World War II Honoree

Donald C. Wideman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

Clark L. Wideman

Relationship

Brother

AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND PURPLE HEART MEDAL. HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WAS GIVEN FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AGAINST ARMED ENEMY IN GERMANY. ON DECEMBER 4, 1944 NEAR LUDWEILER, GERMANY, HIS COMPANY WAS PINNED DOWN BY ENEMY MACHINE GUN, ROCKET AND RIFLE FIRE. HE COURAGEOUSLY LED HIS SQUAD IN AN ATTACK AGAINST ENEMY POSITIONS, WHICH CAUSED THE ENEMY TO BE PINNED DOWN. HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY DESTROYED THE MACHINE GUN AND ITS CREW, ALLOWING HIS COMPANY TO ADVANCE AND TAKE THEIR OBJECTIVE. HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED DURING THIS ACTION.