This is the official VIC 4 VETS Honor Roll, highlighting our Honored Veterans

SUBMITTED BY: Listener Douglas Tomey (pronounced Tommy) ______________________________________________________________

Hi Vic and Ken,

Although he died in action a quarter of a century before I was born, I'd like to nominate my Grandmother's cousin, Commander August Weinel.

August was born October 6, 1914 in Columbia, Illinois.  August graduated near or at the top of his class from the Naval Academy in 1936, marrying Elizabeth Robins in 1938, and they had a couple of children.

August entered the Submarine Force and spent the early years of World War II executing dangerous operations in the Pacific theater.  He served as the Diving Officer and Officer-of-the-Deck aboard the USS Pollack (SS-180).  During his time on the Pollack, he completed four successful war patrols. He was noted for his composure under pressure; during a night surface attack, his actions directly assisted the commanding officer in blasting an enemy vessel to pieces off the coast of Japan. For his gallantry during these patrols, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

In 1943, he was assigned as the Executive Officer (second-in-command) of the newly commissioned Balao-class submarine, USS Cisco (SS-290). The Cisco departed from Darwin, Australia, on September 20, 1943 to conduct its very first war patrol in the South China Sea.

Based on Japanese accounts it is believed that the Cisco came under attack by both air bombing and depth charges from a surface ship on 9/28, leading to it's sinking.  This occurred in the Sulu Sea west of Mindanao, Philippine Islands, but the exact location of her resting place is not known.  There were no survivors.

Websites report him posthumously awarded with a Purple heart and a Silver star.

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