Francis Weipert
Sgt Army Air Corps
WWII 1943-1946
Francis Joseph Weipert was born in Lancing, IA, 13 December 1923 to Theodore and Florence Weipert. He passed away 22 April 1997 in McGregor, IA. He had one older brother and sister and one younger brother and sister.
Francis joined the Army Air Corps on 12 April 1943 as a Private and separated 6 April 1944 where his muster out pay was 300 dollars paid out in 100 dollar increments. While he was in the Army Air Corps, he was trained as a Glider Mechanic at Sheppard Field in Texas which was a 47 day course. He worked in a troop carry outfit in Europe repairing all types of gliders. He did woodwork, sheet metal and also some instrument work while stationed in the European Theater. He received two service stars European Theater Service Ribbon and also received the American Theater Service medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal, and two Overseas Service Ribbon Stars.
He married Lila Weipert and they had six kids. He worked 18 years with International Harvester in Prairie Du Chien, WI. Then he was McGregor City Clerk for 20 years. During this time he orchestrated the hanging of all the US flags in the city for the patriotic holidays. He was a past leader to the boy scouts. One of the things that bothered him was in the 20 years as a scout leader he never had an Eagle Scout until his oldest grandson became one, but unfortunately Francis had passed by then.
He was a member of the St Mary’s Church, AMVET Post 108 for six years and a member of the American Legion for 51 years. He would tell us that while he was in the service he did a little military police work and once a month they would have a dance, and of course you can’t have a dance without girls. They would take large trucks and go out into the town and fill them with girls and bring them back for the dance. He would say that sometimes some of those girls would get so tired that they would have to take a nap in the barracks before they go home. It was his responsibility to find them in the morning to make sure that they were all off post, and then ensure that all the service members present were sent to medical for a check-up and possibly a shot.
Francis taught all of his grandchildren how to hang a spoon on their nose. While at a restaurant other patrons would be looking at their table to see Francis and his grandkids putting spoons on their noses.
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