Joe Nelson Winterling
Corporal Joe N. Winterling served with Service Company, 4th Marines.
He was killed in action at Corregidor on 6 May 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 274706
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 1, 1918
at Dayton, MT
Parents
Frank Weston Winterling
Jessie Alice (Jacobs) Winterling
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
Service Life
Entered Service
September 25, 1939
at Kansas City, MO
Home Of Record
Downing, WI
Next Of Kin
Parents, Frank & Jessie Winterling
Military Specialty
Quartermaster Clerk
Primary Unit
Service Co. / 4th Marines
Campaigns Served
Philippine Islands / Corregidor
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Joe Winterling, a pre-war China Marine, was stationed in the Philippines when the United States entered World War II. He participated in the defense of the islands and the siege of Corregidor.
On the night of 5 May 1942, Japanese troops staged an amphibious assault on Corregidor itself. The garrison put up a determined defense, but were simply overwhelmed and finally capitulated at 1200 hours on 6 May. Casualties on both sides were heavy; among the dead was Corporal Winterling. No specifics of his final moments are currently known.
Burial Information or Disposition
Joe’s older brother, Sergeant Frank Eugene Winterling, was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 14 October 1942. To cope with the loss of both sons, 53-year-old Frank Weston Winterling enlisted in the Marine Corps and served two years of guard duty.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Frank & Alice Winterling.
Location Of Loss
Winterling was last seen at an unspecified location on Corregidor.
