World War II Honoree

Paul E. Weik

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Iowa

Honored By

Joseph A. Bligh

Relationship

Buddy

SERVED AS RIFLEMAN WITH COMPANY B, 59TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 13TH ARMORED 'BLACK CAT' DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LANDED IN LE HAVRE, FRANCE IN JANUARY 1945 AND SERVED WITH THE 3RD SQUAD, 1ST PLATOON UNTIL JULY 1945. FOUGHT IN THE 1ST ARMY'S RHINELAND CAMPAIGN (BATTLE OF THE RUHR POCKET) AND THE 3RD ARMY'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN (BAVARIA TO AUSTRIA). AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND 2 BATTLE STARS. RE-DEPLOYED TO THE U.S. TO PREPARE FOR THE 8TH ARMY'S MARCH 1946 INVASION OF HONSHU, JAPAN 'OPERATION CORONET', WHERE THE BLACK CATS WERE TO LEAD THE ASSAULT ON TOKYO. HOWEVER, TWO ATOMIC BOMBS FORCED JAPAN TO SURRENDER IN LATE 1945.