Lester W. Weber’s Ultimate Sacrifice

Lester W. Weber served as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, during combat operations in Vietnam. On February 23, 1969, the Second Platoon of Company M was deployed to the Bo Ban area of Hieu Duc District in Quang Nam Province to assist a squad from another platoon heavily engaged by a well-entrenched enemy battalion. While advancing through a rice paddy obscured by tall grass, Lance Corporal Weber’s platoon came under intense fire from hidden enemy soldiers. Without hesitation, he charged into the tall grass, eliminating one enemy soldier and forcing eleven others to retreat.

Soon after, he confronted and overpowered a second North Vietnamese soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Spotting two more soldiers firing on his comrades from behind a dike, he courageously crossed the open, exposed ground under heavy fire, diving into their position and disarming them both. Although now under concentrated enemy fire, Lance Corporal Weber remained in his exposed position, shouting encouragement to his fellow Marines. As he advanced to engage a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. For his bravery and selfless actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.