Korean War
| Service # | 475420 |
|---|---|
| Unit | 3 COMPRON |
| Rank | Lieutenant U.S. Navy |
| Date of Death | May 24 1953 |
| Status | Missing In Action |
| Memorialized |
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Honolulu Memorial |
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Wheeler was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Lieutenant Wheeler was the pilot of a F4U-5N Corsair night fighter with Composite Squadron 3 aboard the carrier USS BOXER (CVA-21). On May 24, 1953, while conducting night operations over North Korea, his aircraft was observed to crash in the vicinity of Soho-ri. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on July 29, 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.