Frank J. Wiesemann

FIREMAN SECOND CLASS FRANK J. WIESEMANN was born on March 26, 1926 to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wiesemann of 815 Engard Avenue, in the Delair section of Pennsauken NJ.  He had attended St. Cecelia�s School in Pennsauken. and worked for the R.M. Hollingshed Corporation in Camden prior to entering the Navy. After basic training he was assigned to the crew of the destroyer escort USS BOWERS DE-637

The USS BOWERS, a Buckley class destroyer escort, was launched October 31, 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co. at San Francisco, CA, and commissioned January 27, 1944, with Lieutenant Commander F. W. Hawes in command.

Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, BOWERS arrived at Pearl Harbor April 6, 1944. After escorting a convoy to Majuro Atoll she proceeded to New Guinea where she performed patrol and convoy escort duties between May and June 1944. BOWERS then moved to the northern Solomon Islands where she assisted in their consolidation during June-October. With the completion of her duties in the Solomon Islands, BOWERS sailed north to take part in the invasion of Leyte, remaining in the area until 14 November. After another spell of convoy duty in the Southwestern Pacific, she served on patrol and picket duty during the Okinawa operation (March 25 to April 24, 1945). 

On April 16, 1945 three Japanese aircraft attacked the USS BOWERS. After two planes had been splashed, a third suicide plane hit her bridge. Bowers suffered 48 men killed and 59 wounded, many fatally. On of the fatalities was Fireman Second Class Frank J. Wiesemann.

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Born in Ellensburg, Wash., 25 September 1915, Robert Keith Bowers enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1940 and was commissioned an Ensign and appointed a Naval Aviator 12 December 1940. Ensign Bowers was killed in action on board California (BB-44) at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941.

Memorial to Frank Wiesemann at Beverly National Cemetery