William Weise (born March 10, 1929) is a retired United States Marine Corps Brigadier General who served in the Vietnam War.

William Weise
Nickname(s)Wild Bill
Born (1929-03-10) March 10, 1929 (age 95)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1951-1982
Rank Brigadier General
Commands held2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsNavy Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Purple Heart (3)
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry

Early life and education edit

Weise was born in south Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1951 in order to use the GI Bill to attend law school.[1]

Military career edit

Vietnam War edit

Lt.Col. Weise assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in October 1967 and commanded them during Operation Napoleon/Saline and at the Battle of Dai Do where he was seriously injured. For his actions at Dai Do Weise was awarded the Navy Cross.[2][3]

Post-Vietnam edit

Weise retired from the Marine Corps in 1982 after 31 years of service.[1]

In his role as co-chair of the Marine Corps Heritage Center committee he assisted with the funding and creation of the National Museum of the Marine Corps which opened in 2006.[1]

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

  1. ^ a b c Tom Jackman (10 November 2013). "Vietnam veteran who helped build Marine Corps museum now subject of new biography". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  2. ^ Telfer, Gary (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 139. ISBN 978-1494285449.
  3. ^ Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. pp. 297–304. ISBN 0-16-049125-8.