SF2/c Albert Gerhardt Weidner was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 22, 1922, to Gust Weidner and Olga Richter-Weidner. His family called him Gary. He was raised at 333 North 25th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois, with his two sister and three brothers. He graduated from Saint Paul Lutheran School, Melrose Park, Illinois, and attended Proviso Township High School for one year. After he left high school, he went to work for Community Metal Products Company, Forest Park, Illinois. He married, Mary, and the couple lived at 1216 Norther 34th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois.
Albert joined the United States Naval Reserve, November 25, 1941, and was issued the serial number 853 48 49. Even tough he was in the Naval Reserves, he registered with Selective Service on June 26, 1942. He was called to active duty on July 19, 1943, and held the rank of Ship-fitter Second Class, and was sent to Camp Peary, Williamsburg, Virginia in September 1943. He trained at Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia, and at Amphibious Training Base, Fort Pierce, Florida, as a US Navy Frogman and was a member of an Underwater Demolition Team. When he completed training, he was assigned to the USS Essex which sailed from San Francisco on April 16, 1944, to Hawaii where he was stationed in Maui and transferred to Pearl Harbor on May 23, 1944, with the other members of his demolition team. He was assigned to the USS Brooks which sailed for what was called dangerous waters.
What is known was that his demolition team took part in the Invasion of Saipan which started on June 13, 1944. The next day, the 14th, the landings began. Information provided by his family states that he guided landing craft through enemy fire when the craft he was on was hit by Japanese mortar fire. His individual Deceased Personnel File states his right arm was shattered and he had penetrating wounds to his abdomen that he received from the USS Brooks. No details on what happened were provided. He was put in the sick bay of the USS Indianapolis and died from his wounds on June 14, 1944. He was buried at sea.
His family received this citation:
“Weidner fearlessly swam close to shore to destroy underwater obstacles and survey reef conditions to facilitate the expeditious landing of combat troops on the heavily fortified beach…By his daring aggressiveness and cool courage in the face of grave peril, he contributed to the success of our operations against this vital Japanese stronghold”
