Wayne Vernon Weller
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Wayne Vernon Weller served in World War II in the Pacific Theater.
Mr. Weller joined the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1942.
He served in Guadalcanal from November 1942 until May 1944. On Guadalcanal, he was assigned to NGK Radio Station as a Radioman. The entrance to the station was a tunnel. He transferred to the Minneapolis Naval Training Station (Pilots).
Mr. Weller was discharged from the Navy on October 8, 1945. His rank was Radioman 2nd Class.
He received the Good Conduct Medal.
Mr. Weller was born in 1921 in Hill City, Minnesota, the son of Harvey and Mary Weller. He graduated from high school in 1938.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I was born on a farm near Hill City, Minnesota, in 1921. We walked. No electricity. Graduated 1938, then two years in the Civilian Conservation Corps, two years farming and logging. Three-and-a-half years in the Navy: 5 months boots and radio school, Radioman 3rd Class at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, November 1942. Then by train across country to Treasure Island, by ship six days to Noumea, New Caledonia, December 4, 1942, and on to Guadalcanal on December 22, 1943. Japs still fought for Island. Served at radio station NGK for 18 months, became Radioman 2nd Class, had seven bouts of malaria. Returned to States at Treasure Island; 11 days in hospital with malaria, then 30 days. Married Irene, then 15 months shore duty at Minneapolis, discharged October 1945. Started our family about 1945. Schooling in architecture, October 1945 to January 1947 at Dunwoody Industrial School, then on-the-job training and night school at Minnesota University. Moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1951. Became registered architect in 1958, having made plans for all types of structures all over the U.S. for 40-plus years, the last six years a self-employed project inspector on many projects at Omaha University. Retired in October 1987, moved to Hill City, Minnesota, in 1990 and Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2002. We continue our 60-plus years as Lutherans, and enjoying peace in this great country of God’s, free in all these years. That’s why I served in the Navy.”
