toward a second wounded soldier he was forced to stop when wounded a second time. Aroused by the cries of an injured comrade for aid, Pfc. Winder's great determination and sense of duty impelled him to move forward once again, despite his wounds, in a courageous attempt to reach and assist the injured man. After struggling to within 10 meters of the man, Pfc. Winder was mortally wounded. His dedication and sacrifice inspired his unit to initiate an aggressive counterassault which led to the defeat of the enemy. Pfc. Winder's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit and the U.S. Army.

Picture of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Winder, parents of David Winder, taken July 20, 1985 at the Hill 4-11 Association reunion in St. Louis, MO.

The Winder Family Practice Clinic is dedicated to David F. Winder. It is located at Ft. Benning, GA in the Sand Hill (Basic Training) area of the post.

Doc,
In a place of casual violence where caring and compassion were on a short leash, you listened to us with our concerns, fixed us up when we had cuts, infections, jungle skin conditions, accidents, stepped on a booby trap or got shot. In a place where few listened to us, you listened better than any person outside a confessional I have ever come in contact with. You kept us well and because of your efforts you helped us to endure. Your quiet, encouraging conversation and sly humor were what we needed and you worried about us like a mother hen.

I didn't know until several days ago that you were awarded the medal. On that terrible day in May you did what you always did; you took care of us and paid an awful price.

Those who were there will never forget you.
We carry you with us always.
You were one of God's better efforts.

Rest in peace Doc.

I don't know where or when this picture was taken, but I'm pretty sure that's Doc Winder in the lower left hand corner. It looks like he was incidental to the photo, just quietly doing his job, taking care of us as a medic, getting water to purify or clean something. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on May 13, 1970, but as I see it, the Medal was awarded him and the medal should be proud. He lives on the Wall, David Francis Winder, age 21, panel 10w-line 37.

The following is an E-Mail correspondence I had with Jim "Grumpy" Mullen

Hi, my name is Bob Vand Dorn, I am an Army Vet also. I live in Mansfield Ohio where David lived when he joined the Army. I am in the process of constructing a web site. I have all the local soldiers who have lost their lives in all the wars from this area. I am doing a special area for David because he is a Medal Of Honor reciepient. If you could please send me any or all information, photos anything you can get for me so I can post it on my site. Thank You Very Much.
The site address is http://bobscg.yolasite.com/hometown-heroes.php

Dear Bob - I do apologize for getting back to you so late. I do not have any other photos of Doc except the one on my blog. I have since been in touch with someone else in our platoon who read my post about Doc Winder and emailed me. I sent him an inquiry to see if he has any pictures of Doc, but so far he has not contacted me back so I don't think he will respond. I wish I could provide further info on Doc - if anyone deserves to be honored it would be him. One memory I have of him is that he was always busy and working. Most of us had down time and we would sit around and talk, read, etc. I never saw him do that. He was always attending to us.

I remember him as a very quiet and extremely capable. He spoke with authority and conveyed he had everyone's interest at heart. He wasn't a saint by any means, but on the day he died he was doing what he always did - put us above himself and took his job seriously. I have no doubt that he would regard the Medal as "no big deal...just doing my job." The word "hero", in my opinion, is too easily used these days, but he was a true hero.

Jim Mullen