U.S. Navy Admirals coat Id'ed to Waldemar F. A" Wendt. Born 3/15/12. Died 10/18/97 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Wally Wendt was Commanding Officer of the USS Rankin from 1956-1957.

The Virginian-Pilot, Tuesday, October 21, 1997

Adm. W.F.A. Wendt, 85, of the 3100 block of Shore Drive, died Oct. 18, 1997, in Virginia
Beach. Adm. Wendt was born in Millstadt, Ill., on March 15, 1912, son of the late Rev. and Mrs. Paul Wendt. He received his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., from the state of Wisconsin in 1929. He graduated and was commissioned an ensign, U.S. Navy, on June 1, 1933. He subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of admiral, USN, to date from July 12,
1968. He was married to the former Folsom Ferris of Los Angeles, Calif., on June 13, 1935.
Following graduation from the academy in 1933, he joined the battleship Oklahoma, and in
March 1935 transferred to the destroyer minelayer Ramsay. Detached from that ship in
December 1935, he next served as assistant coach of the crew at the academy. He remained there
until June 1936, when he reported on board the destroyer leader Moffett for duty until June
1939. Between June and September 1939, he attended the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Md.,
for instruction in applied communications, which course was terminated because of the
institution of the President of Neutrality Patrol Operations. He was on board the Bainbridge
engaged in neutrality patrol operations until June 1940. He was transferred in December 1940 to
the Staff of Commander Destroyer Squadron 30, for duty (conducting escort of convoy
operations and participating in the North African invasion) until September 1943.
In December 1943, he assumed command of the destroyer Monaghan in the Pacific Fleet. "For
meritorious achievement ... (in that command) in action against enemy Japanese forces in the
Pacific Area from January 1 to August 15, 1944 ... "he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
with Combat V". Detached from command of the Monaghan in December 1944, he was assigned to Headquarters of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, Fleet Admiral Ernest King, in Washington, D.C., and late in 1945 became head of the Pacific Section, Fleet Operations Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. In March 1947, he joined the Helena as executive officer, and from June to September of that year served also as commanding officer of that heavy cruiser.
He remained on board the Helena until July 1948, and the next month returned to the Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as administrative assistant to the assistant Chief of Naval
Operations (Strategic Plans).
He was a student (Strategy and Tactics) at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., from
September 1949 until June 1950, after which he served for a year as head of the Atlantic, Europe
and Middle East Section, Strategic Plans Division, of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Naval
Operations, Navy Department. In August 1951, he joined the staff of the Commander in Chief,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as General Plans Officer. In August 1953, he assumed command of Escort
Destroyer Division 22. He continued as commander of that division until June 1954. He served
on the faculty of the National War College, Washington, D.C., from July 1954 until August 1956, he was chairman of the committee on the curriculum. He next commanded the amphibious attack transport Rankin, and in December 1957 became Commander Destroyer Squadron 36. On Feb. 1, 1959, he reported as Head, Command and Policies Branch, Strategic Plans Division. He remained there throughout 1959, and on Jan. 17, 1960, having been appointed a rear admiral, assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, with additional duty as CINCPAC representative, Marianas-Bonins. He simultaneously served as Deputy High Commissioner of the Marianas District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and Deputy Military Governor of the Bonin-Volcano Islands. His headquarters for these duties were in Guam.
In October 1961, he reported as commander Destroyer Flotilla 7 (re-designated April 1, 1962,
Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 7) with additional duty until November 1961 as commander Cruiser Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet. In August 1962, he was ordered to duty as director of the
Strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, for which
service he was awarded the Legion of Merit. In August 1965, the president of the United States
appointed Rear Adm. Wendt to vice admiral and Aug. 9, 1965, Vice Adm. Wendt became deputy commander in chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and chief of staff and aide to the Commander in Chief Atlantic in Norfolk. For service in this capacity he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the president.
On April 7, 1967, then Vice Adm. Wendt assumed the duties as Deputy Chief of Naval
Operations (Plans and Policy) in Washington, D.C. For this service he was awarded his second
Distinguished Service Medal. On May 27, 1968, the president of the United States designated
then Vice Adm. Wendt for duties as Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, with the
grade of admiral, and the Senate confirmed his nomination on June 6, 1968. On July 12, 1968,
Adm. Wendt assumed the duties as commander in chief with headquarters in London, England. In this capacity he was responsible, among other duties, for all U.S. naval operations in Europe, the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. Adm. Wendt held this
post until June 30, 1971, on which date he was relieved as commander in chief and placed on the
retired list with the grade of admiral on July 1, 1971. For this last duty, the president awarded
him his third Distinguished Service Medal.
On retirement he served (1972-1983) on the Board of Overseers of the Center for Naval
Analysis, an affiliate corporation of the University of Rochester. He was an active member of
First Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach and has served as deacon and elder in that Church.
He is survived by his wife, Folsom Ferris Wendt; a son, Peter F. Wendt of San Felipe, Mexico;
two daughters, Sally Folsom Wendt of Columbus, Ohio, and Deborah Wendt Crabtree of Virginia Beach; a brother, Dr. William P. Wendt of Milwaukee, Wis.; a half-brother, Otto Friz of
Monomonee Falls, Wis.; and six grandchildren, including local grandchildren Thomas August
Crabtree and Katherine Leigh Crabtree; and eight great-grandchildren.

