Henry "Hank" Weldon was remembered Friday in Valley Center by family, friends and members of the local military community.
Weldon, 95, of San Marcos, California was among the elite U.S. Navy frogmen who served as pioneers for the current SEAL program.
He died Oct. 5 and was buried at the Valley Center Cemetery on Friday.
Trained in underwater demolition techniques and Marine Raider Skills, Weldon and his fellow frogmen played a crucial role in the Philippines before Gen. MacArthur and his troops retook the islands for the Japanese.
“He was not one to talk about the honorable and heroic things he did in World War II but they came out,” his step-daughter Terri Babcock said.
She described Weldon as a "man's man" who "always did it right."
There’s what talk about securing him a place in the National Cemetery but Babcock said the family wanted to keep him close.
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The honor guard playing "Taps" at the service Friday meant a lot to her and the rest of Weldon's family.
“There’s been a strong military taking care of him because the heroes from WWII and on, they are disappearing,” Babcock said.
