William Weigel
Encyclopedia
William Weigel was an American general, known for commanding the 88th Division in World War I.
, where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
with the class of 1887, ranking 27th in his class. Upon graduation, Weigel was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Eleventh Infantry
and posted at Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, New York
. In September 1893, he and his regiment were transferred to Whipple Barracks
near Prescott, Arizona
, where he led a company of Apache Indian scouts
. In April 1894, he joined the military staff at West Point as assistant to the quartermaster
.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
, Weigel became a captain of Volunteers
, and joined the New York State Volunteers as quartermaster and mustering officer at Camp Black, on Long Island, New York. He later served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Alexander Pennington
, and also established what was to become Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point, New York. In December 1898, he was sent to Havana, Cuba as assistant to the Chief Quartermaster for the Division of Cuba. In January 1900, he returned to the Eleventh Infantry at the regular army rank of captain as regimental quartermaster, and went with the regiment to San Juan, Puerto Rico
. The regiment returned to the United States in December 1900, and was posted at Washington Barracks.
In April 1901, the Eleventh Infantry was sent to the Philippines
, where Weigel became quartermaster for the 1st District of the Department of Visayas, quartermaster for the 6th Separate Brigade campaigning in the field on the island of Samar
, and then chief quartermaster for the Surigao Expedition on Mindanao
. In August 1903, he was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois
, serving there as Constructing Quartermaster until September 1907, when he was transferred to the Eighteenth Infantry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served with this regiment at Camp Keithley, Mindanao from October, 1907 to November, 1909 when the regiment was sent to Fort Mackenzie, Wyoming.
Weigel was promoted to major
in March 1910, and assigned to the Second Infantry
at Fort Thomas, Kentucky
. In September 1910 he was assigned to recruiting duty in Philadelphia. He was then sent to the Twenty-Third Infantry
at Fort Benjamin Harrison
in April 1912. The regiment was dispatched to Texas City, Texas
in response to events in Mexico (see United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
), and Weigel served there until February 1914. At that time, he was assigned as an inspector and instructor for the National Guard of the State of New York
, where he served for eighteen months, before returning to the Twenty-Third Infantry, which by that time was stationed at Fort Crockett
on Galveston Island
in Texas
. In April 1916, Weigel returned to the Second Infantry, now at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where by June 1916, he had been promoted to lieutenant colonel
. He took command of the regiment in March 1917, and was promoted to Colonel
in May 1917. From July to September 1917 he was in command of the First Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
in the National Army and given command of the 151st Depot Brigade, a part of the 76th Division stationed at Camp Devens, Massachusetts
. He commanded the 76th Division from December 17, 1917 to March 14, 1918.
He was next given command of the 56th Infantry Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard
's 28th Division, which arrived in France on May 14, 1917 and began five weeks of training with British and French forces before going into the line at Château-Thierry
and participating in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Oise-Aisne campaigns. In recognition of his service during this period, Weigel was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
and Croix de guerre with palm.
Weigel was promoted to Major General
on August 8, 1918 and took command of the Eighty-Eighth Division on September 10. The division relieved a French division in a relatively quiet sector of Haute-Alsace
before taking part in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign from November 6–11. The division remained in France through May 1919 before returning to the United States, where it was demobilized in June.
rank of Colonel on June 15, 1919, commanding the Seventeenth Infantry
at Camp Meade, Maryland
to August 22 when he began serving as Chief of Staff for the Second Corps Area
at Governor's Island. On March 5, 1921 he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division at Camp Dix, which he held until February 1922 when he became the Deputy Commander of XII Corps
, based in New York City. He was promoted to Major General on November 20, 1924 and sent to Fort William McKinley
in the Philippines to command the Philippine Division. In March 1927 he returned to the United States and served as head of Public Relations for the Army in the headquarters of the Second Corps Area until his retirement on August 25, 1927.
.
The USS General William Weigel
is named for him.
Early career
William Weigel was born August 25, 1863 in New Brunswick, New JerseyNew Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, where he grew up and attended school. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
with the class of 1887, ranking 27th in his class. Upon graduation, Weigel was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Eleventh Infantry
11th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 11th Infantry Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.-The First 11th Infantry:Under the authority granted the President by the Act of July 16, 1798, to raise twelve additional regiments of infantry, the first 11th Infantry came into existence in the Army of the United States in...
and posted at Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
. In September 1893, he and his regiment were transferred to Whipple Barracks
Fort Whipple, Arizona
Fort Whipple was a U.S. Army post which served as Arizona Territory's capital prior to the founding of Prescott, Arizona. The post was founded by Edward Banker Willis in January 1864 in Chino Valley, Arizona, but was moved in May 1864 to Granite Creek near the present day location of Prescott. ...
near Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, where he led a company of Apache Indian scouts
Apache scouts
The Apache Scouts were part of the United States Army Indian Scouts, most of their service was during the Apache Wars up to 1886 though the last scout retired in 1947. The Apache scouts were the eyes and ears of the United States military and sometimes the cultural translators for the various...
. In April 1894, he joined the military staff at West Point as assistant to the quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Weigel became a captain of Volunteers
Military volunteer
A military volunteer is a person who enlists in military service by free will, and is not a mercenary or a foreign legionaire. Volunteers often enlist to fight in the armed forces of a foreign country. Military volunteers are essential for the operation of volunteer militaries.Many armies,...
, and joined the New York State Volunteers as quartermaster and mustering officer at Camp Black, on Long Island, New York. He later served as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Alexander Pennington
Alexander Cummings McWhorter Pennington, Jr.
Alexander Cummings McWhorter Pennington, Jr. , was an artillery officer and brigadier general in the United States Army and a veteran of both the American Civil War and Spanish-American War.-Early life and career:...