WWI Canadian Relic Souvenir Belt with lots of insignia, badges, and buttons. Soldiers swapped these like playing cards today. This one is unusual in that it is wider and has more souvenirs than normally found on Hate Belts.

USN WWII Jumper Lot ID'd to Howard Hilton PO 3rd Class, QM, served on USS Duncan. One Jumper is dark blue lightweight with Shanghai, Dragon and China embroidered labels in each sleeve; the other is heavier wool with light moth nips, and a golden Ruptured Duck patch.  Hilton's C-47 crash landed on Peleliu during the famous battle.  Both jumpers contain matching pants.  A great identified lot with great provenance!

USN WWII wool Jumper, PO 1st Class QM/Supply Identified to E.S. Skinland in trouser leg, no significant moth nips or damage noted. Jumper and pants included.

WWII Army Air Corps Officer's dress coat, OD, Chicago tailor label, felt AAC patch maybe four moth nips; a few other moth nips noted randomly in coat, no label brass, or other insignia remains.  Missing one button.

WWII Era Imperial Japanese shirt, silky-cotton lightweight feel, has red wavy Infantry patch on right breast (could be later embellishment); smaller metal buttons; left chest pocket; tear hole maybe 1/4th inch midway down near button.

Polish Army Short Jacket, presumed to be WWII era, possibly earlier; cloth waste belt, epaulettes; no buttons remain material is a coarse weave; came with two Polish documents, one during post WWI era, the other 1930s.

WWII canvas bag containing shirt, sweater, belt buckle, and 4 leaf clover good luck charm encased in a plastic like holder.    Identified to Cpl Richmon E. Dennison, HQ 394th Inf., 98th Division which was a  pivitol unit in the Battle of the Bulge.   He was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart.   The bag is dated 1944 and contains baggage handling tickets.

US Winter Long Johns found in 2000 on an old lady's farm 30 miles from Bastogne.   The first two days of the battle, the US set up a field hospital at her house where the 28th Infantry Division was located.   One leg of the long johns is believed to have been cut off by medics at this hospital.

Set of 8 German Naval uniform buttons and an anchor patch.  All buttons are backmarked "Kriegsmarine".  Seven are dated 1940 and one is dated 1938.  Excellent condition. 

WWII German camouflage mitten with thumb and forefinger slots for the wearer's trigger finger.  Rare, rare rare!

Political Leader's visor hat for Orts level. This excellent example of a Orts level leader's visor features the light blue crown and capband piping associated with this level. The light brown wool is in excellent condition having almost no mothing or stains. The brown velvet capband is 97%. Missing the chin strap. The insignia has most of its original finish intact. The interior is lined with cream colored silk with a celluloid sweat diamond that is marked with the size "56". There is no RZM tag being that this hat is a private maker purchased piece. The leather sweatband shows very light use.