Richard "Dick" Wheeler
Richard "Dick" Wheeler was an American military historian who authored seventeen books and served as a military consultant for multiple film and television projects. A member of the United States Marine Corp's Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division) during World War II, he was seriously wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima.[1]
Post-war, he penned an account of that battle, The Bloody Battle for Suribachi, and became a respected military historian. Following his first book's release in 1965, he then published additional works, including Iwo, which was released in 1980.[2]
Formative years
Born on January 8, 1922 in the city of Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Wheeler was a son of Reading native Clarence E. Wheeler and Margaret (Wenrich) Wheeler, a native of Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He and his sister, Marjery, subsequently spent their formative years in Laureldale, Pennsylvania after relocating there with their parents in 1926.[3]
Military service
Wheeler served with the United States Marine Corp's Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division) during World War II. He was seriously wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima.[4]
Post-war life and publishing career
Wheeler published his first book, The Bloody Battle for Suribachi, in 1965.[5] He was subsequently contacted for technical advice about the Battle of Iwo Jima by film and television writers and directors, including those involved with the development and release of Flags of Our Fathers.[6]
Publications
- Wheeler, Richard. The Bloody Battle for Suribachi. New York, New York: Crowell, 1965. OCLC 1416031
- Wheeler, Richard. Voices of the Civil War. New York, New York: Crowell, 1976. OCLC 1818393
- Wheeler, Richard. ''Sherman's March. New York, New York: Crowell, 1978. OCLC 493675572
- Wheeler, Richard. Sword Over Richmond: An eyewitness history of McClellan's Peninsula campaign. New York, New York: Harper & Row, 1986. OCLC 645872536
- Wheeler, Richard. Voices of the Civil War. New York, New York: Meridian, 1990. OCLC 214987653
- Wheeler, Richard. The Bloody Battle for Suribachi. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1994. OCLC 60283569
- Wheeler, Richard. The Bloody Battle for Suribachi: The amazing story of Iwo Jima that inspired Flags of Our Fathers. New York, New York: Skyhorse, 2007. OCLC 798563531
Later years and death
In 1997, Wheeler relocated to Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, where he resided with his sister, Marjery Wheeler Mattox.[7] Wheeler died at the age of 86 at Nutting Hall in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania on October 21, 2008. He was interred at Saint Peter's Cemetery in Pine Grove.[8]
See also
- Nutting Hall (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania)
References
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary). Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008 (retrieved online via Legacy.com, August 24, 2019).
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary), Pottsville Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008.
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary), Pottsville Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008.
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary), Pottsville Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008.
- ^ Wheeler, Richard (1994) [1965]. The Bloody Battle for Suribachi. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-923-9. OCLC 31970164.
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary), Pottsville Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008.
- ^ Terwilliger, Vicki. "Brother's Treasures: Sister of well known author auctioning off personal items." Pottsville, Pennsylvania: Pottsville Republican (via the Press Reader), April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Richard 'Dick' Wheeler" (obituary), Pottsville Republican & Herald, October 27, 2008.
External links
"Corp. Richard James "Dick" Wheeler" (memorial with photos). Salt Lake City, Utah: Find a Grave, retrieved online August 24, 2019.