La Vern E. Weber

La Vern Erick Weber was born in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, on September 3, 1923. He attended the University of Oklahoma and Louisiana Tech University, where he played football before leaving in 1942 to enlist for World War II.Office of Public Affairs, National Guard Bureau, [https://books.google.com/books?id=VZkwx8Z3XI8C&q=lavern+e+weber+lone+wolf+1923 General officers of the Army and Air National Guard], Volume 1, 1972, entry for La Vern E. Weber]

Originally part of the navy's V-12 program,Wesley Harris and Malcolm Butler, Louisiana Tech Sports, [http://www.latechsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092110aaa.html 1944: Navy Sails to Tech's Rescue: V-12 program helps Bulldog program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418095809/http://www.latechsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092110aaa.html |date=2015-04-18 }}, September 21, 2010 he received a commission in the Marine Corps upon completing Officer Candidate School in 1945. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1948.United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ursfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22lavern+e+weber%22+marine+officer+candidate+school Biographical sketch, La Vern E. Weber], 1981, p. 360

He graduated from Oklahoma's East Central State College (now East Central University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1948, and then joined the Oklahoma National Guard as a second lieutenant. In addition to maintaining a farm, he worked as a teacher and coach.National Guard Association of the United States, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SG7fAAAAMAAJ&q=%22lavern+e+weber%22+east+central+college The National Guardsman magazine], Volumes 28-29, 1974, page 9

In 1950, Weber was mobilized with the 45th Infantry Division for the Korean War. He served as operations and training officer (S3) of the 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment.U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=TIBlUaSBE5S24AOH_4GoBg&id=IObxwsHRZUMC&dq=%22weber%2C+lavern+e%22+180th+infantry+korea&q=lavern+weber Biographical sketch, La Vern E. Weber], 1985, p. 646

Weber returned to Oklahoma in 1952 and was assigned as operations and training officer for the 179th Infantry Regiment. In 1955, he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and was assigned as intelligence officer (G2) of the 45th Infantry Division.United States House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Whc2AAAAIAAJ&q=lavern+weber+179th+infantry Biographical sketch, La Vern E. Weber], 1974, p. 604

In 1961 Weber became the 45th Division's personnel staff officer (G1), and in 1964 he was appointed division chief of staff, receiving a promotion to colonel.National Guard Association of the United States, [https://books.google.com/books?id=d23fAAAAMAAJ&q=lavern+weber+45th+division+chief+of+staff Official Proceedings], Volumes 93-96, 1971, p. 50

In 1965 Weber was appointed adjutant general by Governor Henry Bellmon and promoted to brigadier general and then major general.U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qg07AAAAMAAJ&q=lavern+weber+adjutant+general+oklahoma Biographical sketch, La Vern E. Weber], 1978, p. 591

In 1971, Weber was appointed director of the Army National Guard.Association of the United States Army,[https://books.google.com/books?ei=8Y9lUb-kLcHm0gGlwIHICw&id=tEREAQAAIAAJ&dq=lavern+weber+director+army+national+guard+1971&q=lavern+weber Army magazine], Volume 24, 1974, p. 66

In 1974, he was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Charles A. Ott Jr. succeeded Weber as director of the Army National Guard.Braddock Publications, [https://books.google.com/books?ei=UJBlUYnLM5G40gHXjYC4Cg&id=SYiGAAAAMAAJ&dq=lavern+weber+chief+national+guard+bureau+1974&q=lavern+weber The Executive Bio-pictorial Directory], 1981, p. 68

In 1979, he was promoted to lieutenant general.National Guard Association of the United States, [https://books.google.com/books?id=52_fAAAAMAAJ&q=lavern+weber+promoted+1979 Official proceedings], 1979, p. 51

File:LTG La Vern E. Weber retirement ceremony DA-SC-91-09570 (6458683).jpg

Weber served as deputy commander for mobilization and readiness at United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and executive officer of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) from 1982 until retiring in 1984.Denise Gamino, The Oklahoman, [http://newsok.com/reagan-chooses-sooner-for-post/article/1992985 Reagan Chooses Sooner for Post], August 13, 1982

Weber's awards included the:Billy R. Wood, [https://books.google.com/books?id=dnOMJ0n8BhAC&dq=lavern+weber+forscom&pg=PA98 Lords of Darkness: A History of the 45th Aviation Battalion (Special Operations) and Oklahoma Army National Guard Aviation], 2011, page 98

• Army Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
• Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal
• Army of Occupation Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass device
• Korean Service Medal
• United Nations Service Medal
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

After retiring from the military, Weber was appointed executive director of the National Guard Association of the United States, and he served until 1993.Congressional Record, [http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2000-01-27/pdf/CREC-2000-01-27.pdf Extension of Remarks: Tribute to Lieutenant General (retired) La Vern E. Weber], Rep. Ernest Istook, January 27, 2000

In retirement, Weber lived on a farm near Perry, Oklahoma.

He died there on December 30, 1999, as the result of injuries sustained when fence panels he was preparing to install fell on him.The Oklahoman, [http://newsok.com/guards-ex-leader-dies-in-accident/article/2680612 Guard's Ex-Leader Dies in Accident], December 31, 1999 Weber was buried in the Oklahoma Veterans Cemetery in Oklahoma City.The Oklahoman, [http://newsok.com/thunderbird-at-rest/article/2683113 Thunderbird, At Rest], January 18, 2000

The National Guard Professional Education Center (NGPEC) at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, is named for him.National Guard Professional Education Center, [http://www.pec.ng.mil/ Home Page], accessed April 10, 2013

{{reflist|2}}

• Oklahoma Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture, [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/W/WE008.html Weber, La Vern Erick] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606110601/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/W/WE008.html |date=2013-06-06 }}, accessed April 10, 2013
• [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Weber&GSiman=1&GScid=2198150&GRid=20579495& La Vern E. Weber] at [http://www.findagrave.com/index.html Find A Grave]

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{{s-bef|before=Francis Greenlief}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief of the National Guard Bureau|years=1974-1982}}

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Category:1923 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:United States Army generals

Category:National Guard (United States) generals

Category:Chiefs of the National Guard Bureau

Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II

Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War

Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football players

Category:East Central University alumni

Category:People from Lone Wolf, Oklahoma

Category:People from Perry, Oklahoma

Category:Adjutants General of Oklahoma