1 of 1,000

1,000 World War II veterans die everyday. It is a staggering number for a band of soldiers that is growing ever smaller. In 2008, because of my deep interest in World War II, my mom and I joined The Litsinburger Chapter for Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge in Westerville. We soon became good friends with many of the veterans, particularly the Chapter's President Richard Wheeler and his wife Katherine. One of the first things Mr.Wheeler told me and continued to tell me over the years was a true but sad fact; my generation is the last to see a living World War Two veteran. He strengthened my determination to preserve the stories of those who are the living part of that crucial time in human history. When I began interviewing veterans to learn their stories Mr.wheeler was one of the first to share his experiences.  But no one with such great stories can fit them in a single questionnaire. In meetings over the next two years I learned more about his incredible life. Below is a short biography of Richard Wheeler,

Richard Hugh Wheeler was born on April 18, 1924 in Spaulding, Idaho although the his family later moved to Tacoma, Washington.  As a young boy he loved to go to his Uncle Ed’s farm and see all the animals. His favorite animal was a sway back horse that always followed him around the farm. He loved it so much that when he was five he asked his Uncle if he could keep it. Sarcastically, Uncle Ed told him he could keep the horse if it fit in the car. Like all five year-olds would, Richard thought his Uncle was serious, he tried to convince his Dad to put the horse in the car. His Dad tried to explain that the horse would not fit. But Richard didn’t believe him and was driven to tears when his dad wouldn’t even try. To this day Richard still thinks the horse would have fit if his dad had tried.       

Drafted into the military on his high school graduation day, June 5, 1943, Richard had days to pack and says his good-byes were short and sweet. Traveling by train across the United States, he arrived at Camp Taccoa, Georgia on June 25, at the tender age of 19. Training to become a paratrooper proved very difficult. The instructors were tough and recruits began to feel hated and many wanted to quit. Temperatures usually ranged between 95 and 105 degrees as the recruits did contiues vicious exercises in the extreme heat. All were pushed to their physical limit and some beyond. Richard passed out during exercises on day and spent four days in the hospital. Determined to become a paratrooper he refused to quit and his hard work was eventually rewarded when he completed his training, and became part of the 517^th Parachute Infantry Combat Team as an artillery man.

The 517^th deployed to Italy. Then on August 15, 1944 the unit landed in southern France, Richard took point for a group of soldiers as they advanced, Being ahead of the group Richard was the first to encounter a German machine gun nest. Attempting to put suppressing fire on the Germans he emptied an entire clip of 30. Caliber bullets into the machine gunner's position. A fellow soldier quickly came to Richard's aid and set up his powerful 50. Caliber machine gun. Richard quickly moved behind the man to avoid being deafened by the gun's roar. With this support the Americans quickly over ran the German position. When the Battle of the Bulge began, Richard was on the front line in southern France. But he soon found himself being sent north to combat the Germans in the Ardennes. He arrived to find the Germans were not the only enemy they faced. The Belgian winter proved to be harsh. Temperatures would get as low as -10, often the Americans were not equipped for such conditions and struggled stay warm. The men firing the Howitzer artillery pieces moved almost every other day to support new orders as the battle raged, while always trying to stay warm. After the liberation of St.Vith, Richard remained there for the rest of the battle. Although he had not been shot, Richard suffered from frost bitten feet, damaging the nerves in his feet so to this day he can’t tell whether his feet are hot or cold.

        Private First Class Richard Wheeler returned to America in August 1945 to embrace his mother and father; he married Florence E. Harris and together they had three children Hugh, Susan, and Martin. After the war Richard worked to support his family in both farming and civil service. Sadly Florence died of heart problems in July 1996. Shortly before her death Florence asked "Has Richard found a wife yet?" knowing he would need one. After his Florence's death Richard met Katharine Kramer a former English teacher, they married on October 3, 1999 and have been happily married since.        

What makes Richard most proud of his service is the pride to be a paratrooper. He is proud to have made it through one of the toughest training programs in the military. Nothing makes him sad about his service and he is grateful to have had no nightmares of what he saw in the war and does not dwell on what he has seen or done. The thing that Richard wants everyone to remember most is that the true heroes are in the cemeteries. 

 June 17, 2011, Richard Wheeler was 1 of 1,000 veterans to pass away that day.  I was honored he shared his stories with me and I was proud to call him my friend.  I will miss Richard Wheeler.