Otho Tindall Winstead
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

In World War II, Otho Tindall Winstead (rank unknown) served with the U.S. Army's 31st Infantry Division in the New Guinea and Southern Philippines Campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations. During that service he was awarded the Silver Star Medal by General Orders: Headquarters, 31st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 118 (1945).

In July 1950, Lieutenant Colonel Winstead was serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 15-16 July, LTC Winstead's 1st Battalion was engaged with enemy forces Taepyong-hi, South Korea. When his positions came under constant, severe artillery, heavy weapons and sniper fire, LTC Winstead remained in his most forward infantry positions to direct counterfire and to inspire and calm his officers and men by his example. On 16 July, when his positions were subject to attack from the front, the flanks and the rear by a numerically-superior enemy, LTC Winstead personally led a counterattack against a group of infiltrating enemy soldiers that were threatening to disrupt the orderly withdrawal of his unit to new defensive positions. He killed at least two of them with his pistol at point-bank range. LTC Winstead remained at the battle positions with the last element of his unit and was last seen calmly directing its preparations for withdrawal. He was Killed in Action on 16 July. LTC Winstead's courageous actions and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Otho Tindall Winstead (ASN: 0-44345), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Winstead distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Taepyong-hi, Korea, on 15 and 16 July 1950. When his positions were under constant and severe artillery, heavy weapons and sniper fire, Colonel Winstead remained constantly in his most forward infantry positions for the purpose of directing counter-fire and to inspire and calm his officers and men by his own personal fearless and daring example. On 16 July 1950, when his positions were subject to attack from the front, the flanks and from the rear by a vastly numerically superior enemy, Colonel Winstead personally led a counterattack against a group of infiltrating enemy who were threatening to disrupt the orderly withdrawal of his unit to new defensive positions, killing at least two of them with his pistol at point-bank range. He remained at the battle positions with the last element of his unit and when last seen was calmly directing its preparations for withdrawal.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 24 (August 12, 1950), as amended by General Orders No. 342 HQ Eighth U.S. Army Korea (1951)

Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Otho Tindall Winstead is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 3, Site 1428-D.

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