World War II Honoree

Clare L. Waldenberger

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Honored By

Clarice Waldenberger

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AT 17, BUT WHEN HE TURNED 18 ON APRIL 29, 1943, HE WAS DRAFTED AND SWORN IN AT MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. AFTER BOOT CAMP AT THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, HE WAS IMMEDIATELY SENT TO NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS ON THE USS MAUMEE AO-2 NAVY TANKER WHERE THEY SAILED TO AFRICA WITH A LOAD OF AVIATION FUEL; THEN, TO VENEZUELA AND SEVERAL PORTS IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA, SPENDING SIX MONTHS IN THE AREA DELIVERING HIGH TEST AVIATION FUEL. AS AN UNESCORTED TANKER, THEY FORTUNATELY AVOIDED GERMAN SUBS PROWLING THAT REGION. HE WAS THEIR 20-MM GUNNER AND ACCIDENTALLY ACQUIRED THE JOB AS HELMSMAN ON THE MAUMEE. THE MAUMEE RETURNED TO NEW YORK AND IN MARCH, 1944 TO BECOME PART OF A CONVOY OF 33 SEAGOING TUGS WITH BARGES ON THEIR WAY TO FALMOUTH, ENGLAND. THE BARGES WERE TO BE USED TO MAKE TEMPORARY DOCKS FOR THE NORMANDY INVASION. TRANSFERRED FROM THE USS MAUMEE, HE WAS SENT TO ASTORIA, OREGON TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE USS SANDOVAL 194, WHICH HAD 24 BOATS AND LANDING CRAFT MECHANISM’S ONBOARD. IN THE FALL OF 1944 THEY HEADED DOWN THE COST OF CALIFORNIA TO PICK UP 2200 MARINES FROM THE 3RD BATTALION, 27TH REGIMENT, 5TH MARINE DIVISION AND MOVED ON TO HAWAII WHERE THE NAVAL BEACH PARTY (SPECIALLY TRAINED SAILORS FOR BEACH LANDINGS) JOINED THEM. THERE THEY PRACTICED FULL SCALE DAY AND NIGHT ASSAULT LANDINGS MADE WITH NAVAL SUPPORT FIRE. THEY JOINED A CONVOY OF APPROXIMATELY 400 SHIPS FROM THE PACIFIC FLEET HEADED FOR IWO JIMA IN JANUARY 1945. ON FEBRUARY 19TH, 1945, THE MARINES AND THE NAVAL BEACH PARTY WERE IN THE THIRD WAVE OF THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA. THE SHIP WAS ANCHORED ABOUT 1000 YARDS OUT IN THE OCEAN, LOADING CASUALTIES, DURING THE RAISING OF THE U.S. FLAG ON IWO JIMA AT MT. SURIBACHI. THEY SERVED AS A HOSPITAL SHIP AND ON FEBRUARY 27TH, THEY TOOK 400 WOUNDED MEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN GUAM. WHILE TAKING MORE MEN AND SUPPLIES TO OKINAWA, THE SANDOVAL WAS HIT BY A KAMIKAZE PLANE IN MAY 1945. MAJOR REPAIRS WERE NEEDED AFTER THE ATTACK, SO THE SHIP RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE WAR ENDED, IT WAS SENT OUT IN LATE AUGUST TO TAKE OCCUPATION TROOPS TO YOKOHAMA, JAPAN; THEN ON TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FOR ANOTHER LOAD OF SOLDIERS FOR JAPAN AS WELL. THE SHIP JOINED THE 'MAGIC CARPET' FLEET TO RETURN SOLDIERS BACK HOME TO THE UNITED STATES. ARRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO ON JANUARY 29, 1946, HE WAS DISCHARGED ON FEBRUARY 6, 1946. HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 2 BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.