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name
WIDEMAN, Donald Carl - Date of
birth
11 February 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35055318 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
10th Infantry Regiment,
5th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 December 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Creutzwald-Ludweiller, on the French-German border
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl B.Wideman (father)
Lucille R. (Hanna) Wideman (mother)
Carl L. Wideman (brother)
Clark Wideman (brother)
More information
Pfc Donald C. Wideman graduated from Shaw High School.He enlisted at Camp Perry, Ohio on March 27 1943.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. The citation cited: Pvt Wideman's company was pinned down by enemy machine gun-, rocket- and rifle fire, emanating from heavily fortified positions on high ground. With complete disregard for the overwhelming odds, he courageously led his squad in a gallant attack against the enemy positions in the face of intense hostile fire. The enemy rocket-launchers and riflemen were pinned down by this aggressive action and Pvt Wideman single-handedly destroyed the machine gun and its crew, enabling his company to advance and take their objective. Although he received wounds in this action which cost him his life, his indomitable fighting spirit and supreme devotion to duty live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades.
Pvt Wideman is remembered on the Shaw High School Memorial dedicated to students who died in WWII.
He was first buried at the Temporary American mlilitary Cemetery of Limey, France.
Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com – U.S. Headstone and Interment Record
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Laurette D., The Plain Dealer - 27 December 1944