Antoine Eugene Wintzer was born on September 16, 1918 in West Grove, Pennsylvania to C.R. and Bessie Wintzer.  Antoine was one of 7 children: 4 sisters and 3 brothers.

Antoine attended the Alexander Graham Junior High School, and Central High School, where he became of the Avon Grove football team.

Antoine entered service in the National Guard September 16, 1940.  He received basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the advanced training at Camp Blanding, Florida, and Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  He was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant and spent two years training new recruits.

Antoine was sent overseas to England in January 1944. He continued training for the upcoming “D-Day” June 6th landing in Normandy, France – the liberation of Europe. Antoine went ashore on the Normandy Beaches on June 15^th with the 30th Infantry (“Old Hickory”) Division.

Antoine’s division spearheaded the capture of St. Lo on July 19^th.  On July 25^th the Division participated in the breakout from St Lo and the Normandy Peninsula.  The 30th Division was attacked by 5 German Armored Divisions, which bogged down the breakthrough.

Sergeant Antoine Wintzer was killed in action on July 26^th. He died liberating the area of France where his grandfather, Antoine Wintzer of West Grove was born.

Sergeant Wintzer received the Expert Rifleman Medal and Good Conduct Medal, and was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.