COL Jack L. Winkler

COL Winkler was born 19 February 1932 in Lemmon South Dakota. COL Winkler enlisted in the Army as part of the 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard (CAARNG), as a junior in high school. He served in the communication section which was a part of the 740th Ordnance Maintenance Company, 40th Infantry Division. In his senior year of high school, Colonel Winkler was mobilized with his unit to support the fighting in Korea. After being released from Active Duty, Colonel Winkler rejoined the CAARNG where he used the experience gained during his mobilization to reconstitute the 740th Ordnance Maintenance Company and make it a viable unit supporting the Army’s mission.

In 1955 Colonel Winkler was accepted into the CAARNG’s Military Academy and was commissioned as an Ordnance Officer. For the next several years, Colonel Winkler served in company and battalion level positions including as Headquarters and A Company Commander, BN Material Officer, BN S3 and BN Executive Officer in the 40th Infantry Division, CAARNG. While serving in these positions, he used the experience gained since enlisting in the ARNG to improve operational and training readiness and the support provided to soldiers and commanders in the whole division.

Colonel Winkler volunteered for service in Vietnam and served as the Maintenance Officer for the 11th Light Infantry Brigade and later as the Materiel Officer for the 723rd Maintenance Battalion. His desire was to provide the best support possible to Soldiers fighting for our country.

After returning from Vietnam, and for the next 17 years, COL Winkler served in a multitude of assignments almost exclusively focused on training and readiness for the reserve forces. This culminated in his final assignment as Director of Training for The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon.

COL Winkler retired on February 28th, 1986.