World War II Honoree

Kenneth Lavern Wildemuth

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Annawan, Illinois

Honored By

Steven Wildemuth

Relationship

Son

He enlisted on 5 July 1943 at the age of 17-1/2 years old. On his way to Europe, he survived the torpedoing of the troop ship Leopoldville on Christmas Eve, 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart For wounds received in action near Cherbourg, France, 24 December 1944. He served as an automatic rifleman and was awarded the Bronze Star for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Northern France Campaign, in the European Theater of Operations, while assigned as Private First Class, 264th Infantry Regiment.