DOB/DOD: July 7, 1920 (Manchester, CT) – March 3, 1945; 24 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Engaged to be married to Marguerite Cole (1921-2016) in 1944
LOCAL ADDRESS: 22 Wadsworth Street, Manchester
ENLISTMENT: December 16, 1942, in Quantico, Virginia. Listed as having prior service.
SERVICE NUMBER: O-16943
UNIT: Company F, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 1542 – Infantry Officer
FAMILY: Born to John (1890-1974) and Katherine Lauf Winzler (1892-1963), both born in Toporcz, Czechoslovakia. One sister, Catherina “Katie” (1917-2008). 1
CIRCUMSTANCES: Entered Officer Training School in Quantico, Virginia, in October 1942. Assigned to Parachute Training School at Camp Gillespie, San Diego, California, then a Replacement Company School at Camp Elliott, San Diego, in July of 1943. In October 1943, assigned to the First Marine Parachute Regiment, First Parachute Battalion, Headquarters Company. In January 1944, he was assigned to the First Marine Parachute Regiment, Second Parachute Battalion. His final assignment to the 5th Marine Division, 28th Marines, 2nd Battalion came in April 1944. 4 Died from multiple gunshot wounds to the arms, legs, and back. 3
Manchester High School yearbook, Class of ‘38
From the 1942 UConn yearbook
From the 1943 UConn yearbook
Mark Winzler, nephew of former UConn student-athlete John E. Winzler ’42, holds a plaque commemorating John’s induction to the Manchester (CT) Sports Hall of Fame while standing next to his uncle’s athletic letter sweater that he donated to the Husky Heritage Sports Museum in the Alumni Center on September 25, 2023. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
From the Connecticut Military Portrait Collection, Connecticut State Library, Identifier: PG570. Used with permission.
2018 inductee into the Manchester (CT) Sports Hall of Fame.
From the Manchester Journal Enquirer, July 25, 2018
John “Wink” Winzler was a three-sport athlete in the 1930s at Manchester High, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was a key member of the Manchester state and New England championship teams in 1938. Winzler was the team’s defensive specialist, called on to stop the leading scorer on the opposition. He moved on to UConn, where he was known as “the walking sports page.” He played one year of football before getting injured. His biggest contributions came on the baseball and basketball teams. In baseball, he played for three years and was known as a quality third baseman. He was captain of the basketball team in his senior year in 1941-42 and was known as a dependable player and defensive leader. After college, he was a First Lieutenant with the 5th Division, 28th Marines. He was involved in the flag raising at Mt. Surabachi on the island of Iwo Jima, one of the most famous battles in U.S. history. He was wounded after the invasion, returned to duty days later, and was killed in action in March 1945. Winzler is the first Hall of Famer chosen by the Legends Committee, which was formed to select Manchester’s top athletes from the first half of the 20th century.
The photo below was contributed by Mark Winzler, nephew of Lt Winzler.
From The Journal Enquirer July 25, 2018.
John “Wink” Winzler was a three-sport athlete in the 1930s at Manchester High, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was a key member of the Manchester state and New England championship teams in 1938. Winzler was the team’s defensive specialist, called on to stop the leading scorer on the opposition. He moved on to UConn, where he was known as “the walking sports page.” He played one year of football before getting injured. His biggest contributions came on the baseball and basketball teams. In baseball, he played for three years and was known as a quality third baseman. He was captain of the basketball team in his senior year in 1941-42 and was known as a dependable player and defensive leader. Winzler is also a war hero. After college, he was a First Lt. with the 5th Division, 28th Marines, and was involved in the flag waving at Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima, one of the most famous battles in U.S. history. He was wounded after the invasion, returned to duty days later, and was killed in action in March 1945. Winzler is the first Hall of Famer chosen by the Legends Committee, which was formed to select Manchester’s top athletes from the first half of the 20th century.
Memorialized on the World War II Honor Roll, Munro Park, 62 Porter Street, Manchester, Connecticut. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 5, Row 6, Grave 1119. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in East Cemetery, 99 Harrison Street, Manchester, Connecticut; Section B, Lot 80B. 3Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://ancestry.com
3 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
4 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/