World War II – Tracy and Family

Orville Jack Wegley

October 26, 1920 – July 4, 1995

Orville “Jack” Wegley was born on October 26, 1920, in Williston, North Dakota, where he lived his entire life. He passed away in his hometown on July 4, 1995, leaving behind a legacy of service, family devotion, and community ties.

Jack was the youngest child of Joseph Wegley and Tena (Olson) Wegley. His father, Joseph, served as the mayor of Williston, cementing the family’s prominent role in the community.

Military Service

Jack’s life was shaped by his service to his country. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 2, 1939, and served until April 10, 1944, during the turbulent years of World War II. His military records show an additional enlistment on February 10, 1941, in the National Guard’s infantry branch. While the overlap between his Army and National Guard service is unclear, it reflects his dedication to serving in multiple capacities during this critical period in history. Jack’s time in the military positioned him as part of the generation that contributed to the Allied victory in World War II.

Marriage and Family

Shortly after his military discharge, Jack married Nadine Melland on May 29, 1944. Their marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter as Jack transitioned from his wartime role to building a life with his wife in their hometown. Together, they carried forward the values of family, hard work, and community involvement that were hallmarks of the Wegley name.

Legacy

Jack’s life was a testament to his loyalty—to his family, his hometown of Williston, and his country. As the youngest of his family and the child of a community leader, he upheld the traditions of service and commitment. His contributions, both in uniform and as a civilian, remain a proud part of the Wegley family history and the story of Williston, North Dakota.

John Wesley Wegley

John Wesley Wegley was born on March 5, 1923, in Charleston, West Virginia. He is the 2nd John Wesley Wegley in my family tree. This particular John Wesley is my great-uncle – the older brother of my grandfather.

His father was Fredrick Wegley and his mother Tillie Blanch Edwards.

Although John Wesley was born in West Virginia, he wasn’t there long. By 1930 we find him with his family already living in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, thanks to the 1930 United States Federal Census.

He was 7 years old at the time and as you might expect, attending school. He, however, wouldn’t graduate from high school. Times were hard in this period in history and he had to quick high school after his 2nd year.

At 17 years old he was working in a glass factory just like his father. This was a new job for him because we can see in 1939, he had listed 0 hours work and that is usual occupation is “new worker”.

On February 12, 1943, John Wesley Wegley enlisted in the US Army. His enlistment term was for the duration of the War or another emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.

It is on his draft registration card that we learn he was 5 foot 5 inches tall with light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

He obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, his official enlistment date is February 20, 1943, and his release date was December 6, 1945.

At the age of 23, John Wesley Wegley married Norman Jean Pocky. She was 21 years of age at the time. Their marriage took place on April 1, 1946, in Virginia.

It is in this document we get further proof that his parents were Fred and Tillie Wegley.

Together John Wesley and his beloved wife Norma Jean had four children, Lynn (born in 1947) and Wesley (born in 1952), Janine (1955) and then Donald (1959).

He died on November 1, 1982, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He was buried at the West Lawn Cemetery in Henryetta, Oklahoma.

Glen Edward Price

Glen Edward Price is my grandmother‘s older brother – making him my Great Uncle. He went by the name “Buddy”. Some people spell his name as Glenn Price but it was in fact Glen, not two n’s.

He was born on July 27, 1927, in Waurika, Oklahoma.

His father was Benjamin Franklin Price and his mother was Ethel Ann Hopson.

His wife was Dorothy J Richardson. Apparently, she was no relation to us, it was just a crazy coincidence that she had the Richardson name. 🙂

They had a total of 4 children, Glen Jr, Gloria Jean, Freddy Dan and Joey.

Freddy Dan died on January 18, 2018. He had a stroke about 3 years prior and a friend of his had been taking care of him. Glen Jr. passed away about two years prior to that so about 2016 and that meant as of January of 2018 only Gloria Jean who they called sissy was still alive. Her family thought that she was still living somewhere in Mexico but know little else about her whereabouts.

