1LT Marshall John Weidlich

1LT Marshall John Weidlich was born 16 Aug 1919 in Sappington, Missouri. He was the youngest of the 9 children born to Edward and Cora A. (Weber) Weidlich. His paternal ancestors had come to the U.S. from Bayern, Germany in the 1850s and settled in the area of Saint Louis, Missouri. His father farmed rented land to support the family but died in 1932, probably of a heart attack or stroke, at the age of 59. Marshall was 13 years old but despite the probable economic pressures and likely with help from his older brothers he was able to complete high school. His mother was apparently unable to cope with the loss of her husband and in 1936 she hung herself in the basement of their home where she was discovered by one of her sons, perhaps by Marshall. By 1940 he was working as an assistant manager for F. W. Woolworth at 7501 South Broadway in Saint Louis, Missouri. Clearly capable he reported a 1939 income of $1042 having worked all 52 weeks and this during the depression. Marshall was lodging with the family of Nicholas Hoffmeister at 7527 South Broadway before moving to 1101 Rockman Place in Rock Hill, Missouri.

Marshall was drafted in June 1941. He had apparently been commissioned by 1943 when he was at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. 2LT Weidlich married Miss Jane Marie Scheidegger there on 24 Jul 1943. Jane's sister Eleanor Catherine Scheidegger and LT Donald P. Dix were witnesses in the Catholic ceremony. We know that 1LT Weidlich probably arrived in the European theater, that is England, in March 1944. He was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 18 Jun 1944 to serve as a Platoon Leader but was soon called upon to serve as the company's Executive Officer as noted in the morning report of 2 Jul 1944. 1LT Weidlich was wounded in action on 13 Jul 1944 near Saint-Lo, France. Evacuated to hospital, he died of his wound(s) on 19 Jul 1944.

1LT Weidlich was awarded the Bronze Star reportedly for carrying out a special assignment in enemy territory after landing in France on D-Day. 

1LT Weidlich rests forever in the Normandy American Cemetery.