SF2/c Albert Gerhardt Weidner

Born: 15 February 1922 - Chicago, Illinois

Parents: Gust Weidner & Olga Richter-Weidner

Home:

    - 1216 North Thirty-Fourth Avenue - Melrose Park, Illinois

Education:

    - Saint Paul Lutheran School, Melrose Park

    - Proviso Township High School

        - Class of 1938

            - left after freshman year

Employed: Community Radiator Company, Forest Park, Illinois

Wife: Mary

Enlisted:

    - U.S. Naval Reserve

Inducted:

    - 19 July 1943

        - U.S. Navy

Serial Number: 853  48  49

Rank: Shipfitter Second Class

Training: 

    - Norfolk Naval Base - Norfolk, Virginia

    - Fort Pierce, Florida

        - Underwater Demolition Teams

            - U.S. Navy Frogmen  

Stationed: 

    - Pearl Harbor

        - fleet left 5 June 1944

Ships: 

    - U.S.S. Essex

        - sailed 16 April 1944 - San Francisco to Fray

        - transferred to U.S.S. Indianapolis

    - U.S.S. Indianapolis

Engagements:

    - Battle of Saipan

        - island was bombarded - 13 June 1944

Killed in Action:

    - 14 June 1944

        - mortally wounded off Saipan

        - guided landing craft  through heavy enemy mortar fire

           - craft was hit

Citation: 

    - "Weidner fearlessly swam close to shore to destroy underwater obstacles and survey reef conditions to

       facilitate the expeditious landing of combat troops on the heavily fortified beach...By his daring aggressiveness

       and cool courage in the face of grave peril, he contributed to the success of our operations against this vital

      Japanese stronghold"

Memorial: 

    - Honolulu Memorial Courts of the Missing - National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific- Honolulu, Hawaii

Medals:

    - Purple Heart

    - Bronze Star

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