Salute to past POKES who served
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:34 am
Thank you to all who served! I know this is a day early, but I think fitting on the birthday for the Marines. A thread about our Veteran POKES.
I'll start with Johnny Winterholler. Wyoming native and UW All-American in baseball, basketball, and football. Could have went pro but joined the Marines. He was captured and suffered unimaginable torture. He dropped 50 lbs and became permanently paralyzed in captivity. He received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor and 26 other medals and awards. He reached the rank of colonel.
Upon his return home, he was an instrumental figure in developing wheelchair basketball and was ultimately inducted into UW Athletics Hall of Fame.
Remarkable POKE and remarkable story if you haven't read about it. Thank you Mr. Winterholler for your service; he passed in May of 2001 at the age of 85.
https://navymedicine.navylive.dodlive.mil/archives/5368
I'll start with Johnny Winterholler. Wyoming native and UW All-American in baseball, basketball, and football. Could have went pro but joined the Marines. He was captured and suffered unimaginable torture. He dropped 50 lbs and became permanently paralyzed in captivity. He received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star with Valor and 26 other medals and awards. He reached the rank of colonel.
Upon his return home, he was an instrumental figure in developing wheelchair basketball and was ultimately inducted into UW Athletics Hall of Fame.
Remarkable POKE and remarkable story if you haven't read about it. Thank you Mr. Winterholler for your service; he passed in May of 2001 at the age of 85.
https://navymedicine.navylive.dodlive.mil/archives/5368