| Birth: | Aug. 8, 1924 Ogden Weber County Utah, USA | | Death: | Jun. 5, 2009 Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA |  World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. A US Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class (called Pharmacist's Mate at the time), he was decorated for heroism on Iwo Jima. Raised in Utah, Wahlen joined the Navy during WWII (initially wanting to be an aircraft mechanic), and was attached to the Second Battalion, 26th. Marines, in early 1945. Thru late February and early March, his unit saw heavy action. He was honored for saving the lives of 14 Marines, despite his own wounds, under heavy enemy fire on March 3, 1945, and was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman on October 5, 1945. After WWII, Wahlen obtained a degree from Brigham Young University, Hawaii, and joined the US Army. He served in Korea and Viet Nam, eventually retiring as a major; subsequently, he worked for the Veterans Administration (VA) for ten years. Wahlen died of cancer in a VA Medical Center that carries his name. His story was told in "The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima" (2006) by Gary W. Toyn. (bio by: Bob Hufford) Family links: Parents: Albert George Wahlen (1901 - 1962) Doris Hannah Lythgoe Wahlen (1904 - 1985)
Search Amazon for George Wahlen | | | Burial:
Lindquist's Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch
Ogden Weber County Utah, USA Plot: Section Good Sheppard Family Estate, Lot 115, Space 1 | Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Bob Hufford Record added: Jun 11, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 38198874 |
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