World War II veteran donates uniform, medals to Jay society

JAY — World War II veteran Elvin “Al” Winter donated his medals, including his Purple Heart, Bronze Star, his uniform and his dog tags Thursday to the Jay Historical Society.

Winter, 93, formerly of Jay, said he operated a new and used car dealership in Jay for 42 years before retiring in the late 1990s.

He was 22 when he was drafted into the Army at the beginning of World War II in 1942 and served until it ended, he said. He returned to Maine in 1945 with an honorable discharge as a T4 sergeant — three stripes — and medals and awards.

Winter was in the 329th Infantry and was deployed to Normandy, France, Luxembourg, Germany and Holland.

He was in the Battle of the Bulge and served under Gen. George S. Patton Jr., he said.

Winter was shot at several times during the war and was wounded in combat, he said.

One of his assignments was building a bridge over the Elbe River, which provided an entry into Germany.

He said Thursday that he decided it was time to donate his World War II uniform and his military medals and awards in a framed case to the society.

“I just think that it is the right thing to do,” Winter said.

The other medals and honors Winter donated are his Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and Expert Badge Machine Gun and Rifle Bar.

The items will be displayed in the Military Room on the second floor of the Holmes-Crafts Homestead museum, society President Dot White said.

The building has been restored so people can use it. The society has been unable to hold its open house and give tours for two years until the underpinning of the museum was fixed.

[email protected]