Saturday, March 13, 1999
After 55 years, a hero honored
Medals a lesson for young Marines
BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
More than a half-century after fighting in the Pacific theater in World War II, U.S. Marine veteran Cpl. Fred Wiehe received 16 medals Friday in Cincinnati for his military service.
Mr. Wiehe, 78, of Reading, flew 105 qualifying air missions between April 1944 and March 1945.
Mr. Wiehe, a turret gunner, was charged with fighting off enemy aircraft and surface ships that threatened the TBF Avenger aircraft — a World War II torpedo bomber whose mission was to sink enemy ships, said Marine Corps Maj. Charles McCobb.
“It's an honor, it's a great honor,” said Mr. Wiehe.
He had read in a military veterans magazine about how to claim the medals, but had put it off until recently. The retired financial analyst didn't want a lot of pomp and circumstance — he just wanted the honors mailed to him.
But the Marines wanted to hold a small ceremony for him Friday night.
“The ceremony is used to commemorate the sacrifices made by those military personnel who served in World War II. We do it for Marines today to get a glimpse of those who made sacrifices in war,” said Maj. McCobb, an instructor-inspector at the Gilbert Avenue Marine training center where Mr. Wiehe was honored Friday.
“It's a learning experience for the young Marines and brings together the brotherhood of the Marine Corps, the young and the old.”
Mr. Wiehe's awards will actually be on a single cloth with a bronze numeral “16” — representing the number of awards — mounted on it.
In a phone interview Thursday, Mr. Wiehe said he was in his early 20s at the time and didn't consider that he was putting himself in danger for the sake of the country: “I wasn't married at the time.”
Mr. Wiehe is also being nominated for the military's Distinguished Flying Cross, given to U.S. aviators for gallantry and heroism during aerial combat.
This is the fourth highest combat award, said Maj. Markus Hartmann, also of the Gilbert training center.
Congress is considering a list of nominees for the honor, Maj. Hartmann said.
Marie McCain contributed to this report.
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