World War II Honoree

Charles Eugene Weickhardt, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Ms. Carolyn Drake & Ms. Alice Herndon

Relationship

Sisters

JOINED IN 1940. RECEIVED HIS GOLD WINGS AT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA NAVY FLIGHT SCHOOL, 1942. ASSIGNED FIRST FLIGHT DUTY ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS PRINCETON CVL-23 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. SURVIVED THE BOMBING OF THE USS PRINCETON AND WAS REASSIGNED TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS LANGLEY. FLEW IN MOST OF THE MAJOR BATTLES OF THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN. SAVED THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS YORKTOWN FROM A NEAR CATASTROPHIC KAMIKAZE ATTACK. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 29, 1945, JUST FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE END OF THE WAR. HE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE NAVY CROSS, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 5 GOLD STARS AND THE PURPLE HEART. DIED AT 23 YEARS OF AGE. THE MEDALS WERE PERSONALLY PRESENTED TO THE FAMILY BY FLEET ADMIRAL CHESTER NIMITZ, A FORMER SHIPMATE AND FRIEND OF HIS FATHER.