WEILAND, Tech5 Cletus D., WWII

WEILAND, GREENWALT, LINCICUM

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/11/2013 at 22:24:40

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
March 23, 1945, Page 5

C. D. WEILAND DIES IN MANILA

Lake Man Makes Supreme Sacrifice

Clear Lake - Mr. and Mrs. H. H. WEILAND, 418 Winnie street, received word from the war department Thursday that their son, Cletus D. WEILAND, technician 5/g, had been killed in action in Manila, P. I., Feb. 26. The message stated that a letter would follow.

Tech. 5/g WEILAND entered service March 31, 1942, and was sent to Fort Riley, Kans., for training in a cavalry unit. From there he went to Fort Bliss, Texas, and in November visited home. He spent 2 months on maneuvers in Louisiana and in July, 1943, was sent to San Francisco, Cal., after having had a furlough in June.

He was sent to Brisbane, Australia, and in January, 1944, to New Guinea. In March he went to the Admiralty Island and was in the drive on Leyte last October. Early in January of this year he landed on Luzon. His last letter was written Feb. 21.

Tech. 5/g WEILAND was born near Britt July 26, 1918. He attended Clear Lake high school and was employed by the Clear Lake Sand and Gravel company before entering the service.

Besides his parents he is survived by 2 sisters, Mrs. Kenneth LINCICUM and Miss LaVonne WEILAND, at home; a brother, Pvt. Norman WEILAND, Camp Robinson, Ark., and his grandmother, Mrs. J. C. GREENWALT, Britt.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
May 02, 1945, Page 4

PURPLE HEART SENT PARENTS

Decoration Awarded T-5 Cletus D. Weiland

Clear Lake - Mr. and Mrs. H. H. WEILAND, 418 Winnie street, received the Purple Heart decoration awarded their son, T/5 Cletus D. WEILAND, posthumously by the war department. T/5 WEILAND was killed in action in Manila, P. I., Feb. 26, 1945.

Mr. and Mrs. WEILAND have also received a letter from Capt. John Barr, service troop 12th cavalry, formed in October, 1942, of which their son was an original member. He spoke of T/5 WEILAND as a man dependable, thorough, willing and capable of performing any duty asked of him, a man of pleasing personality and strong character.

With reference to the death of their son, Capt. Barr said: "During the battle for Manila, on Feb. 26, it was reported to the commanding officer of the regiment near echelon that a party of Japs had infiltrated our lines and was nearing our installation. The CO asked for volunteers to patrol the area in which the Japs were reported. The volunteer patrol, of which Cletus was a member, contacted the Japs and in the ensuing fight he was hit in the heart. He died instantly, experiencing no pain or suffering. His body was taken to a United States army cemetery on Luzon where proper religious and military burial rites were performed.

"I fully realize that there is little anyone can say which will to any extent alleviate the great loss of your son but I am writing in the hope that this information will be of some comfort to you."

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2013