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Casualty Info
Home Town Pittsburg
Casualty Date Nov 13, 1942
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of Savo Island
Other Memories Lt. Comdr. Wintle served under Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, Chief of Staff to the Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force, through the early months of the bitter struggle for Guadalcanal in late 1942. Late in October 1942, when Rear Admiral Callaghan went to sea as the commander of a cruiser-destroyer force, Wintle joined him in his flagship San Francisco (CA-38) as a member of his staff. On the night of 12 and 13 November, Callaghan's force met a Japanese raiding force built around battleships Hiei and Kirishima. During the confused melee off Savo Island, San Francisco suffered a terrific pounding from enemy ships-and briefly lost power completely. At that point, several Japanese salvos scored on her superstructure, obliterating her flag and navigating bridges. All but one member of the admiral's staff were killed, and Lt. Comdr. Wintle was among the casualties. For this sacrifice, Wintle was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously.
