George Talbot Weidenfeller was born June 27, 1925 in Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico. In 1930 he was living with his sister Elizabeth in his grandparents home, John and Catherine Talbot, in Pueblo, Colorado. By 1940 he was living with Mr. and Mrs. Lester Jones, George’s aunt and uncle and guardians.
George worked at the Pueblo theater as an usher December 1941 to June 1942; Western Union in October 1941; Safeway July and August 1942 and Colorado Steelworks November 1942 to April 1943. He was described as 5’6”, 122, with fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes and slightly freckled.
George attended Centennial High School in Pueblo, leaving during his junior year to enter the US Navy on April 7, 1943. His sister Elizabeth joined the WAVES at the same time.
He graduated from boot camp in Farragut, Idaho in June 1943 followed by a 12 day furlough in Pueblo. Radio school in Memphis, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Florida were next for George before going overseas December 1944.
George departed as a passenger upon the USS Chincoteague leaving Pearl Harbor November 2, 1944 and served with Torpedo Squadron 47 (VT-47) aboard the USS Bataan (CV-29) as a Aviation Radioman Third Class. VT-47 was established April 15, 1944 and deployed aboard the Bataan on March 18, 1945.
On the morning of May 14, 1945 at 5:43 the strike began against USA airfield No. 302, northern Kyushu. Enemy planes appeared in the vicinity of the task force. Ens. Thomas F Henley and his crewman, ARM3 Weidenfeller crashed in flames about one mile off shore after completing their attack. George had been with the squadron since its commissioning. Both men were held in high personal esteem.
George’s body washed ashore at Nakachimachi, Nichi Kuni-gun, Oita Ken, Japan on June 3, 1945. His body was cremated by the Japanese and placed in an urn. His ashes were recovered at Kyushu on August 22, 1946 and buried in the US Armed Forces Mausoleum at Yokohama.
George's ashes were repatriated to Pueblo on December 18, 1948 escorted by MMC John E Barker. The funeral was conducted at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pueblo on December 20, 1948, followed by interment at the Roselawn Cemetery. George was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart posthumously. He was survived by his sister and several aunts and uncles.
Thank you, ARM3 Weidenfeller, for your service and sacrifice.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3.