World War II Honoree

Leo Joseph Wildenhain

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fire Controlman Second Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy August 10, 1942 at Providence, Rhode Island, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Newport, Rhode Island. Upon his graduation from boot camp and gunnery training, he was transferred to the USS Spence Destroyer, DD-512 for duty as a Fire Controlman, responsible in directing his Destroyers’ cannons line of fire. The Destroyer and her shipmates on November 20, 1944 rendezvous with a fast carrier striking forces in the Philippine Sea for the impending invasion of the Philippines. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Monday, December 18, 1944 when his warship capsized and sank off-shore of Luzon Island during a typhoon. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.