Rudolph Paul Bielka

Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Service #O-053004

Assigned to the USS Utah BB-31,
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,
Pacific Theater of Operations

Died on December 7, 1941
At Pearl Harbor, See Note 1
Officially Listed as Killed In Action, Remains Not Recovered

Memorial Location: Courts of the Missing, Court 5, Honolulu Memorial, Hawaii

As listed in FindAGrave.com Memorial 6466337

USS Utah (BB-31)
USS Utah BB-31, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 18 August 1941

Navigation Links - Washington State > Pierce County Names, A to G, > Rudolph P. Bielka

Awards:

Purple Heart
Medal

American Defense
Service Medal

Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal

World War II
Victory Medal

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
American Defense Service Medal Awarded for service between September 8, 1939 and December 7, 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.

LCDR Rudolph P. Bielka was born October 26, 1892.
His wife was residing in Tacoma, Washington when notified of his death.

He entered the US Navy from California.

His loss is recorded in the
State Summary of War Casualties, Washington, page 3, Navy and USMC Dead,
published by the U.S Navy in February 1946.

LCDR Rudolph P. Bielka is listed on the
American Battle Monuments Commission website.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found:
No Eyewitness Statement or Report
No Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
No National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No Official Navy After Action Report
Yes Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
No Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
No WWII Draft Card Data

Note 1: The death location, "At Pearl Harbor" is based on the following data found on Naval-History.net:

A. The American Battle Monuments Commission website identifies his date of death as December 7, 1941 and memorial location as "Courts of the Missing, Court 5, Honolulu Memorial."

B. The POW/MIA Accounting Agency reported "BIELKA, Rudolph P, LTCDR, O-053004, USN, from California, USS Utah, location Hawaiian Islands, missing, date of loss December 7, 1941".

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Washington State > Pierce County Army, AAF, Navy, USMC, USCG, Last Names A to G > Rudolph P. Bielka

Page last updated December 6, 2019