While serving with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry,
11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, Private First Class David F. Winder distinguished himself as a senior medical aidman with Company “A” while serving in the Republic of Vietnam on May 13, 1970.
After moving through freshly cut rice paddies in search of a suspected company-sized 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 counter-assault 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 United States Army.
David Winder grew up in Mansfield, Ohio where he is buried.