World War II Honoree

Leland Ernest Weichbrodt

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ardmore, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE CARGO SHIP USS PRINCE GEORGES (AK-224) BEGINNING IN DECEMBER, 1944. HIS SHIP DELIVERED TROOPS TO NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA ISLAND IN DECEMBER, 1944. THEN SERVED IN THE SOLOMON AND MARIANA ISLANDS IN JANUARY, 1945. THE SHIP WAS USED AS A TROOP CARRIER IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AREA UNTIL JUNE, 1945 WHEN SHE RETURNED TO PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. AFTER A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA THE VESSEL RETURNED TO PEARL HARBOR WHERE IT WAS BASED WHEN THE WAR ENDED. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, THE CARGO SHIP CARRIED OCCUPATION FORCES TO SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, AND TO JAPAN. HIS SHIP PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ‘MAGIC CARPET’ BEGINNING AT THE END OF OCTOBER, 1945. THIS WAS THE CODE NAME FOR THE RAPID RETURN OF SERVICE PERSONNEL BY WARSHIPS AND TRANSPORT VESSELS FROM THEATER TO THE U.S.A. HIS CARGO SHIP ARRIVED AT SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ON NOVEMBER 10, 1945 WITH ITS INITIAL COMPLEMENT OF RETURNING PERSONNEL. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER, 1945 WITH THE RATE OF RADARMAN THIRD CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.