Waldemar F. Breidster was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 19, 1900. He attended local schools and graduated from East (later Riverside) High School, where he was a star football player. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1917 but left the following year to attend an officer's training camp at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. He completed the course, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant (Infantry), and was discharged at the end of 1918 following World War I. In June 1919 enrolled at the United States Military Academy and proceeded to accumulate numerous honors during his four years there. He served as president of his class and was elected Cadet Captain of the academy, the highest rank for a cadet, in his final year. He played football all four years, was the captain of the team his senior year, and was named to numerous All-American teams at right guard. Breidster also excelled on the swim and water polo teams, and had roles in several dramatic presentations.
Upon graduation from West Point in 1923 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (Signal Corps). On January 27, 1928 he joined the Wisconsin National Guard as a captain of field artillery. He earned several promotions and achieved the rank of colonel in 1940. When the Wisconsin National Guard was called into active service in 1940, Breidster accompanied the 121st Field Artillery Regiment to Louisiana for training at Camps Beauregard and Livingston. In February 1942 he transferred to command of the 173rd Field Artillery Regiment, which moved in August to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. In August 1943 he traveled to China where he helped train Chinese artillery units. He rose to the position of Chief of Staff of the Northern Combat Area Command and the Chinese Army in India, serving under General Joseph Stilwell.
Following the war, Breidster left the Army briefly but rejoined in December 1946. In March 1947 he received a promotion to Brigadier General and assumed command of the artillery of the Wisconsin National Guard. He went on to become Commanding General of the entire Wisconsin National Guard and was promoted to Major General before retiring from active duty in 1960.
Breidster married Roma Wirth in 1930 and the couple had two sons, William and John. He passed away in Milwaukee on April 2, 1982.
