Andrew Michael Weber, Jr.
was born 16 May 1932 in Cleveland, OH, the son of Andrew and
Sophie and brother to Peg, Gerald and Louise. He graduated from
Benedictine High School and was a pitcher on the baseball team. Gerald
recalls spending many hours in the backyard catching while Andy
practiced. Later, Gerald was a catcher in the minor leagues. Andy was an
enthusiast of pigeon racing, and a trophy for winning a 300-mile pigeon
race attests to his skill. He was an altar boy, coached sports for
elementary students, and was a Big Brother to a mentally challenged
young man. Andy also was skilled in carpentry and electrical work. Andy
attended St. Procopius College in Illinois for one year while also
working in a defense-related factory. Wishing to serve his country, Andy
was admitted to West Point.
Andy must have thought West Point was a beautiful place. While most are
content spending four years, Andy spent five, due to a disagreement with
the Dean over English in his first Plebe year. After that initial
struggle, Andy spent the next four years coasting, graduating just below
the middle of the great Class of 1957. Indeed, during his second Plebe
year, Andy helped his roommates for whom plebe math and German were rude
awakenings. During Yearling year, he spent so much time analyzing the
world's problems that neither he nor his roommates had much time to
study. Switching roommates in his Cow year, he succeeded in mechanical
and electrical engineering courses so that he could relax and enjoy his
Firstie year.
Andy also had some disagreements with the Tactical Department, and he
became familiar with the pavement in Central Area, marching for hours,
back and forth. Andy's well-worn shoes were undoubtedly the most
comfortable shoes in the Corps, but he always had a highly shined pair
available for inspection. In his Firstie year, he seemed to prevail in
ongoing discussions with the H-2 Tac over the proper length of a cadet's
hair. Shortly before graduation, however, a joke turned into a prank
gone wrong caused Andy to spend his last days at the Academy again
pounding the pavement.
Andy was very athletic but never played varsity sports, so he was sought
after for rugged intramural sports such as football. He also played
soccer and even coached intramural sports. He liked to keep in shape and
joined the weight lifting club. Andy was a very good boxer, and each
winter he would select one of the shyest and least athletic Plebes, then
work with him and turn him into a "tiger" —a really good boxer. One of
his students even won the Brigade Boxing Championship.
Religion was important in his life. He was an Acolyte in the Catholic
chapel for all years and often would attend morning mass before class.
When philosophizing, he might discuss religion and its relation to the
real world. He enjoyed expounding on a multitude of subjects and was at
his best over a beer, whether it found its way to his room or was
enjoyed off post on a weekend. Being one of the oldest members of
the class, his advice and insight were always welcome. West Point
teaches one to think while stressing conformity to rules. Although he
abided by the rules, Andy, at heart, was a nonconformist. He always was
thinking of what to do and how to do it and did things his way.
From his cadet days, Andy is remembered by his West Point classmates as
friendly. straightforward, and unselfish, always eager to mentor others
in academics and athletics. Although Andy would discuss most any
subject, he was reserved about his personal life. He was known to be
sweet on a girl, Joan, whom he met at a high school dance. Joan was his
"one and only," and they were married a year after graduation from West
Point.
With his rugged disposition, it is no surprise that Andy chose the
Infantry. After attending the Infantry Basic Course. then Airborne and
Ranger training at Ft. Benning and with the 82nd Airborne
Division at Ft. Bragg, he reported to his first assignment with the 505th
Airborne Battle Group of the 8th Infantry Division in
Mainz, Germany. A former H-2 roommate. Arlyn Madsen, stationed nearby in
Butzbach, recalled Andy's loyalty and resourcefulness. Andy was able to
hand-deliver a severely damaged parachute so Arlyn and his wife could
make small, camouflaged diapers to place in the announcements of their
first born. Arlyn was also the local hero, being the only one able to
get a camouflaged parachute to make ascots for all officers in the 3rd
Armored Division.
Promoted to captain while in Mainz, Andy then attended the Officer
Advanced Course at Ft. Benning in 1962 and then was assigned to Ft.
Leonard Wood as a company commander in 1963-64. He next received orders
to attend language school at the Presidio in preparation for deployment
to Vietnam. Unfortunately, this was not to be. On 13 May 1964 at Ft.
Leonard Wood, Andy was killed in a training accident along with another
young soldier, both electrocuted while moving a shed when the overhead
crane struck power lines.
With his nonconformity of thought, his ability to effectively analyze
situations, and his practice of always thinking and doing, many thought
Andy would be one of the class generals. Though his Life was cut short,
Andy exemplified the spirit of West Point, and he would he proud that
the values he shared with Joan were ultimately instilled in his three
children Drew, Ted and Mary. Ellen. After Andy's death, Joan raised all
three children on her own, each to be successful. Mary Ellen became an
astronaut and carried Andy's medals on the first of her two Shuttle
flights. To those of the Class of 1957 who knew hint well. Andy holds a
fond place in our memory, and he can be proud of his place in the Long
Gray Line.
