Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Company C, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division "Illinois Division", U.S. Army

For action performed on 19 March 1945 in the battle for the mountain Bue Bue in the province Benguet on the island Luzon, Philippines.

Headquarters, 33rd Infantry Division, General Orders No. 63 (1945).
Citation unavailable.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant (1st.Lieutenant)

Unit:

Company C, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division "Illinois Division", U.S. Army (Company C, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division "Illinois Division", U.S. Army)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sanford H. Winston, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 12 May 1945, at Luzon, Philippine Islands. When two assault platoons of Company C were directed to launch a diversionary attack against strongly defended enemy hill positions atop Skyline Ridge near Lawican, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Captain Winston, Executive Officer, led the advance to within a short distance of the objective when sudden hostile machine gun, mortar, and rifle fire from a reinforced enemy company on the left flank and to the front struck down half his force. Immediately discarding his carbine, although wounded in the hand and leg by enemy mortar fragments, Captain Winston grasped an automatic rifle from one of the dead and dashed forward through intense hostile fire to close with the enemy. Firing from the hip as he ran, he reached a point 25 yards from the attackers and, standing upright despite the withering enemy fire which tore his helmet from his head and cut his canteen from his belt, killed at least ten of the enemy including the crew of a machine gun which he destroyed with a grenade. The enemy, stopped by his vicious onslaught, turned and fled, and he then directed his remaining troops to evacuate the wounded from the field. When the foe again attacked, Captain Winston skillfully and courageously led his men in a withdrawal through a gauntlet of hostile fire. Through his inspiring leadership and determination to destroy the enemy regardless of his own safety, Captain Winston saved more than 20 of his wounded men from probable death at the hands of the enemy and upheld the finest traditions of the military service. His intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 33d Infantry Division, and the United States Army.