World War II Honoree

Weidner R. Prather

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Iola, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 12 NOVEMBER 1942 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. TRAINED AS A DUTY SOLDIER (MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 188) AND DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 12 MAY 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED COMBAT ON 6 JUNE 1944 AT UTAH BEACH WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH INFANTRY 'IVY' DIVISION. SUFFERED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND SHOCK FROM A MINE THAT EXPLODED BELOW A JEEP AS HE WAS RIDING ON IT'S HOOD WHILE ON A NIGHT RECONNAISSANCE PATROL IN THE HUERTGEN FOREST. REMAINED IN COMBAT AND COMPLETED THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS WITH HIS UNIT. EARNED A BRONZE STAR MEDAL, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON 3 NOVEMBER 1945 AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER SEPARATION POINT, CAMP BUTNER, NORTH CAROLINA.