The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*WEBER, LESTER W.
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal,
U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place
and Date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969. Entered
service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 30 July 1948, Aurora, Ill.
Citation:
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.
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