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| PFC Alf Wedberg served with the 36th Infantry Division in France. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100598928/alf-erick-wedberg https://36thbaker.weebly.com/unit-history.html |
Alf was born September 1, 1920, in Westmanland, Maine to Eric Walter Wedberg and Alvina Clara Espling. His siblings were Ethel E. Wedberg Ekman and Edwin R Wedberg. Alf attended school in Westmanland, Maine, and was working in farming before he enlisted. His parents proceeded him in death.
He enlisted in the Army on April 11, 1944, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He received his training at Camp Croft in South Carolina. He went overseas that same year. He ended up with the rank of private first class and was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division.
The 36th ID had been in action since September 1943, beginning with the Italian Campaign where it suffered very high losses. In August 1944 it was part of the American landing in southern France. By October it was heavily engaged in the Vosges Mountain. PFC Wedberg likely joined his unit around this time. The 36th ID was finally taken out of the line at the end of 1944. It was back to the front in March 1945.
Alf was reported Killed In Action in France on March 20, 1945. His findagrave memorial mentions he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, but this is not confirmed elsewhere. By the time the war ended the 36th ID suffered nearly 20,000 casualties including more than 3,600 killed or missing.
Private First Class Alf Erick Wedberg was laid to rest Westmanland Cemetery in Aroostook County Westmanland, Maine.
Thank you PFC Wedberg for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alf. You will never be forgotten.
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This profile was written and summarized by Brianne Ellison. I am a business owner and stay at home mom of 4 children in Utah. I have been an independent family history researcher for over 12 years. I have also had a passion for U.S. war history since I was a child. WWII is my most passionate research project aside from family history. I am so grateful to be able to contribute to a memorial of such a courageous soldier that never gave up. It is because of men like Alf, that we have our freedom today. “Land of the Free because of the Brave.” Thank you, Private First Class Alf Erick Wedberg.
This is one of the last 2 stories to be written as part of this project which ends on September 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. At that time more than 1,370 men and women will have been profiled. The project will live on in an expanded program to write the stories of all 400,000+ US World War II fallen. Visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org to learn more. We welcome your continued support and interest and encourage you to help write some of these stories.
Last year on this date I profiled training submarine USS R-12 fallen James Horton. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
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References:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100598928/alf-erick-wedberg
Bangor Daily News, 15 Jun 1945
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
My friends father was in the world war 2. All he remembers is how cold it was.
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