Donald M. Weller

Donald M. Weller was born on May 1, 1908, in Hartford, Connecticut, as the son of a Methodist clergyman. He attended a grade school in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and later high school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following his graduation, he spent a year at Carnegie Tech, before he received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1926. As a midshipman, he was an avid swimmer and saved the life of classmate in a boating accident in a stormy sea. In his final year at the academy, Weller shared a room with future Commandant of the Marine Corps, Wallace M. Greene. Following his return from the exercise, Weller served for some time as Detachment Officer at Marine Barracks within Norfolk Navy Yard, before rejoined his 1st Battalion in January 1935. He was also promoted to the rank of first lieutenant during the same time. A major breakthrough in his career occurred when he was sent to the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Weller studied the application of Naval gunfire support during the amphibious assault through study of the Gallipoli Campaign while he prepared a term paper on the subject. He finished the Artillery School in July 1935 and returned to Battery "E" as an executive officer. He continuously served with 10th Marines until June 1937, when he was appointed commander of the Marine detachment aboard the heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa. For his new task, he was also promoted to the rank of captain in August 1937. During his service on Tuscaloosa, he simultaneously served as Control Officer of the 5"/25 caliber Anti-aircraft battery and used this opportunity to improve his knowledge of use of naval gun for support of the landing operations. ==World War II==

After two years of sea duties aboard the Tuscaloosa, Weller returned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at Quantico Base, Virginia, in June 1939 and was appointed commanding officer of "A" Battery. He led his battery for the Fleet Exercise at Culebra, Puerto Rico, aboard the battleship USS Wyoming during the beginning of January 1940. His unit arrived back at Quantico during March 1940 and Weller himself remained with 1st Battalion until September 1940. For his experiences in naval gun fire matters, Weller was transferred as Naval Gun Officer to the staff of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under his old superior, General Holland Smith. While at Headquarters in Hawaii, Weller developed the shore bombardment training program for the Pacific Fleet and Marine units in the Pacific areas. For his distinguished service with the Fleet Marine Force on Hawaii and during the Battle of Iwo Jima, Weller was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and received also the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. ==Postwar career==

Upon his return to the United States in June 1945, Weller was appointed Chief of the Naval Gunfire Section within Troop Training Unit, Training Command, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet at Coronado, California, under Brigadier General Harry K. Pickett. He spent a year with service in the Far East, before finally left for Hawaii in September 1961, when he was appointed to his final assignment as deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific under Lieutenant General Alan Shapley. ==Civil life==

He retired from the Marine Corps service after 33 years of commissioned service on August 1, 1963. Weller joined Institute for Defense Analyses, where he spent next nine years with work on addressing national security issues. He also attended London School of Economics and later served as consultant for the Naval Surface Weapons Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. Weller also authored of several publications, including the widely known Naval Gunfire Support to Amphibious Operations: Past, Present, and Future. He later assumed the capacity of chairman, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Major General Donald M. Weller died on March 8, 1985, at Malcolm Grow Medical Center and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, with his wife Frances Jordan Weller (1904–1990). They had one son, Donald M. Weller Jr., who also served in the Marine Corps and reached the rank of captain, and one daughter, Mary Calvert Brodbeck. ==Decorations==

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Donald M. Weller: ==References==