Wayne H. Sinclair
Sergeant, U.S. Army

In November 1942, then-Private First Class Wayne H. Sinclair was serving with Company H, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army.

During that month, PFC Sinclair’s unit was in action against enemy forces as part of the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa, Operation Torch, on 8 November 1942. Elements of the division were part of the Northern Task Force and became the first American armored division to see combat in World War II. As Combat Command B (CCB) of the division landed east and west of Oran, Algeria, the ship carrying PFC Sinclair was hit and set afire by direct hits from enemy shore batteries. After PFC Sinclair swam to shore, he noticed that 3 men were struggling in the water. Under heavy enemy machine gun fire, PFC Sinclair obtained a rowboat, pulled it to the 3 men and assisted them into it. PFC Sinclair then moved to the burning ship and removed a wounded officer into the boat. PFC Sinclair then pulled the boat containing the 4 men safely to the shore. PFC Sinclair’s selfless, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism during that period earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 7 January 1944, then-Sergeant Sinclair was killed in action during the Italian Campaign.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Private First Class Wayne H. Sinclair (ASN: 37141124), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company H, 6th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1st Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on November 1942. Private First Class Sinclair's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Armored Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 13 (1943)

Death and Burial

Sergeant Wayne H. Sinclair is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy in Plot H, Row 11, Grave 28.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56314455/wayne-h-sinclair