Military Veterans

Celebration of Freedom panel

Albert "Bud" Wesley Wiens

Date of Birth

4 November 1912

Date of Death

26 May 1993

Brick Location

Eagle Side

Panel Number

20

Biography

A veteran of World War II, Bud Wiens served with the 8th Air Force, 730 Squadron, 452 (MD) Bombardment Group.  He was stationed in England. His discharge shows battles and campaigns as:  Air Offensive Europe, Northern France Ardennes, GO-33-ED45, Normandy, Rhineland.  

Included in his accomplishments: He was awarded a Carbine Expert Medal, Good Conduct Medal

He left the states for the war on 2 January 1944 and returned 7 August 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 25 September 1945.  

After the war, Bud worked five years in the Beach Aircraft Company.  Later he did electrical wiring as an apprentice.

Life Story 

Bud was born November 4, 1912, on the family farm south of Brainerd, KS. Being the youngest of seven children, it fell his lot to take over his father’s farming business and to care for his aged parents when he was quite young.

His formal education was obtained at Claypool School.  He had a farm sale in 1941, then completed a course in sheet metal work at the Swallow Airplane School in Wichita and soon was hired by Beech Aircraft in Wichita as a final assembler.

On 30 January 1942, he and Esther Kingsley of El Dorado, were united in marriage.  He was inducted into the Army Air Force the following November.  

Upon separation from the Air Force, he returned to Beech AIrcraft Company in Wichita, and moved to Whitewater where he and Esther purchased their first home.  After working for Beech for five years, he made the decision to go into business for himself.  He repaired radios and learned electrical wiring as an apprentice.  Many of the local farm homes were prepared to receive electricity by him when REA arrived in the early 1950s.  

In September 1949, he was asked by Fred Hill (then-owner  of  the Furley Elevator Company) to manage this business.  He accepted the offer on 16 October 1950.  

Bud remained with the elevator all this time except for five years when he held the position as manager of the Stock Yards Supply in Wichita.  

He and Esther purchased a home in Furley where they lived until Bud’s retirement in March 1977.  

Upon retirement, they sold their home in Furley and moved to a mini-farm in Coyville, KS.  He became an avid gardener and hunter.  He took much pride in his marksmanship and the medal it earned him while he was in the Army Air Corps.  

Bud was a victim of cancer, having fought the disease since 1982.  The last four months of his life he was cared for in his home; later he transferred to Fredonia hospital, where he died, 26 May 1993.  


Branch:

U.S. Army Air Corps

Awards and Medals

Rank

Staff Sergeant

Years

World War II—3 November 1942 - 7 August 1945

Duty

8th Air Force, 730th Squadron, 452 (MD) Bombardment Group—stationed in England.

He was trained as a Tail Gunner and ended as a Radio Mechanic.