Maj. Gen. Wilbur H. Fricke, 85, of Waynesville died Sept. 7 at home. B.S. degree and ROTC, Purdue University, 1936; commissioned Second Lieutenant. Graduated from Army Field Artillery School, Command and General Staff College, and Infantry School. 1937, accepted a commission in 136th Field Artillery, Ohio National Guard. 1940, ordered into federal service as Captain. Promoted to major, 1942, assigned to Pacific Theater for the next three years.
Serving in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1944 and given command of the 136th Field Artillery battalion, which he led in combat at Bougainville Island and Luzon. Returned to USA June of 1945, he was released from active duty in February, 1946. He returned to the Ohio Army National Guard in 1946, again commanding the 136th Field Artillery Battalion. In 1947, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command the 371st Div. Artillery in 1961 and was federally recognized as Brigadier General on Nov. 14, 1961.
He was appointed Assistant Division Commander, 37th Infantry Division in 1963 and commanding general in 1965 with federal recognition as Major General effective Dec. 7, 1965.
He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He was a member of the retired officers of the 37th Artillery Div., the VFW, and Waynesville Rotary Club."
There is also a metal marker on his grave commemorating his service in the Korean conflict.
Serving in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1944 and given command of the 136th Field Artillery battalion, which he led in combat at Bougainville Island and Luzon. Returned to USA June of 1945, he was released from active duty in February, 1946. He returned to the Ohio Army National Guard in 1946, again commanding the 136th Field Artillery Battalion. In 1947, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command the 371st Div. Artillery in 1961 and was federally recognized as Brigadier General on Nov. 14, 1961.
He was appointed Assistant Division Commander, 37th Infantry Division in 1963 and commanding general in 1965 with federal recognition as Major General effective Dec. 7, 1965.
He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He was a member of the retired officers of the 37th Artillery Div., the VFW, and Waynesville Rotary Club."
There is also a metal marker on his grave commemorating his service in the Korean conflict.
Maj. Gen. Wilbur H. Fricke, 85, of Waynesville died Sept. 7 at home. B.S. degree and ROTC, Purdue University, 1936; commissioned Second Lieutenant. Graduated from Army Field Artillery School, Command and General Staff College, and Infantry School. 1937, accepted a commission in 136th Field Artillery, Ohio National Guard. 1940, ordered into federal service as Captain. Promoted to major, 1942, assigned to Pacific Theater for the next three years.
Serving in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1944 and given command of the 136th Field Artillery battalion, which he led in combat at Bougainville Island and Luzon. Returned to USA June of 1945, he was released from active duty in February, 1946. He returned to the Ohio Army National Guard in 1946, again commanding the 136th Field Artillery Battalion. In 1947, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command the 371st Div. Artillery in 1961 and was federally recognized as Brigadier General on Nov. 14, 1961.
He was appointed Assistant Division Commander, 37th Infantry Division in 1963 and commanding general in 1965 with federal recognition as Major General effective Dec. 7, 1965.
He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He was a member of the retired officers of the 37th Artillery Div., the VFW, and Waynesville Rotary Club."
There is also a metal marker on his grave commemorating his service in the Korean conflict.
Serving in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1944 and given command of the 136th Field Artillery battalion, which he led in combat at Bougainville Island and Luzon. Returned to USA June of 1945, he was released from active duty in February, 1946. He returned to the Ohio Army National Guard in 1946, again commanding the 136th Field Artillery Battalion. In 1947, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command the 371st Div. Artillery in 1961 and was federally recognized as Brigadier General on Nov. 14, 1961.
He was appointed Assistant Division Commander, 37th Infantry Division in 1963 and commanding general in 1965 with federal recognition as Major General effective Dec. 7, 1965.
He received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. He was a member of the retired officers of the 37th Artillery Div., the VFW, and Waynesville Rotary Club."
There is also a metal marker on his grave commemorating his service in the Korean conflict.
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