William Weise

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to William Weise (0-57704), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam from 30 April to 2 May 1968. Colonel Weise exhibited exceptional valor and courage while leading his battalion against an estimated 2,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars entrenched in a well fortified bunker complex and supported by artillery fire. Initially having only a small portion of the battalion’s combat elements available to engage the enemy, he skillfully utilized and coordinated effective air strikes and artillery fire upon the hostile force, maintaining constant pressure on the enemy and thus denying him freedom of maneuverability. As additional elements arrived, Colonel Weise integrated his forces and initiated assaults which eliminated successive enemy strong points. His masterful tactical employment of forces, combined with his personal direction of the ground forces, provided the inspiration required to mount repeated attacks in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds, despite the unit’s depletion due to previous heavy combat commitments. When the enemy launched several counterattacks against his units, he continually moved among his men, rallying them and inspiring confidence in his unit leaders and among individual Marines while reorganizing and maintaining maximum combat effectiveness within each element. On the third day of battle, while personally leading in a fierce assault on the enemy’s furthermost portion of the heavily defended objective, Colonel Weise was seriously wounded, but actively directed the orderly withdrawal of his forces to supporting positions. Steadfastly maintaining control of his battalion, he tenaciously continued to direct the evacuation of casualties to the secondary positions until he collapsed from his critical wound. During this period, the battalion accounted for hundreds of North Vietnamese casualties and four enemy prisoners. By his dynamic leadership, unfaltering courage and selfless devotion to duty throughout, Colonel Weise inspired all who served with him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to William Weise (0-57704), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on March 19, 1968. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Weise upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.