James I. Winterbottom Papers

James Winterbottom was born December 28, 1919, in Johnstown, New York. He enlisted in the Army May 27, 1942, at Utica, New York. At the time of his enlistment he had completed two years of college at New York State University of Agriculture at Cobleskill, New York, had an occupation of gardener/groundskeeper and was single, without dependents. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Lewis, Washington, and was assigned to Company M of the 87th Infantry Regiment. He later served in Company H of the 87th, Headquarters of the 86th Infantry, Headquarters and Company L of the 90th Infantry and Company F of the 85th Infantry. After Fort Lewis he was stationed at Camp Hale, Colorado, and Camp Swift, Texas, before being sent to Italy. While engaged in combat operations against German forces occupying Italy, he was wounded in action on February 22, 1945 at Mt. Della Torraccia, and wounded again on March 5, 1945, at Mt. Della Torraccia. He received the Bronze Star and the Silver Star medals on April 14, 1945, for his actions at Castel D’Aiano. He attained the rank of Sergeant. Winterbottom had a career in the New York State Environmental Conservation Department from 1955 to 1986. At retirement he moved to Orlando, Florida, and became active in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.