# John P. Weinel

John Philip Weinel (February 23, 1916 – February 16, 2004) was an admiral in the United States Navy.

## Early life

Weinel was born on 1916 in Columbia, Illinois. He attended public schools in Columbia and enrolled for a year at Illinois State University. He graduated in 1939 from the U.S. Naval Academy.

## Military career
### World War II

Weinel saw action in the Pacific theatre as a Destroyer Officer on the USS Maury (DD-401). After becoming a naval aviator, he served in the Composite Squadron 33 and Fighter Squadron 22, and commanded the Fighter Squadron 14. He also served as an Amphibious Staff Officer and as Executive Staff Officer of Carrier Air Group 5.

### Korean War

Weinel served on board the aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CV-36). During the Korean War, he served as an air officer on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45).

### Post war

From 1956 to 1957, he served in the Carrier Division 5 and from 1961 to 1962, he commanded the ammunition ship USS Great Sitkin (AE-17). He next commanded the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) from 1963 to 1964. Weinel was assigned to the Navy Command Center in the Pentagon from 1967 to 1969.

### Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, Weinel served as the served as the commander of the Carrier Division 3 and a task group commander.

### Post war

On 1 August 1970, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and on 2 August 1974, he was promoted to Admiral. Weinel served six tours of duty in the Pentagon. His assignments included Director of Political-Military Affairs (Navy), Director of Strategic Plan (Navy), Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Director of Plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
From 1974 to 1977, he was a U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee. He retired from military service in 1977.

## Later life

Weinel and wife Ann had three children, and several grand and great-grandchildren. After his retirement from the Navy, he was an international champion pigeon racer and breeder.
He died in 2004 and was buried at the Saint Paul Evangelical Cemetery in Columbia, Illinois.

## Awards and decorations

Naval Aviator Badge :
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ three 5⁄16" Gold Stars |
| Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" and one 5⁄16" Gold Star | Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" and one 5⁄16" Gold Star | Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" and one 5⁄16" Gold Star | Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" and one 5⁄16" Gold Star | Air Medal w/ Combat "V" and Award numeral 8 | Air Medal w/ Combat "V" and Award numeral 8 | Air Medal w/ Combat "V" and Award numeral 8 | Air Medal w/ Combat "V" and Award numeral 8 | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V" | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V" | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V" | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V" |
| Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | Navy Commendation Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars | Navy Commendation Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars | Navy Commendation Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars | Navy Commendation Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | American Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | American Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | American Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star |
| American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal | World War II Victory Medal |
| Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp | Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp | Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp | Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star | Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Korean Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze Stars |
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medal w/ two 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ two 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ two 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ two 3⁄16" bronze Stars | Officer of the National Order of Vietnam | Officer of the National Order of Vietnam | Officer of the National Order of Vietnam | Officer of the National Order of Vietnam |
| Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm | Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm | Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm | Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
| United Nations Service Medal | United Nations Service Medal | United Nations Service Medal | United Nations Service Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal |