Born: March 18, 1920
Died: October 30, 1955
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (wounded), Tinian (wounded)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations: Purple Heart
Winston Cabe was a Private First Class when Able Company was activated in August, 1943. He served as a BAR gunner.
Cabe fought on Namur and Saipan, where he was wounded on June 19, 1944. Cabe was evacuated from Saipan, but was returned to duty. His abilities in the field led to his promotion to Corporal on July 18, 1944.
On July 25, 1944, Cabe was in a Tinian foxhole. The Japanese attacked in serious force, trying to break through the company. Winston Cabe kept firing as long as he could until something unseen smashed into his face and knocked him unconscious.
When dawn broke, those members of Able Company still able to move went from foxhole to foxhole, desperately trying to help their wounded friends. Al Perry was the first one to reach Cabe's position.
Cabe was lying face down in his hole. When Perry rolled him over, he saw that most of Cabe's face had been blown away. The young North Carolinian was barely breathing, but was still alive. Perry screamed for a corpsman, and an unfamiliar one appeared. “First we have to cut the hairs away from where his nose was," said the corpsman. Perry watched in amazement as the brave corpsman knelt upright at the side of the foxhole - his amazement turned to horror as a shot rang out and the corpsman fell dead on top of Cabe, his hands full of his own intestines.
Perry was sure that Cabe was done for, and covered his friends face with a blanket. As he did, a Japanese soldier rushed towards the hole, screaming. Perry had left his BAR behind and could only stare dully as the onrushing enemy detonated the grenade he was holding. Perry felt something smack into his neck - it was the Japanese soldier's hand.
At this time, Captain Schechter came upon the scene, and yelled at Perry to get the hell back into his hole. Numbly, Perry complied, leaving Cabe under the blanket.
Later, it would be said that Perry's action in covering Cabe with the blanket saved his life. Undoubtedly Cabe would have died from shock without the added warmth.
After the war, Winston Cabe returned to North Carolina. He married Lucille M. Hooper in December, 1947. He died at the young age of 35 in Augusta, Georgia.