Frederick L. Wieseman

Frederick Leonard Wieseman (March 16, 1908 – August 15, 1994) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. 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, and his family later moved to Palmyra, Wisconsin, 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, Philippines and Guam and rose to the NCO's rank.

As any other "fresh" marine officer, Wieseman was sent to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard 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, and served there until September of that year, when he was transferred to the Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. While at Parris Island, Wieseman was a member of the Marine football team and later coached the Parris Island basketball team for two years.

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, and also participated in the shakedown cruise to the Caribbean. Wieseman was also promoted to the rank of captain in July 1938.

The I Marine Amphibious Corps took part in the Bougainville Campaign in New Guinea 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".

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" 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., and attached to the Division of Plans and Policies at Headquarters Marine Corps under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas. He remained in this capacity until the end of November 1946.

Wieseman was transferred to Washington, D.C., in July 1955 and appointed assistant fiscal director at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in July 1956 and appointed fiscal director, the capacity he served in until April 1959.

Major General Wieseman assumed duties at Camp Lejeune as commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division at the beginning of November 1961 and subsequently supervised the deployment of his division to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, 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 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, Officer Candidates School, Amphibious Warfare School and other facilities there and also Marine Corps Base Quantico itself. He was made a member of the Military Order of the Carabao in 1977.

He died of Parkinson’s disease