World War II Honoree

Frank Harold Wirig

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Evanston, Wyoming

Honored By

Lois A. Sucher

Relationship

Daughter

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1944. After taking the Oath, he boarded with the new inductees assembled from many states into boxcars and traveled by rail to Farragut, Idaho for 14 weeks of boot camp. He was selected to be the Company Guide-On. After boot camp, he was assigned to Radio School at Yerba Buena Island, in San Francisco. After graduation, he was assigned to the Frontier Base in San Pedro where he served as Radioman Third Class. He served there until being assigned to the USS Leedstown APA-56, an attack transport being refitted prior to returning to the Pacific theater of Operations. While on liberty, news came that the war had ended and he celebrated in the streets of Los Angeles. On August 31, 1945 the Leedstown sailed to serve as part of 'Operation Magic Carpet', crossing the Pacific to the Philippine Islands, transporting troops to Japan and bringing back troops to the U.S. from Yokahama, Japan, twice. On the final return, they passed through the Panama Canal, and journeyed to Norfolk, Virginia where the USS Leedstown was decommissioned. He then was assigned to Terminal Island, San Pedro where he served until he was honorably discharged on Flag Day, June 14, 1946.