# Maurice F. Weisner

Maurice Franklin Weisner (November 20, 1917 – October 15, 2006) was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1972 to 1973; commander in chief, United States Pacific Fleet from 1973 to 1976; and commander in chief of the United States Pacific Command from 1976 to 1979.

## Naval career

Weisner graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1941 and served aboard USS Wasp (CV-7) as a member of the ship's company until it was sunk in September 1942. He then graduated from flight school, becoming a Naval Aviator in 1943 and returning to combat in the Southwest Pacific until June 1945. He was credited with the sinking of a Japanese destroyer escort during that tour. During a career spanning 38 years, he served in six aircraft squadrons, commanding three, and commanded two ships, including USS Coral Sea, two carrier divisions in the Pacific, and the United States Seventh Fleet.

## Awards and decorations

Weisner's awards and decorations include:
Naval Aviator Badge :
| 1st Row | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with three gold award stars |
| 2nd Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit with award star | Legion of Merit with award star | Legion of Merit with award star | Legion of Merit with award star |
| 3rd Row | Distinguished Flying Cross with award star | Distinguished Flying Cross with award star | Distinguished Flying Cross with award star | Distinguished Flying Cross with award star | Air Medal with silver award star | Air Medal with silver award star | Air Medal with silver award star | Air Medal with silver award star | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V |
| 4th Row | Navy Unit Commendation with four bronze service stars | Navy Unit Commendation with four bronze service stars | Navy Unit Commendation with four bronze service stars | Navy Unit Commendation with four bronze service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two service stars | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal | China Service Medal |
| 5th row | American Defense Service Medal with service star | American Defense Service Medal with service star | American Defense Service Medal with service star | American Defense Service Medal with service star | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | American Campaign Medal | European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one service star | European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one service star | European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one service star | European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one service star |
| 6th row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service 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 | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal |
| 7th Row | National Defense Service Medal with service star | National Defense Service Medal with service star | National Defense Service Medal with service star | National Defense Service Medal with service star | Korean Service Medal | Korean Service Medal | Korean Service Medal | Korean Service Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| 8th Row | Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars | Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars | Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars | Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars | Order of National Security Merit, Tong-Il Medal (Republic of Korea) | Order of National Security Merit, Tong-Il Medal (Republic of Korea) | Order of National Security Merit, Tong-Il Medal (Republic of Korea) | Order of National Security Merit, Tong-Il Medal (Republic of Korea) | Order of the Cloud and Banner, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Order of the Cloud and Banner, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Order of the Cloud and Banner, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Order of the Cloud and Banner, 2nd Class (Republic of China) |
| 9th row | National Order of Vietnam, Commander | National Order of Vietnam, Commander | National Order of Vietnam, Commander | National Order of Vietnam, Commander | National Order of Vietnam, Officer | National Order of Vietnam, Officer | National Order of Vietnam, Officer | National Order of Vietnam, Officer | National Order of Vietnam, Knight | National Order of Vietnam, Knight | National Order of Vietnam, Knight | National Order of Vietnam, Knight |
| 10th row | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three palms | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three palms | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three palms | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three palms | Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
| 11th row | Philippine Liberation Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal | Philippine Liberation Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | United Nations Korea Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| United States Pacific Command Badge ||||||||||||||
* Foreign decorations from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Republic of Vietnam, Philippine Republic, Kingdom of Thailand and the United Nations.
* As the senior active duty naval aviator, he received the Gray Eagle Award.

## Retirement

Weisner retired from the navy in November 1979. In retirement, Weisner presided as president of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation until 1993. He died in 2006 and was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery.