Maurice Franklin Weisner (November 20, 1917October 15, 2006) was a four-star admiral of 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 ...

who served as

Vice Chief of Naval Operations The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer in the Department of the Navy and functions as the principal deputy of the chief of naval operations and by statute, the vice chief ...

from 1972 to 1973; commander in chief,

United States Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

from 1973 to 1976; and commander in chief of the

United States Pacific Command United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is a unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Pacific region. Formerly known as United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) since its inception in 1947, ...

from 1976 to 1979.

Naval career

Weisner graduated from the

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

in 1941 and served aboard 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 , two carrier divisions in the Pacific, and the

United States Seventh Fleet The Seventh Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It is headquartered at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of ...

Awards and decorations

Weisner's awards and decorations include: *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 The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the Naval Aviator on continuous active duty in U.S. Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time. A similar trophy, the Gray Owl Award, is also presented to the Naval Fligh ...

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.

References

External links

CNO Statement on Passing of Retired Adm. Maurice F. Weisner
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weisner, Maurice F. United States Navy personnel of World War II Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) United States Navy admirals 1917 births 2006 deaths Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Vice Chiefs of Naval Operations Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Barrancas National Cemetery