Floyd J. Weitl

Korean War

Floyd Weitl was born on May 10, 1927, near Templeton to George and Mary (Schreck) Weitl. He attended country school and Sacred Heart School. He later worked in Des Moines for a time.

Floyd was inducted into the US Army on December 7, 1950, just months after North Korea started the Korean War by attacking South Korea. Floyd was assigned serial number 55 070 463. He was sent to Camp McCoy, WI for basic training. He remained at Camp McCoy for advanced artillery training. During spring, 1951, Floyd was promoted to PFC (private first class).

Basic and advanced training were completed by June, 1951. On June 14, 1951, Floyd was on furlough and married Audrey Danzer at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll, IA. He then returned to Camp McCoy. On July 2, 1951, Floyd was sent to Camp Atterbury, IN for two weeks of “flash section training”. On September 11, 1951, he was again in Carroll prior to his September 18 departure for Korea.

Floyd arrived in Korea early in October, 1951, and was assigned to the Headquarters Battery of the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. This unit was based in the Wyoming National Guard and was activated under federal control on August 19, 1950. The unit was involved in the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge northeast of Seoul when Floyd arrived. Fighting continued roughly along the 38th parallel with neither side advancing significantly.

Floyd’s job with the artillery unit was as a survey section chief. This job included mapping target areas for the gun crews as well as evaluating the results of attacks. The next major action for the 300th AFA Battalion was at the Battle of Bunker Hill which took place on the west coast of the Korean peninsula from August 9 to September 30, 1952. As this battle was in progress, Floyd was rotated back to the United States. He was discharged at Fort Custer, MI on October 17, 1952, with the rank of SFC (sergeant first class).

Floyd returned to Carroll County and farmed north of Templeton. Floyd and Audrey retired to Carroll, IA in 1988. Floyd died in Carroll on August 25, 1998 at age 71. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.