Richard G. Weede

Richard Garfield Weede (September 26, 1911 – October 22, 1985) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He served in World War II, Korea and during the early phase of Vietnam War and completed his career as commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.

Early life Richard G. Weede was born on September 26, 1911, in Sterling, Kansas, and, following high school, he enrolled the Kansas State Teachers College, but left during the second year there and entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1931. During his time at the academy, Weede was active in basketball team, competed in track and also was a member of Ring committee, which was responsible for final design of the class ring.

Weede was subsequently ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for his basic officer training which he completed in February 1936. With 124 students, it was the largest Basic School class to that date. This class provided two future Marine Corps Commandants (Leonard F. Chapman Jr. and Robert E. Cushman Jr.), five lieutenant generals (Lewis J. Fields, Frederick E. Leek, Herman Nickerson Jr., William J. Van Ryzin, Weede), five major generals (William R. Collins, William T. Fairbourn, Bruno Hochmuth, Raymond L. Murray, Carey A. Randall) and six brigadier generals (William W. Buchanan, Odell M. Conoley, Frederick P. Henderson, Roy L. Kline, John C. Miller Jr., Thomas F. Riley).

He was subsequently attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at Quantico, Virginia. His unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade in October 1936 and served in San Diego, California and Guam until July 1940. He was meanwhile promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in July 1938.

The 2nd Battalion was part of the floating reserve for the Okinawa invasion, but toward the end of June 1945, commanding general of 10th Army, Lieutenant general Simon B. Buckner requested fresh units to reinforce main forces exhausted by weeks of combat. The Second Marine Division provided 8th Marines under the command of Colonel Clarence R. Wallace and Weede and his 2nd Battalion to support them.

Postwar service and Korea Lieutenant Colonel Weede returned stateside in July 1945 and was attached to the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department under Vice Admiral George F. Hussey. He served in Washington until August 1947, when he was ordered for the Senior Course to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. Upon the graduation from the course in June 1948, Weede served consecutively as Supervisory Instructor within Senior Course and assistant director of the Junior Course. He was also promoted to the rank of colonel in June 1950.

He was reassigned to the Headquarters Marine Corps in July 1954 as assistant personnel officer under Major General Reginald H. Ridgely Jr. and served simultaneously with the Marine Corps Table of Organization Board until July 1956. These duties were followed by assignment as chief of staff, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California. He served under Major General Edward W. Snedeker until May 1958 and took part in several exercises. While in this capacity, Weede was promoted to the rank of major general in August 1961.

He left Hawaii at the beginning of February 1962 and sailed for Saigon, South Vietnam to be appointed Chief of Staff of the newly created Military Assistance Command, Vietnam under General Paul D. Harkins. Within this joint-service command, Weede was co-responsible for all units operating in Vietnam until May 1964. He subsequently received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service in this capacity. They had one son, Richard Dunton Weede, who also served in the Marine Corps and reached the rank of colonel.

Decorations

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include: