Elton Dewitt (E. D.) Winstead
Pertinent Dates of Military Record
6 February 1934 Enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and assigned to Hq. Btry. 13th Brigade Headquarters.
December Transferred to 6th Coast Artillery, Fort Winfield Scott, California (San Francisco)
August 1935 Ordered to The Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Virginia as a student in the Electrical Class Curriculum. Qualification for entrance to the school depended upon successful completion of an entrance examination and orders were issued by Department of Army, Washington, D. C. Traveled from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY by Army transport, through the Canal zone.
June 1936 Graduated from the Coast Artillery School and was placed on the Chief of Coast Artillery promotion list to the grade of Staff Sergeant. After a furlough in Wilson, North Carolina, returned to Fort Scott, California.
April 1937 Reserve Commission as 2nd Lieutenant (inactive) and assigned to the 6thCAC. Commission was earned by completion of the extension courses. Being given the Reserve Commission had no bearing on, and changed nothing, with respect to my active enlisted status.
August 1937 Opportunity to return to the Coast Artillery School while waiting for appointment to the grade of Staff Sergeant to take a Automotive Course which was more appropriate for the Anti-Aircraft regiments. While I was at Fort Monroe, the 65th Anti-Aircraft regiment was formed or re-activated and assigned to Fort Winfield Scott, California and I was transferred to the 65th.
June 1938 Graduation from Coast Artillery School again. Took leave before returning to California.
2 September 1938 Married to Josephine Walsh Minshew in Wilson, North Carolina and we drove to San Francisco.
10 September Reported for duty with Btry A, 65th CA and assigned as the helper (still a private, first class) to the Electrician, Tech Sergeant. About a week later, I was directed to report to the Regimental Commander. I was informed that they had just received a radiogram from Washington which was notification that I had been promoted to the grade of Staff Sergeant.
April 1939 Some time prior, had received orders to Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippine Islands, so took leave, drove to North Carolina for couple of weeks, and returned to San Francisco for embarkation.
May Sailed on the U.S. Army Transport, U.S.Grant, overnight in Hawaii, hit a corral reef in Guam and took four (4) days to get the ship off the reef. Had to unload the forward holes and the passengers spent the days on shore.
28 May 1939 Arrived in Manila, PI and immediately went to Corregidor and assigned to Hq. Btry, 59th CA and detailed to the Artillery Engineer as a Fire Control Electrician.
January 1940 Detailed to duty at Fort Frank, PI as Fire Control Electrician and was there for about three months. Back to Corregidor.
8 August 1940 Called to Active Duty as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to E Btry 91st CA (Philippine Scouts).
I took the promotion examination to the regular army grade of Tech Sergeant, Fire Control Electrician, while I was on Active Duty as a Lieutenant. Fortunately, I passed.
19 October Transferred to F Btry 92nd CA (Philippine Scouts) The 2nd Bn was given the primary duty as the guard battalion for the 600 Filipino civilian prisoners which were housed on Corregidor and did labor on the island. They were long term felons. The labor groups were in increments of 6 prisoners and one guard. In addition, the primary armament for the battalion was the 155 mm gun on which we trained and fired.
16 September 1941 Assigned to the Harbor Defense Ordnance Detachment as Assistant Harbor Defense Ordnance Officer.
19 December 1941 Promoted to Captain
6 May ’42 - 4 Feb. 1945 POW
23 February 1945 Promoted to Major
While I was on Active Duty as a Major, I took an Examination for the grade of Regular Army Warrant Officer. I passed and was appointed as a Regular Army Warrant Officer to be “picked up” when and if I wished. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and never did actually serve in the grade of Warrant Officer.
28 December 1950 Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
E. D. Winstead officially recommended for promotion to Colonel, but "no vacancies" 1952.
Back to EDW Autobiography Table of Contents
Back to Dr. Ray Winstead's Front Page