He died of a cardiac arrest, due in part to his morbid obesity on August 3, 1982. His death certificate also tells us that he was a wrecker driver in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 55 years old. (Find a grave link)

At one time he lived at 2411 Warwick Ave, Fort Worth, TX, 76106-7557 and at another time his recorded address was 2226 Robinwood Dr, Fort Worth, TX, 76111-5117.

His photos are obvious shots of him in the Navy. His death certificate also states that at some time he was in the US Armed Forces. My grandmother (his younger sister), Alice Joann Price thought he went into the US Navy in 1941, but I knew that couldn’t have been right since then he was only 14. I found it though on his US Department of Veteran Affairs Death File.

He was in the Navy. He enlisted on November 29, 1944. He was released on May 11, 1946.

Raymond Edward Wegley

My grandfather, Raymond Edward Wegley, was born on December 15, 1925, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He died on December 4, 1992, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, just before his 67th birthday.

My grandfather fought in World War II in the US Navy. He served on the USS Earl K. Olsen.

He joined the war on November 29, 1943, at the age of 17 and was officially discharged on April 28, 1946.

His brother John W. Wegley entered service the month before on February 19, 1943. But he went into the army. Why my grandfather chose the Navy instead of the army like his brother, I don’t know.

He was a Sergeant First Class and was awarded several medals for his service to his country.

Two years after he got out of the military he married my grandmother, Elsie Jane Hoag on June 5, 1948, in Pennsylvania. Together they would have 4 children, three boys and only one girl (my mother).

Thomas Eugene (June 13, 1949)
Karen Marie (January 26, 1951)
Raymond Junior (December 11, 1952)
Robert Thomas (September 27, 1954)

My grandfather Raymond retired from Bartlett Collins glass factory in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and this photo was taken on his last day of work in April of 1989.

Just 3 years later he would die in his sleep of a heart attack on December 4, 1992.

He was buried in Sapulpa, Oklahoma at the Green Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Frederick Wegley

Frederick Wegley is my great-grandfather. He was born on August 20, 1887, in Kane, Pennsylvania, and died on November 28, 1950, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Frederick Wegley married Tillie Blanch Edwards on February 4, 1920, when he was 32 years old. They married in Huntington, West Virginia.

Together, they had at least six children, including my grandfather, Raymond Wegley.

John Wesley (1923-1982)
Betty Ann (1924-2010)
Raymond Edward (1925-1992)
Ruth Minerva (1928-?)
Dora Mae (1930-1970)
Gretta Laura (1935-?)

Frederick Wegley, along with his sons John Wesley and Raymond Edward, served in World War I and World War II.

Here is a blurry copy of his WW1 draft registration card, which tells us that he is of medium height, slender build, with light brown hair and light grey eyes.

It also says he was employed as a laborer doing woodworking for a manufacturing company. It also reveals he was in the national guard in the infantry division for 1 year prior to this form being filled out (June 5, 1917) at which time he was 29 years old.

At 54 years old he filled out another draft card to join the fight during WWII. Notice on the document he lied and say he was 52, born in 1889, not his actual year of birth of 1887.

These two documents tell us a little more about the man. He was 5 foot 7 1/2. Again we learn he has brown hair and grey eyes, and his complexion is described as “ruddy,” as compared to shallow, light, dark, light brown, etc.

This was signed on April 27, 1942. Fred’s eldest son, John Wesley, would join the war on February 19, 1943, almost a year later. Then, his youngest son, Raymond, would join on November 29, 1943, when he was only 17.

So the father lied and said he was younger so he could join the war and fight for his country, and his son would lie and say he was older to do the same.

Fred died in 1950 and was buried in a grave in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where his youngest son was living at the time.

His wife Tillie would die in 1984 and would be buried nearby.

Now here is something interesting … notice his gravestone said his year of birth was 1889. But we know from countless census records he was actually born two years earlier. Well actually now that I examine the records more closely, I don’t know for sure.

The 1900 census tells us that he was 12 years old at the time and he was born in August of 1887. 1900-12 actually puts him born in about 1888
In the 1910 census however he was 21 at the time and it says he was born “about 1889”.
In the 1920 census it tells us he was 30 at the time and that means he was born about 1890. During this census he was still living with his parents and was a box maker and a window and glass factory.
In the 1930 census it tells us he was 39 years old and that he was born in about 1881.
The 1940 census tells us he was 50 years old and that he was born in 1890.

I am told that it wasn’t uncommon to estimate things back then when you knew for sure. But every time, it is different, so I’m not sure what to say about it.

The 1900 census and the WW1 draft registration card says August 1887. So for now we’ll keep it at that.

Reuben Namon Richardson

Reuben Namon Richardson is my grandfather. He’s a man I never got to meet but so wanted to. I know he wasn’t a perfect man, by all accounts he was a horrible husband and deadbeat dad. But still he was my grandfather and I wished I would have gotten the chance to meet him at least once before he died.

He was known to most of his friends as RN but was also known as Reuben Namon Richardson Jr, RN Richardson, R.N. Richardson, Reuben Neiman, or Rubin. Like his father before him, there are so many variations of his name, it really does make it hard to find documents regarding his life.

Born on 23 Mar 1929 in Waurika, Oklahoma
Died on 28 Sep 2002 in Bowie, Texas

* Please note that some sources say RN’s birthday is March 23, 1929 but as you can see by his gravestone, it clearly says March 21, 1929. However later evidence has come up to show his actual birthday was March 23, despite what the Navy may say.

His father is Rubin Nemon Richardson and and his mother is Mary Vivian Phillips.

On March 12, 1946 he enlisted in the United States Navy. This was just after the end of World War II – well sort of. The actual peace treaty between Japan and most of the Allies (the Treaty of San Francisco) was not signed until 1951 and did not take effect until 1952. However if you want to get technical, for the purposes of computing veterans’ benefits, the US Government views World War II as having ended on December 31, 1946.

In 1947 he served on the USS Southerland. The ship number or designation was DD-743 or 0441-0743. His last listing on a WW II Navy Muster Roll for the USS Southerland was on Feb 17, 1947.

By April 25, 1948 he was serving on the USS Piedmont. The ship number or designation was AD-17.

Recently I happened upon his record of Naval Discharge. It shows he was a World War II Victory Medal and a China Service Medal. It was filed on March 29, 1950.

This document shows us again that his birthday is March 23, 1929 in Waurika, OK and he entered the service on March 12, 1946. His service # which is 986 8226.

While in the Navy he served on the …

USS Penner
USS Southerland
USS Piedmont
USS Rupertus

After faithfully serving our country and fighting for our freedom he was honorably discharged in San Deigo, California on December 27, 1949. His service number was 986 82 26.

Some other sources list his release date as December 27, 1953 however as you can see by the official document below the real date is December 27, 1949 and not December 27, 1953.

You will notice on the certificate below he was a Fireman, which according to the Navy’s official website is a part of the Engineering and Hull specialties.

Married: Alice Joann Price

Date of Marriage: August 26, 1950 in Henrietta, Texas
Date of Divorce: December, 1957 in Oklahoma City, OK

This marriage produced 3 children.

Benjamin Wayne Richardson (July 19, 1951)
Joanna Richardson (February 19, 1954)
Frankie Richardson (November 22, 1955)

After leaving my grandmother he married a lady named Nancy Lee Stewart and together they had three children. They later divorced but I’m not sure when that was.

Reuben N Richardson III (August 11, 1960-2005)
Alex Stuart Richardson (June 26, 1961 -)
Vivian Gail Richardson (June 26, 1961 -)

Despite what his gravestone may say, RN was born on March 23, 1929.

RN was buried at the Granbury Cemetery in Hood County, Texas which is about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Forth Worth, Texas. Turns out he lived his final years only a few hours away from the grandchildren that wanted to find him for most all of their lives.

Category: World War II