Private First Class Joseph Weidle of Able Battery, 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Franzfeldt, Austria-Hungary, on August 19, 1914. His family arrived in the United States in 1920.
Before entering the service on March 24, 1942, Joseph worked at the CC Highway terminal in Mansfield. He trained at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was sent overseas in September 1943.
Private Weidle was killed in action near Hagenau, France, by a shell fragment wound to the head on February 9, 1945. The next day, he was buried at plot 2U, Row 25, Grave 6631 at the U.S. Military Cemetery Epinal, France.
On January 21, 1948, he was disinterred and prepared for a final reburial back home.
His body was moved in a casket by rail to Antwerp Port, Belgium, on February 13, 1948, and arrived in the U.S. with the USAT Robert F. Burns in New York Harbor on April 2, 1948. He returned home in Mansfield, Ohio, on Tuesday, April 20, 1948, and was buried with full military services in Mansfield Cemetery two days later.
Besides his wife, Mrs. Anna Weidle, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Weidle, he left behind one sister.
Private Weidle was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
May he rest in peace. 🇺🇸
God Speed Joseph Weidle 🫡🇺🇸🫡