Former Governor Quinn continues to talk about Hinsdale hero Lester Weber

By Jeff Vorva

Hinsdale native Lester Weber was a
Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense

Lester Weber is a Hinsdale native and war hero who may be forgotten by some. But former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is not one of them.

Quinn, who was Illinois’ leader from 2009-2015, makes it a mission to talk about Weber as much as he can during ceremonial speeches to keep Weber’s memory alive.

The two went to  St. Isaac Jogues Grammar School in the 1960s and were friends. But Weber went to the Vietnam War as a Marine and was killed on Feb. 23, 1969.

Weber posthumously won a Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in some hand-to-hand combat and saved some of his fellow soldiers while sacrificing his own life.

“He was only given by God 21 years on this earth,” Quinn said during a May 26 Memorial Day speech in Blue Island. “He did not have a long, chronological life. But he had a purposeful life. He went to Vietnam. He was a United States Marine. Semper Fi. He was only 21. He lost his life there saving his platoon.”

Quinn was proud of Weber’s recognition at the time.

“When I was in college a few years later, I picked up the paper and on the front page of the paper, it said that Lester Weber was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and service of saving other people’s lives,” Quinn said.  “I thought that was pretty profound and meaningful.”

Weber, who attended Hinsdale South for two years, joined the Marine Reserves in 1966 and the regular corps the following year.

He was also promoted to Lance Corporal in 1967.

In the Medal of Honor citation, signed by then-President Richard Nixon, Weber was highly praised.

“He may have only had 21 years, but he
did something where he saved others’ lives.”

– Former Governor Pat Quinn

“While moving through a rice paddy covered with tall grass, Lance Corporal Weber’s platoon came under heavy attack from concealed hostile soldiers,” it read. “He reacted by plunging into the tall grass, successfully attacking one enemy and forcing eleven others to break contact. Upon encountering a second North Vietnamese Army soldier, he overwhelmed him in fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Observing two other soldiers firing upon his comrades from behind a dike, Lance Corporal Weber ignored the frenzied firing of the enemy and, racing across the hazardous area, dived into their position.

“He neutralized the position by wresting weapons from the hands of the two soldiers and overcoming them. Although by now the target for concentrated fire from hostile riflemen, Lance Corporal Weber remained in a dangerously exposed position to shout words of encouragement to his emboldened companions. As he moved forward to attack a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded.”

It went on to say that Weber’s “indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

Weber has had a couple of other honors. A barracks in San Diego was named Weber Hall for him. And Quinn had a hand in dedicating a

A memorial stone for Lester Weber was placed at St. Isaac Jogues Grammar School in 2003.
Photo by Jeff Vorva 

memorial stone in his honor in 2003 near the flagpole at St. Isaac Jogues.

“I went to my grammar school, and talked to the principal and said, ‘You know all of these boys and girls that are coming through the doors today and up the steps – we ought to remember Lester Weber. He was at our school. We should never forget his life.’ He may have only had 21 years, but he did something where he saved others’ lives,” Quinn said.

“He was true to the motto of the United States Marines. Always faithful. We have to be faithful to his memory and the memory of all of his faithful soldiers.”

Quinn lived in Hinsdale until 1981. He said in his high school years, he walked to the train station to go to Berwyn and take a bus to Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, and walked to Fenwick. 

“That was a good experience in self-reliance.”

He’ll never forget his days before high school when he befriended Weber.

“I was in Cub Scouts with Lester Weber. I played Little League baseball with Lester Weber,” Quinn said. “I really honor his life.”