WW2 Gyrene Photo Album - MGySgt Wilfred P. Zeimet

World War II Gyrene Photo Album page 31

MGySgt Wilfred P. Zeimet

GySgt Wilfred "Willie P" Zeimet in 1945 while serving in China with Co. B, 6th Tank Battalion.

MGySgt Wilfred Zeimet hailed from Savage, Montana and joined the Marine Corps in October 1940. Sent to boot camp at MCB, San Diego, Willie was in Platoon 162. As a pioneer of the Marine tank forces, he was first assigned to the newly formed 2nd Tank Battalion in early 1941. As a member of Co. A in the 2nd Tanks, Willie took part in the deployment to Iceland with the 1st Marine Brigade.

In 1942 Willie was assigned to Co A, 3rd Tank Bn, and deployed overseas to New Zealand and to Guadalcanal. In February 1944, the Fourth Marine Regiment was reactivated at Camp Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, and Willie was transferred to the newly formed Regimental Tank Company. He took part in the liberation of Guam with the 1st (Provisional) Marine Brigade in the summer of 1944.

After Guam, Willie, along with the rest of his outfit, returned to their camp on Guadalcanal. On 7 September 1944 the Sixth Marine Division was activated around a nucleus of the 1st Marine Brigade. The Tank Company, Fourth Marines, was redesignated as Company B, 6th Tank Battalion and Willie was assigned as a tank platoon sergeant. With this unit, he took part in the assault on Okinawa and in the occupation forces in China after the war. During the fighting on Okinawa, Willie earned the Bronze Star with "V" Device and the Purple Heart.

Willie went on to serve as a career Marine until 1966, including combat tours in Korea and Vietnam. After retirement, Willie and his family settled in Oceanside, California, and he went to work as a machinist in the aerospace industry. Working as a machinist on a Swiss lathe at Deutsch Electronics in Oceanside, he made connectors for the Apollo spacecraft. For his achievements in helping put astronauts on the moon, Willie received recognition from President Nixon.

Sadly, Willie died of a heart attack at 50 years of age in 1973. His son, William, was a career Navy man and lives in Washington state.

M2A4 light tanks on the parade deck at MCB, San Diego early in 1941. This is probably the 4th Tank Co., which was later redesignated Co. A 2nd Tank Battalion in May 1941. This picture was taken on the south end of the parade deck looking northeast. Photo courtesy of Les Groshong

Willie Zeimet (left) and his buddy Bill Rove in front of their tent at Jacques Farm while serving with Co. A, 2nd Tank Bn. Jacques Farm was a subordinate facility of Camp Elliott outside of San Diego and many of the Marine Corps' tankers passed through it's gate during the war.

M2A4 Stuart tanks of Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion on parade in Iceland. As part of the 1st Marine Brigade, the tankers of Company A served in Iceland from July 1941 to March 1942.

USMC Photo

Guadalcanal 1944 – The crew of Diamond 1, 3rd Platoon, Able Company, 3rd Tank Bn, with their M3A1 Stuart light tank, in the field prior to the campaign for Guam. Standing L-R: Larry Pete, Lt John Clifford(*), Willie Zeimet(*), unknown Marine sitting on drivers hatch, in the turret L-R: Arthur "Slope Plate" MacDonald, Robert Botts. (note: Marines with asterisks after their names were wounded in action on Okinawa.)

Camp Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal, home of the newly formed Sixth Marine Division upon its' activation in September 1944. The 'canal was a major staging base in the latter part of World War II. Photo courtesy of Randy Ellis.

Willie P takes a break during the bitter fighting on Okinawa in 1945 while serving as a tank platoon sergeant with Co. B, 6th Tank Bn.

	During the hard fighting near Sugar Loaf on Okinawa, an M4 medium tank of the 6th Tank Bn is pressed into service as an evacuation vehicle. USMC Photo

(Note: Unless otherwise credited, all photos are courtesy of William Zeimet.)

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