World War II Honoree

Wilbert Winfred Weckbacher

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sycamore Valley, Ohio

Honored By

Cindy Hollister

Relationship

Daughter

DRAFTED SEPTEMBER 25, 1944. REPORTED TO COLUMBUS, OHIO. WAS ASKED WHICH BRANCH OF SERVICE HE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN. HE CHOSE THE U.S. NAVY. BASIC TRAINING: GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. TROOP TRAIN FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS TO SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA. TANFORAN RACETRACK IN SAN BRUNO, FOR TRAINING. FOCUS WAS SMALL ARMS AND HAND GRENADES; TRAINED BY MARINES TO BE NAVY LANDING PARTIES. ISSUED HELMETS, RIFLE, BELTS, AMMUNITION AND CARBINES. TOOK RIFLE APART IN LIGHTED ROOM AND WAS TESTED TO REASSEMBLE IN THE DARK. RIFLE RANGE PRACTICE. TROOP TRAIN TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. GOT ONTO TRANSPORT SHIP, WHICH WERE ALWAYS ON FIRE. WET DOWN DEPTH CHARGES AND GASOLINE ALL AROUND SHIP. IN THE PACIFIC, WENT TO HONOLULU, HAWAII FOR A FEW DAYS; THEN TO MARSHALL ISLANDS: ENIWETOK, MAJURO (NO DOCK), USED LANDING CRAFT MECHANIZED (LCM); THEN TO KWAJALEIN. ASSIGNED ON NEARBY ISLAND CALLED BERLIN, REPAIRED AND MAINTAINED SHIPS. LATER AS DECK HAND, RAN LCM TO TRANSPORT SAILORS BETWEEN ISLANDS DURING 2 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY. DISCHARGED JUNE 17, 1946.