The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel William Weise (MCSN: 0-57704), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 18 March 1968, Lieutenant Colonel Weise launched a battalion-size attack against a North Vietnamese Army force well entrenched in the village of Vinh Quan Thuong in Quang Tri Province. To ensure immediate responsiveness to meet any situation which might develop, he positioned himself with one of the two assaulting companies, despite the danger to his life. When intense enemy rocket, mortar, artillery and small arms fire temporarily pinned down the attacking units and inflicted numerous Marine casualties, he maneuvered the companies to alternate positions and ensured that all the casualties were evacuated from the fire-swept battle zone. After reorganizing his forces and arranging for the replenishment of ammunition, he ignored the continuing hostile fire as he personally reconnoitered the enemy positions, rapidly assessed the situation and altered the scheme of maneuver to resume the attack. Utilizing all available supporting arms and skillfully coordinating the employment of a mechanized enveloping force with an aggressive assault by his two infantry companies, he successfully mounted a final attack, culminating a twelve-hour battle in the total defeat of the enemy. As a result, his men accounted for 130 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed, four enemy prisoners and large quantities of weapons and supplies captured. By his inspiring leadership, courageous actions and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lieutenant Colonel Weise upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant ColonelBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
4th Marines, 9th Amphibious BrigadeDivision:
III Marine Amphibious ForceAction Date:
April 30 – May 2, 1968
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and MedalsThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel William Weise (MCSN: 0-57704), United States 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.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant ColonelBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
9th MarinesDivision:
3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMFAction Date:
January 2 – May 2, 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Colonel William Weise (MCSN: 0-57704), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 2 January to 2 May 1968. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Weise displayed exceptional professionalism and superior leadership in the performance of his demanding duties. An extremely versatile and resourceful leader, he directed his battalion with distinction during Operations FORTRESS ATTACK/LANCASTER II/KENTUCKY/SALINE II and FORTRESS ATTACK II/NAPOLEON /SALINE, conducted in the northern sector of the I Corps Tactical Zone. Utilizing his comprehensive knowledge of military tactics, he aggressively pursued the enemy and repeatedly disregarded his own safety to deploy and encourage his men in combat. On 30 March 1968 while directing his men as the right attack element of Task Force KILO in search and destroy operations in northern Quang Tri Province, Lieutenant Colonel Weise conducted a four-day operation from the Cua Viet River to the Demilitarized Zone. Due to his decisive initiative and imagination, he continually outmaneuvered the enemy, forcing the hostile forces to withdraw so hastily that several large caches of ordnance were captured. Upon the completion of the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Weise’s unit had accounted for sixty North Vietnamese Army soldiers confirmed killed while sustaining extremely light Marine casualties. Always in the forefront of the fighting, he instilled confidence in his men and maintained a high level of morale while constantly inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. Wounded by mortar fragments on 2 May, he was medically evacuated. By his dynamic leadership, exceptional professional ability and unswerving devotion to duty throughout, Lieutenant Colonel Weise rendered distinguished service top his country and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Colonel Weise is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)