Frederick L. Wieseman
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Frederick Leonard Wieseman (March 16, 1908 – August 15, 1994) was a highly decorated officer of the
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
with the rank of
lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
. He was a veteran of the Pacific War and later served as commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in 1963–1966.


Early career

Frederick L. Wieseman was born on March 16, 1908, in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...
, and his family later moved to
Palmyra, Wisconsin Palmyra is a village in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Scuppernong River. It was named after the desert oasis city of Palmyra, Syria, due to its dry, sandy soil. The population was 1,719 at the 2020 census. The village is ...
, where he attended the high school. He graduated in summer of 1925 and subsequently enlisted the Marine Corps as private on August 10 of that year. Wieseman took part in the expeditionary duty in China within
Yangtze Patrol The Yangtze Patrol, also known as the Yangtze River Patrol Force, Yangtze River Patrol, YangPat and ComYangPat, was a prolonged naval operation from 1854–1949 to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. The Yangtze P ...
,
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and
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and rose to the NCO's rank. He received appointment to the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
at Annapolis, Maryland, in July 1927 and spent next four years with studies there. During his time at the academy, Wieseman was active in football and
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
teams. He graduated on June 4, 1931, with a
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on the same date. Many of his classmates had distinguished careers and became general officers: John S. McCain Jr., Horacio Rivero Jr., Charles T. Booth, Lawson P. Ramage, Bernard F. Roeder, Frederick J. Becton, Charles B. Brooks Jr., Ernest B. Ellsworth, Wilmer E. Gallaher, Andrew J. Hill Jr., Harlan T. Johnson, Frederic S. Keeler, Edward J. O'Neill, Forsyth Massey, Berton A. Robbins, Jr., Kinlock C. Walpole, Nelson K. Brown, Austin R. Brunelli, Edward J. Dillon, Robert E. Fojt, Edward H. Forney, Bankson T. Holcomb Jr., Lewis C. Hudson, Clifford H. Shuey or Samuel G. Taxis. As any other "fresh" marine officer, Wieseman was sent to
the Basic School The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines". The Basic School is located at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Vi ...
at
Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries. Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the ci ...
for his officers' training. After graduation in spring 1932, he was attached to the Marine Corps rifle and pistol team at Marine Barracks Quantico,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, and served there until September of that year, when he was transferred to the Marine Barracks Parris Island,
South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
. While at Parris Island, Wieseman was a member of the Marine football team and later coached the Parris Island basketball team for two years. He left Parris Island in April 1934 in order to join the Marine detachment aboard the heavy cruiser USS ''Minneapolis'' as newly promoted first lieutenant. Wieseman sailed to European waters for the shakedown cruise and later to
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via the
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. He then left ''Minneapolis'' in June 1935 and was attached again to the Marine Corps rifle and pistol team at Marine Barracks Quantico,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. Wieseman also served as assistant coach of the Quantico Marines Devil Dogs football in seasons 1935 and 1936. Wieseman departed Quantico in February 1937 in order to be appointed commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the newly commissioned aircraft carrier USS ''Yorktown''. He took part in the initial training of that vessel in
Hampton Roads, Virginia Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James, Nansemond and Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's Point where the Chesapeake Bay flows into the Atlantic O ...
, and also participated in the shakedown cruise to the Caribbean. Wieseman was also promoted to the rank of captain in July 1938.


World War II

In June 1939, Wieseman was ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, where he attended Junior Course at the Amphibious Warfare School. Upon the graduation in May 1940, he began his third tour of duty with the Marine Corps rifle and pistol team at Quantico. With the subsequent expansion of the Marine Corps, Captain Wieseman was ordered to Guantánamo Bay,
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, and appointed company commander within the
7th Marine Regiment The 7th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Nicknamed the "Magnificent Seventh", the regiment falls under the command of the 1 ...
,
1st Marine Division The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). It is th ...
. The 1st Marine Division later sailed back to the United States, and 7th Marines were detached from the division in March 1942 in order to form the 3rd Marine Brigade at
Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilming ...
,
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. Wieseman then sailed with the 3rd Marine Brigade to the Pacific area and took part in the defense of
Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...
against Japanese threat. He was promoted to the rank of major in May 1942. Wieseman was then appointed regimental supply officer of the 7th Marines under Colonel
Amor L. Sims Amor LeRoy Sims (May 29, 1896 – November 30, 1978) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, who is most noted as commanding officer of 7th Marine Regiment during World War II. He also ...
and took part in the Guadalcanal Campaign from September 1942 to January 1943. He subsequently served as liaison officer for the 1st Marine Division at general headquarters of
Southwest Pacific The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
Area under General Douglas MacArthur, before he was appointed supply officer of
I Marine Amphibious Corps The I Marine Amphibious Corps, or I MAC, was a formation of the United States Marine Corps. It was created on 1 October 1942, with most of the staff transferred from Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (ACPF). It was then deployed to the South Pacific ...
under Lieutenant General
Alexander Vandegrift General Alexander Archer Vandegrift, USMC (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. During World War II, he commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of the war, the B ...
in August 1943. Wieseman was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in March 1943. The I Marine Amphibious Corps took part in the
Bougainville Campaign The Bougainville campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan, named after the island of Bougainville. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allie ...
in
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
in November 1943, and Wieseman was responsible for the coordination of logistics for all corps units. He distinguished himself in this capacity and received the Bronze Star Medal with
Combat "V" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
. He served in the same capacity during the Recapture of Guam in July 1944 and was relieved by Lt. Colonel Francis B. Loomis Jr. at the beginning of August of that year. Wieseman received the Legion of Merit with
Combat "V" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
for his service with I Marine Amphibious Corps and subsequently was ordered stateside. Following a brief reunion with family, Wieseman was transferred to
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, and attached to the Division of Plans and Policies at
Headquarters Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The function, ...
under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas. He remained in this capacity until the end of November 1946.


