[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E24]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL (RETIRED) LAVERN E. WEBER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ERNEST J. ISTOOK, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a great 
American, former Adjutant General of Oklahoma, previous Director of the 
Army National Guard, prior Chief of the National Guard Bureau and past 
Executive Director of the National Guard Association of the United 
States.
  Lieutenant General Weber, a native of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, was the 
first Three-Star General to head the National Guard Bureau. He held 
that post from August 1974 until August 1982. He continued his service 
at United States Forces Command until his retirement on June 30, 1984, 
which concluded 42 years of military service with the United States 
Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Reserve and the Army National Guard.
  Lieutenant General Weber served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World 
War II. After the war, he joined the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th 
infantry division. His unit was called to active duty September 1950 
and then Captain Weber was soon serving as a Company Commander, and 
later the Operations and Training Officer. During a combat tour in 
Korea, he was promoted to the rank of Major a month before his release 
from active duty in June 1952 when he returned to National Guard Status 
in the Oklahoma National Guard.
  He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 
December 1955 and was assigned as assistant intelligence officer, 45th 
Infantry Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 15, 
1959, and in April 1961 was assigned as Chief of Personnel, 45th 
Infantry Division, and served in that position until November 1964. He 
became Chief of Staff, 45th Infantry Division with his promotion to 
Colonel on November 18, 1964.
  On March 8, 1965, he was promoted to Major General, concurrent with 
his appointment as the Adjutant General of Oklahoma. He served in that 
position until his appointment as Director of the Army National Guard, 
in October 1971.
  On June 29, 1979, the Chief of Staff U.S. Army promoted him to 
Lieutenant General, the grade at which he would retire in 1984. He was 
appointed as the full-time Executive Director of NGAUS effective July 
1, 1984. In the past few years, he had been a consultant on national 
defense matters.
  Mr. Speaker, as we adjourn today, let us do so in honor of and 
respect for this great American--Lieutenant General Lavern Weber.

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