World War II Honoree

Marion A. Wilhelm

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Topeka, Kansas

Honored By

Phillip Wilhelm

Relationship

Son

DURING WWII ON SAIPAN AND TINIAN, 1944, IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, HE SERVED AS CHIEF CLERK OF THE OPERATIONS SECTION OF A CORPS ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS. AS SUCH HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, AMONG OTHER MEDALS, FOR HIS WORK VOLUNTARILY ASSUMED, IN ITS ENTIRETY, THE EXACTING TASK OF ASSEMBLING, DRAFTING, AND COMPLETING ALL OF ARTILLERY FIRES WITHIN THE ENTIRE CORPS ARTILLERY, WHICH AT TIMES CONSISTED OF THIRTEEN FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALIONS. HIS CONTINUOUS BRILLIANCE IN COMPILING THESE REPORTS MADE POSSIBLE THEIR USE FOR FURTHER PLACING DEVASTATING FIELD ARTILLERY AND NAVAL GUNFIRE UPON THE ENEMY, AND FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS. HIS ACCURACY, CAPACITY FOR COORDINATION, AND DILIGENCE WHILE WORKING AT AMAZING SPEED, CONTRIBUTED IMMEASURABLY TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIRES OF THE CORPS ARTILLERY, IN SUSTAINED OPERATIONS AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE MILITARY SERVICE.