, and also established what was to become Camp Wikoff at Montauk Point, New York. In December 1898, he was sent to Havana, Cuba as assistant to the Chief Quartermaster for the Division of Cuba. In January 1900, he returned to the Eleventh Infantry at the regular army rank of captain as regimental quartermaster, and went with the regiment to San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. The regiment returned to the United States in December 1900, and was posted at Washington Barracks.
In April 1901, the Eleventh Infantry was sent to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where Weigel became quartermaster for the 1st District of the Department of Visayas, quartermaster for the 6th Separate Brigade campaigning in the field on the island of Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, and then chief quartermaster for the Surigao Expedition on Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. In August 1903, he was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
, serving there as Constructing Quartermaster until September 1907, when he was transferred to the Eighteenth Infantry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served with this regiment at Camp Keithley, Mindanao from October, 1907 to November, 1909 when the regiment was sent to Fort Mackenzie, Wyoming.
Weigel was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in March 1910, and assigned to the Second Infantry
2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 2nd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. It has served the United States for more than two hundred years. It is the third oldest regiment in the US Army with a Lineage date of 1808 and a history extending back to 1791...
at Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fort Thomas is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, on the southern bank of the Ohio River and the site of an 1890 US Army post. The population was 16,325 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Campbell County and it is officially part of the Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan...
. In September 1910 he was assigned to recruiting duty in Philadelphia. He was then sent to the Twenty-Third Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
at Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located in suburban Lawrence, Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. It is named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being...
in April 1912. The regiment was dispatched to Texas City, Texas
Texas City, Texas
Texas City is a city in Chambers and Galveston counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 41,521 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in response to events in Mexico (see United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution
The United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution was varied. The United States relationship with Mexico has often been turbulent. For both economic and political reasons, the American government generally supported those who occupied the seats of power, whether they held that power...
), and Weigel served there until February 1914. At that time, he was assigned as an inspector and instructor for the National Guard of the State of New York
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
, where he served for eighteen months, before returning to the Twenty-Third Infantry, which by that time was stationed at Fort Crockett
Fort Crockett
Fort Crockett is a government reservation on Galveston Island overlookingthe Gulf of Mexico originally built as a defense installation to protect the city and harbor of Galveston and to secure the entrance to Galveston Bay,...
on Galveston Island
Galveston Island
Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The entire island, with the exception of Jamaica Beach, is within the city limits of the City of Galveston....
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In April 1916, Weigel returned to the Second Infantry, now at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where by June 1916, he had been promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. He took command of the regiment in March 1917, and was promoted to Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in May 1917. From July to September 1917 he was in command of the First Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
World War I
On August 5, 1917 Weigel was appointed a Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the National Army and given command of the 151st Depot Brigade, a part of the 76th Division stationed at Camp Devens, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He commanded the 76th Division from December 17, 1917 to March 14, 1918.
He was next given command of the 56th Infantry Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard
Pennsylvania National Guard
The Pennsylvania National Guard is composed of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. It is one of the largest National Guards in the nation. It has the largest Army National Guard of all the states and the fourth largest Air National Guard. These forces are...
's 28th Division, which arrived in France on May 14, 1917 and began five weeks of training with British and French forces before going into the line at Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry
Château-Thierry is a commune in northern France about east-northeast of Paris. It is a sub-prefecture of the Aisne department in Picardy.-History:...
and participating in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, and Oise-Aisne campaigns. In recognition of his service during this period, Weigel was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
and Croix de guerre with palm.
Weigel was promoted to Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
on August 8, 1918 and took command of the Eighty-Eighth Division on September 10. The division relieved a French division in a relatively quiet sector of Haute-Alsace
Haute-Alsace
Upper Alsace, was the name of a district in the southern part of Alsace-Lorraine when it was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.It comprised the subdistricts of# Altkirch within the Sundgau# Colmar...
before taking part in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign from November 6–11. The division remained in France through May 1919 before returning to the United States, where it was demobilized in June.
Post-war career
Weigel returned to his Regular ArmyRegular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
rank of Colonel on June 15, 1919, commanding the Seventeenth Infantry
17th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 17th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment. While the 17th Infantry Regiment was organized on January 11, 1812, it was consolidated with the 3rd Infantry due to extremely heavy losses at Frenchtown, and lost its identity two years later until May 3, 1861, when it was...
at Camp Meade, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
to August 22 when he began serving as Chief of Staff for the Second Corps Area
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
at Governor's Island. On March 5, 1921 he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division at Camp Dix, which he held until February 1922 when he became the Deputy Commander of XII Corps
XII Corps (United States)
The XII Corps fought from northern France to Austria in World War II. Constituted in the Organized Reserves in 1933, it was activated on 29 August 1942 at Columbia, South Carolina. XII Corps became operational in France as part of Lieutenant General George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army on 1 August...
, based in New York City. He was promoted to Major General on November 20, 1924 and sent to Fort William McKinley
Fort William McKinley
Fort William McKinley, was established in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War in 1901 when the whole land south of Pasig River down to Alabang was declared a U.S. Military Reservation. During the World War II era, it was where USAFFE had its headquarters for the Philippine Department...
in the Philippines to command the Philippine Division. In March 1927 he returned to the United States and served as head of Public Relations for the Army in the headquarters of the Second Corps Area until his retirement on August 25, 1927.
Later life and legacy
William Weigel died at Governors Island, New York on March 4, 1936 and is buried in Arlington National CemeteryArlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
The USS General William Weigel
USS General William Weigel (AP-119)
USS General William Weigel was a troop transport that served with the United States Navy in World War II. After the war, she was acquired by the US Army and became USAT General William Weigel...
is named for him.