Alaska Highway. Headquarters. Born: 21 August 1908, Davenport, Scott, Iowa. Died: 17 January 1970, Davenport, Scott, Iowa. Enlisted: 19 March 1941, Ft. Belvoir, VA. Discharged: 19 April 1946.
Education: five years college. Attended University of Illinois and obtained a degree in architecture. A member of ROTC and received his 2nd Lt. commission 1931.
The Daily Times of Davenport, Iowa reports that Major W.J. Winter was called to active duty in March 1941 to the engineer’s school at Ft. Belvoir, VA. In March of 1942 he was assigned to the 340th Engineers, a white regiment, that built the Alaska Highway from Morley Bay, Canada to Watson Lake, Canada.
The segregated 97th Engineers landed in Valdez, Alaska on 29 April 1942. Three feet of snow covered the ground. Their mission was to build the northern section of the Alaska Highway. Major Winter was assigned to this regiment and joined the 97th in February of 1943. He was the executive officer under Lt. Colonel Charles F. Mitchim, regimental commander. He stayed with this regiment in Alaska until July 1943, returned to the states and followed them to New Guinea at Milne Bay and Dreger Field in 1944.
His father was John H. Winter (1867-1938) and his mother was Emma Roeder (1872-1963). He married Glorienne (1906-1996) on 29 December 1938 in Davenport, Iowa. She was an instructor of music and social science in the public schools of Rapid City, South Dakota.
Serial #O-270460