World War II Honoree

Charles Robert Weddington, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Peoria, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON DECEMBER 15, 1941, SHORTLY AFTER THE JAPANESE SURPRISE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII. ENLISTED AT AGE 17, BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP WALLACE AT HITCHCOCK, TEXAS WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BASIC AND ADVANCED TRAINING. ASSIGNED TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ON FEBRUARY 16, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN THE SUMMER OF 1944, INCLUDING IN SUPPORT OF THE 2ND MARINE DIVISION. SERVED AS A HEAVY ARTILLERY GUN CREWMAN AND ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUNNER WITH ARMY SUPPORT FORCES, INCLUDING IN SUPPORT OF THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION AT IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO IN FEBRUARY-MARCH, 1945. REMAINED ON IWO JIMA UNTIL REASSIGNED TO THE UNITED STATES ON NOVEMBER 3, 1945. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ABOUT NOVEMBER 23, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS AT BARNHART, MISSOURI AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. THE FOLLOWING DAY, REENLISTED AS A CORPORAL AND WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS, 6TH SERVICE COMMAND IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOR DUTY AS A RECRUITING INFORMATION SPECIALIST. THEN SERVED AS A RECRUITER FOR THE CHICAGO REGION UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR PERIOD. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS.