World War II Honoree

Henry Heininger Wiley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Newark, New Jersey

Honored By

A Grateful American

ACCEPTED INTO THE AIR CORPS AND BEGAN PILOT TRAINING IN TEXAS, ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THE ARMY DETERMINED THERE WAS A GREATER NEED FOR INFANTRY SOLDIERS, SO HIS PILOT TRAINING UNIT WAS DISBANDED AND HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL PATTON'S THIRD ARMY, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY THIRD BATTALION 261ST INFANTRY. SAW ACTION CROSSING THE SIEGFRIED LINE THROUGH CENTRAL GERMANY AT THE BATTLE OF STRUTH AND SOUTHEAST TO AUSTRIA. RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR VOLUNTEERING TO RESCUE WOUNDED SOLDIERS UNDER FIRE AT THE BATTLE OF ANSBACH ON THE DANUBE RIVER NEAR REGENSBURG, GERMANY. LATER RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR.