SSG Louis Thompson Weess

courtesy of Cathy Libby Small

SSG Louis Thompson Weess was born in Hillsboro, Illinois on 21 Jan 1920. He was the 2d of 3 children of Louis Weess and his 2nd wife, Frances Lydia (Thompson) Weess. His father worked in a coal mine in Hillsboro for many years. The senior Louis Weess died in 1939. Louis joined the Civilian Conservation Corps earning $150 in 1939. His mother and sisters went to work for the Work Progress Administration (WPA) as seamstresses earning a combined $710 for the same period. They were fortunate that they owned their home at 1607 Benton Street in Johnston City, Illinois. The home was valued at $500 in 1940. By 1941 Louis was able to find work with W. D. Hord in Rockford, Illinois working as a bookkeeper. 

Louis was drafted in October 1942. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England and assigned to G Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault in support of the liberation of France and PFC Weess landed with the unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. He was wounded and evacuated to hospital on 3 Sep 1944 in the middle of the battle for Brest, France. PFC Weess was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company again on 29 Oct 1944 and promoted to SSG on 1 Nov 1944. SSG Weess was wounded on 26 Nov 1944 and evacuated to hospital but died of his wound(s) that same day. 

SSG Weess was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City, Illinois.