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Staff Sgt. William Gordon Windrich. (USMC Photo)
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Staff Sgt. William Gordon Windrich
High On A Korean Mountain, Marine Sergeant Fought Fiercely To Save His Men
By Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Military.com Contributing Writer
Marine Staff Sgt. William Gordon Windrich returned to
the United States five years after he had given his life for his country.
Windrich, who died high upon a cold mountain in Korea, was the only
identifiable "passenger" of 865 MIAs evacuated from Korea during Operation
Glory. The other remains were buried in Punchbowl National Memorial
Cemetery in Hawaii.
"Windy," as he had been known, was "100 percent dedicated Marine,"
according to his daughter Bonny. Although he joked with his troops,
there was no doubt who was in charge, especially on that fateful day
in 1950 when he would lead them for the last time. Windrich had charge
of a platoon in Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine
Division. On Dec. 1, surrounded by enemies at Yudam-Ri, the company
was ordered to move toward Hagaru-Ri.
Three miles southeast of Yudam-Ri the company was stuck between two
mile-high mountains. It was dark, the temperature was minus 40 degrees,
and the men were bombarded by grenades, machine-gun blasts, and rifle
fire. Windrich, armed with an M-2 carbine, led a squad of 12 to the
enemy's lair. Seven of those men were killed or wounded before even
reaching their forward position, while Windrich took a grenade to
the head.
Although wounded, Windrich moved his men into a tight fire group,
ran back to the company command post, drafted volunteers, and led
them to evacuate his dying and wounded men. Windrich again took command
and was shot in both legs, but refused all medical attention. For
a long time, he crawled back and forth in the snow, shouting encouragement
to his men. Only after the attackers had been beaten off did he collapse.
Windrich died in severe pain and cold, but the two officers and 18
enlisted men left to stagger down 70 miles of mountainous terrain
could not take his body with them.
After a military career that took him from the Southwest Pacific in
World War II to atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, to Marine garrisons
in Shanghai and Guam, and finally to the Chosin campaign, Staff Sgt.
William Windrich came home to rest and was buried with full military
honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 29, 1955.
Article Source: The
William G. Windrich Website
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