Medal of Honor: Lester W. Weber – U.S. Marine Corps – Vietnam War

Name: Lester W. Weber
Rank: Lance Corporal
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: Company M, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Place: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Chicago, Illinois
Born: 30 July 1948, Aurora, Illinois

Summary of Action

When a squad in the Bo Ban area became heavily engaged with a well-entrenched enemy battalion, L/Cpl. Lester W. Weber’s platoon was dispatched to assist.

Advancing through a rice paddy covered in tall grass, the platoon was suddenly subjected to intense fire from concealed North Vietnamese soldiers. Without hesitation, Weber plunged into the grass and attacked the enemy at close quarters. He successfully eliminated one and forced eleven others to break contact.

Moments later, he encountered another enemy soldier and overpowered him in fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Observing two hostile soldiers firing from behind a dike, Weber ignored the concentrated enemy fire and raced across the open ground. Diving into their position, he wrested their weapons away and neutralized both men.

Now the focus of concentrated rifle fire, Weber remained exposed, shouting encouragement to his fellow Marines as they pressed the attack.

As he moved forward to assault a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded.

His fearless aggression and selfless devotion inspired his unit to continue the fight and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps.

Medal of Honor Citation

WEBER, LESTER W.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company M, in action against the enemy. The 2d Platoon of Company M was dispatched to the Bo Ban area of Hieu Duc District to assist a squad from another platoon which had become heavily engaged with a well entrenched enemy battalion. While moving through a rice paddy covered with tall grass L/Cpl. Weber’s platoon came under heavy attack from concealed hostile soldiers. He reacted by plunging into the tall grass, successfully attacking 1 enemy and forcing 11 others to break contact. Upon encountering a second North Vietnamese Army soldier he overwhelmed him in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Observing 2 other soldiers firing upon his comrades from behind a dike, L/Cpl. Weber ignored the frenzied firing of the enemy and racing across the hazardous area, dived into their position. He neutralized the position by wrestling weapons from the hands of the 2 soldiers and overcoming them. Although by now the target for concentrated fire from hostile riflemen, L/Cpl. Weber remained in a dangerously exposed position to shout words of encouragement to his emboldened companions. As he moved forward to attack a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. L/Cpl. Weber’s indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.