Later career

Wieseman was ordered back to the Pacific area in December 1946 and appointed executive officer of 7th Service Regiment. His regiment consisted of engineer company, signal company, military police company, ordnance company, supply company, transport company and several Marine ammo companies. He was subsequently ordered to China and took part in the combats against communists guerillas during
Civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
as commanding officer of
3rd Marine Regiment The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment is a regiment of the United States Marine Corps that is optimized for littoral maneuver in the Indo-Pacific Theater. Based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the regiment falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Divi ...
. During this tenure he was promoted to the rank of
colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
in July 1948. Wieseman was then relieved by Walfried M. Fromhold on August 17, 1948, and transferred to the staff of Commander, Naval Forces Western Pacific, under Vice Admiral Oscar C. Badger. In this capacity, Wieseman took part in the successful negotiations with Communists for the release of Marine plane crew shot down and held prisoner by them in Shantung Province. For his service in China, he was decorated with the Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner, 4th Class by the Government of China. Colonel Wieseman was transferred back to the United States in October 1948 and attached to the staff of Landing Force Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet at Little Creek,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, and served under Brigadier General Robert H. Pepper. Wieseman was ordered for the instruction to Joint Forces Staff College in February 1949, and, following the graduation in July of that year, he was appointed chief of the logistics section, Marine Corps Educational Center, Quantico. He was transferred to
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, Japan, in July 1952 and appointed chief of staff of the
3rd Marine Division The 3rd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty infantry divisions in the Marine Corps and together with th ...
under his old superior from Little Creek Base, Major General Pepper. Wieseman took part with his division in the several amphibious exercises in Japan, and the 3rd Division later served as defense force of the Far Eastern area. When General Pepper was given another command in May 1954 and Wieseman returned to the United States, his new assignment was with Advanced Research Group at Quantico, Virginia. This group was tasked with the development of the recommendations on how the MAGTF should evolve structurally to meet the challenges of atomic warfare and new technologies such as helicopters and jet aircraft. Wieseman was transferred to
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, in July 1955 and appointed assistant fiscal director at
Headquarters Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The function, ...
. He was promoted to the rank of
brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
in July 1956 and appointed fiscal director, the capacity he served in until April 1959. Upon the completion of the tour of duty at Headquarters Marine Corps, Wieseman was transferred to
Kāneʻohe Bay Kāneohe Bay, at , is the largest sheltered body of water in the main Hawaiian Islands. This reef-dominated embayment constitutes a significant scenic and recreational feature along the northeast coast of the Island of Oahu. The largest populati ...
,
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, and assumed duties as commanding general, 1st Marine Brigade. While there, he was promoted to the rank of
major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
in November 1959 and succeeded by Brigadier General Richard G. Weede in order to assume duties as deputy chief of staff for plans (operations deputy), Headquarters Marine Corps. Major General Wieseman assumed duties at
Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilming ...
as commanding general of the
2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caroli ...
at the beginning of November 1961 and subsequently supervised the deployment of his division to Guantánamo Bay,
Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. He remained in the Caribbean until early December of that year and subsequently served with his division at Camp Lejeune until June 1963. During his deployment to Cuba, the 2nd Division demonstrated its ability to respond to short-notice embarkation orders with speed and efficiency. General Wiesman later received Brazilian Order of Military Merit for his service in the Caribbean. Wieseman was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
on July 1, 1963, and was appointed commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. In this capacity, he was responsible for the training and education at
The Basic School The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines". The Basic School is located at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Vi ...
, Officer Candidates School, Amphibious Warfare School and other facilities there and also
Marine Corps Base Quantico Marine Corps Base Quantico (commonly abbreviated MCB Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps installation located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly of southern Prince William County, Virginia, northern Stafford County, and southeas ...
itself. He served in this capacity until June 30, 1966, when was relieved by Lieutenant General James M. Masters. Wieseman was also decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his "... demonstrating dynamic leadership, initiative and professional competence during this Period." However, he did not remain in retirement for long, and was recalled to active duty in late of 1966 for service with Secretary of the Navy's Board of Decorations and Medals. Wieseman then retired for a second time during 1967, but was recalled to active service again in March 1969 for service as the senior Marine Corps representative and coordinator of Task Force Bravo to the Department of Defense, Joint Logistics Review Board.


Retirement

Wieseman retired for good in June 1970 and received his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service with Department of Defense. He settled in Triangle, Virginia, with his first wife, Dorothy Estella Bateman, and, following the death of his wife in 1973, he moved to Annapolis, Maryland. Wieseman married again in 1974 to Julia May Williams Cooper and lived in Ginger Cove retirement community. He was made a member of the
Military Order of the Carabao The Military Order of the Carabao is a social club open to officers of the U.S. military and war correspondents who served in the Philippines or on overseas official military campaigns. The order was initially created to satirize the pompous an ...
in 1977. He died of a heart attack on August 15, 1994, in Annapolis and is buried at
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
.


Decorations

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:


See also

* Cuban Missile Crisis *
2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caroli ...
* List of 2nd Marine Division Commanders


References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Wieseman, Frederick L. 1908 births 1994 deaths Military personnel from Milwaukee United States Naval Academy alumni Joint Forces Staff College alumni United States Marine Corps generals United States Marine Corps Quartermaster Officers Quantico Marines Devil Dogs football coaches United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil) Burials at Arlington National Cemetery People from Palmyra, Wisconsin