Otho T. Winstead

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Otho T. Winstead (0-44345), Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Winstead distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Taepyong-hi, Korea, on 15 and 16 July 1950. When his positions were under constant and severe artillery, heavy weapons and sniper fire, Colonel Winstead remained constantly in his most forward infantry positions for the purpose of directing counter-fire and to inspire and calm his officers and men by his own personal fearless and daring example. On 16 July 1950, when his positions were subject to attack from the front, the flanks and from the rear by a vastly numerically superior enemy, Colonel Winstead personally led a counterattack against a group of infiltrating enemy who were threatening to disrupt the orderly withdrawal of his unit to new defensive positions, killing at leas two of them with his pistol at point-bank range. He remained at the battle positions with the last element of his unit and when last seen was calmly directing its preparations for withdrawal.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 24 (August 12, 1950), as amended by General Orders No. 342 HQ Eighth US Army Korea(1951)