La Vern E. Weber

La Vern E. Weber (September 3, 1923 – December 30, 1999) was a United States Army officer who served as Adjutant General of Oklahoma, Director of the Army National Guard and Chief of the National Guard Bureau. He was the first NGB Chief to hold the rank of Lieutenant General.

Early life
La Vern Erick Weber was born in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma on September 3, 1923. He attended the University of Oklahoma and Louisiana Polytechnic University before leaving in 1942 to enlist for World War II. Originally part of the Navy’s V-12 program, he received a commission in the Marine Corps upon completing Officer Candidate School in 1945. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1948. He also graduated from Oklahoma's East Central State College (now East Central University) with a bachelor of science degree in education in 1948, and then joined the Oklahoma National Guard as a Second Lieutenant. In addition to maintaining a farm, he also worked as a teacher and coach.

Korean War
He was mobilized in 1950 with the 45th Infantry Division for the Korean War. Weber served as Operations and Training Officer (S3) of 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment.

Post Korean War
Weber returned to Oklahoma in 1952 and was assigned as Operations and Training Officer for the 179th Infantry Regiment. In 1955 he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and was assigned as Intelligence Officer (G2) of the 45th Infantry Division.

In 1961 Weber became the 45th Division’s Personnel Staff Officer (G1), and in 1964 he was appointed division Chief of Staff, receiving promotion to Colonel. In 1965 Weber was appointed Adjutant General by Governor Henry Bellmon and promoted to Brigadier General and then Major General.

National Guard Bureau
In 1971 Weber was appointed Director of the Army National Guard.

In 1974 he was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Charles A. Ott, Jr. succeeded Weber as Director of the Army National Guard. In 1979 he was promoted to Lieutenant General.

FORSCOM
Weber served as Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Readiness at United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and Executive Officer of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB) from 1982 until retiring in 1984.

Awards and decorations
Weber’s awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Post military career
After retiring from the military Weber was appointed Executive Director of the National Guard Association of the United States, and he served until 1993.

Retirement and death
In retirement Weber lived on a farm near Perry, Oklahoma. He died there on December 30, 1999 as the result of injuries sustained when fence panels he was preparing to install fell on him.

Weber was buried in the Oklahoma Veterans Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

Legacy
The National Guard Professional Education Center (NGPEC) at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas is named for him.

External resources

 * Oklahoma Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture, Weber, La Vern Erick, accessed April 10, 2013
 * La Vern E. Weber at Find A Grave