John Philip Weinel (February 23, 1916 – February 16, 2004) was an

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

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 Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university in Normal, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Illinois State Normal University, it is the oldest public university in Illinois. The university emphasizes teaching and is recognized as one of th ...

. He graduated in 1939 from the

U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...

Military career

World War II

Weinel saw action in the Pacific theatre as a Destroyer Officer on the . After becoming a

naval aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

, 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 . During the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, he served as an air officer on the aircraft carrier .

Post war

From 1956 to 1957, he served in the

Carrier Division 5 was an aircraft carrier unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy's First Air Fleet. At the beginning of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, the Fifth Carrier Division consisted of the fleet carriers ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku''. These two ships ...

and from 1961 to 1962, he commanded the ammunition ship . He next commanded the aircraft carrier from 1963 to 1964. Weinel was assigned to the Navy Command Center in

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...

from 1967 to 1969.

Vietnam War

During the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

, Weinel served as the served as the commander of the

Carrier Division 3 Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG-3 or CARSTRKGRU 3) is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore. The aircraft carrier is the group's current flagship. Other units a ...

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 The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...

and Assistant to the

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: app ...

. From 1974 to 1977, he was a U.S. Military Representative to the

NATO Military Committee The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Military Committee (NATO MC) is the body of NATO that is composed of member states' Chiefs of Defence (CHOD). These national CHODs are regularly represented in the MC by their permanent Military Representative ...

. 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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinel, John P. 1916 births 2004 deaths United States Navy admirals NATO military personnel People from Columbia, Illinois Military personnel from Illinois Aviators from Illinois United States Naval Aviators NATO Defense College alumni United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy personnel of the Korean War United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the National Order of Vietnam Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Burials in Illinois United States Navy pilots of World War II