The Naming of a Hero

Time: 3 a.m., Dec. 25, 1944. Place: Belgium, the Ardennes, the woods southwest of the strategic towns of Grandmenil and Manhay. Situation: A column of German “Panther” tanks ... rumbles down the road toward the west and Liege. The “Panthers” have split the defensive line of foxholes held by the 3rd Battalion of the 289th Regiment (U.S.Army) and are blasting the infantrymen on both sides of the road. The tanks have crushed an American jeep and the soldiers, under fire for the first time, crouch in their holes, confused.

One man, however, a corporal, shoulders and loads his bazooka, and with one shot halts the lead tank. In the next instant, a German shell blows the many away — but the German column is stopped.

Written by Tom Leamon for the Buglebuster Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 5, in August 1991

Bob Konings's "The Battle of Grandmenil"

Robert Kauffman's "The Retaking of Grandmenil"

Tom Leamon's "The Naming of a Hero"

The Remembrances of "Bob" Walk

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial

CUMBERLAND — A LaVale native is being honored for his heroism more than 60 years ago in the small village of Grandmenil, Belgium. The act, for which the late Cpl. Richard F. Wiegand received the Silver Star posthumously, took place during the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest early Christmas morning in 1944.

Next week, a monument will be erected to recognize Wiegand’s actions that turned a line of German tanks away from his fellow soldiers. He saved them but was killed in what was the Germans’ final major offensive of the war.

Today, a marble-white headstone in the shape of a cross marks Wiegand’s final resting place at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial.

Dimitri Detroz, a local resident who has “taken affection” for Wiegand’s story and has spearheaded the effort for the monument, said it’s a well-deserved recognition. The monument will be placed on the spot Wiegand fell, Detroz said. Detroz himself is a combat veteran with time in Rwanda in 1994.

The tribute might have come decades ago. But for nearly 50 years, the name of the Army corporal who successfully stopped the Germans’ advance — the tank debris was on a narrow road and unable to be moved — was unknown. Wiegand’s family, including brothers William Wiegand, of LaVale, and James Wiegand, of Ridgeley, W.Va., along with nephew Richard W. Wiegand, of Jessup, appreciate the gesture. All are military veterans themselves.

Richard W. Wiegand said he was “surprised” to learn of Detroz’s efforts.

“A couple of years ago, I was doing some research for my father. He’s always been interested in what happened to his brother. He didn’t have a lot of detail.”

Through the Internet, Wiegand was contacted by Bob Konings, a Grandmenil resident and an avid historian of the village of about 200 people. The two worked together to provide a true picture of the account of that 1944 day and Wiegand supplied a photo of his uncle for the Web site, www.grandmenil.com.

“I think it’s something that’s long overdue,” Wiegand said of the recognition of his uncle’s heroic actions. “For so many years, my uncle’s sacrifice has gone basically unrecognized.”

Wiegand lamented that in today’s society, students “aren’t even taught about World War II or the Korean War. To be honest, they aren’t even interested in history. I think the people in Europe are much more interested, much more aware, of the history of World War II.”

Wiegand, who served 23 years in the military, now works at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he continues to see examples of “the fantastic sacrifices our soldiers made” overseas that are “sobering.”

“It’s just amazing that people would take any interest in this at all,” Wiegand said. “We don’t take time to step back once in a while and look at the sacrifices these people made in World War II.”

Konings said he supports the monument but noted many others died that day.

“Although I think all men should be honored, I support all efforts of people who make efforts that we won’t forget what happened here, like Dimitri does,” Konings said by e-mail.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.