T/Sgt. George Lee Wolf was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 14, 1916, to Manford L. Wolf and Alma A. Bedard-Wolf, and had three sisters. His family resided at 1618 North 19th Street – Melrose Park, Illinois, and he graduated from Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, and Proviso Township High School in 1938. After high school, he worked at J.W. Trenkler Company, Melrose Park, where he drove a truck.
When the Selective Service Act became law on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft and named his mother as his contact person. He was inducted into the US Army on April 18, 1941, and was issued the serial number 36 027 110. He was sent to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, and then Camp Forrest, Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he joined the Company G, 129th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division which had been part of the Illinois National Guard, which had been federalized on March 5, 1941. He did his basic training while there and during this time he rose in rank and became a staff sergeant.
The 129th was detached the 33rd were detached from the division, on July 31, 142, and sent to the southwest Pacific to the Espiritu Islands. It appears during its time on the island, it trained. It was then sent Bougainville, New Guinea. Sometime in November 1942, the regiment was sent to Bougainville, where it was attached to the 37th Infantry Division. During the division’s time on the island it withstood eight major attacks by the Japanese. Because of his actions as a member of a rifle squad, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, for “exemplary conduct” in action against the enemy, and promoted to Technical Sergeant for his “outstanding leadership ability.” By April, the Japanese no longer were a major threat and the division began training for the invasion of Luzon. During this time George was promoted to Technical Sergeant. The rank acknowledged his specialized training, but he had no training in commanding troops.
On January 9, 1945, the invasion of Luzon began and the 37th landed at Lingayen Gulf where the Japanese had landed in December 1941. Finding little resistance, the rapidly advance to Clark Field. Once there, it ran into heavy Japanese resistance and did not take control of the airfield until January 31st. It was on February 1, 1945, somewhere outside of Manila that T/Sgt. George L. Wolf was killed when he was hit by enemy fire. According to another member of the 129th, Wolf was hit in the back of his head by a bullet from a Japanese sniper. He was buried in the United States Military Cemetery, San Fernando, #1, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in a shelter half, Plot 1 Row 1, Grave 9. The War Department in Washington DC learned of his death on February 25, 1945. It is not known when his parents learned of his death.
After the War, the American Graves Registration Service began the recovery of the dead. His remains were moved to the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #2, Manila, and buried in Plot 1, Row 4, Grave 395. The cemetery was a holding are for the dead until the dead were buried in a permanent US Military Cemetery or returned to the United States. George’s mother received a letter, dated October 16, 1946, from the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, telling her where George was buried and the location of his grave in the cemetery. providing her with information on where George could be buried. She was told that another letter would be sent to her providing her with information on her options for George’s final burial. The letter dated, September 1, 1948, arrived, and she was asked to complete an enclosed form and return it to the OQMG. The form, dated September 29, 1948, was returned by his mother and indicated that George should be buried at an American Military Cemetery overseas. It appears that the OQMG became aware at this time that the department concluded George’s father was living which made him George’s legal next of kin. He was sent the same letter with information on where George could be buried on December 27, 1948. George’s mother write back that her husband was dead and returned the form, on September 23, 1948.
A new American Military Cemetery was created outside of Manila and T/Sgt. George L. Wolf was buried in the cemetery. His mother received the flag that covered his casket and a letter from the Office of the Quartermaster General.
T/Sgt George L. Wolf, ASN 36 027 110
Plot D, Row 9, Grave 185
Headstone: Cross
Ft. McKinley U. S. Military Cemetery
(Manila, Philippine Islands)
Mrs. Alma Wolf
502 North 11th Avenue
Melrose Park, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Wolf:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved one have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of cemetery.
While interments are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that the final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
