John Weger, Jr.

John Weger, Jr. was born June 29, 1940 in Portsmouth, Virginia to John Weger Sr. and Erma. In June of 1958, he graduated from San Fernando High School, and two years later, he graduated from Valley College. Approximately three months before he graduated from college, he enlisted in Aviation Cadet Training. In January of 1961, he was transferred to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, and one month later, he enlisted in the Reserve Air Force as a student navigator.

On December 7, 1961, John married Marilyn Lora Gonder, and five days later, he was transferred as a navigator to Harlingen Air Force Base in Texas. After only two months, he transferred again, this time as a student officer to Mather Air Force Base in California.

A little over eight months later, his first daughter was born. When she was 22 days old, John transferred to Yokota Air Base in Japan and served in the B-57 Bombardier 90th Bomb Squadron. John was in combat in Vietnam between 1964 and 1965. On June 8, 1864, John became a part of the Hq 41st Air Division in Yokota Air Base, Japan. Eight days later, his second daughter was born.

In October of 1964, he transferred as a navigator to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. He was with the 16th Tactical R Squadron. He became a part of the 9th Tactical R Squadron in December of the same year. In May of 1965, he enlisted in the Regular Air Force as a First Lieutenant.

On October 22, 1965, Captain Robert L. Mann, First Lieutenant John Weger, Jr., and First Lieutenant James A. McEwen were on a night reconnaissance mission on board a fixed wing aircraft, an RB66(Serial Number 53-0452). Shortly after a radio transmission, the crew of another aircraft in the area observed a fireball reflection against the clouds to the North of the mission area that was assigned to Captain Mann's aircraft. They attempted radio contact with Captain Mann, but received no response. On October 23, 1965, search and rescue forces were sent. They located a crash site in the vicinity of grid coordinates YA841768, approximately 40 kilometers West-Southwest of Kon Tum, Kon Tum Province. On December 4, 1965, a graves and registration specialist searched the crash site, but found no remains. On April 29, 1966, flying safety personnel visited the crash site and recovered a severely damaged parachute harness. It was their conclusion that the occupants of the aircraft were not able to parachute from the aircraft before it crashed.

On May 13, 1966, John Weger, Jr. was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain with an effective date of October 22, 1965. His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Panel 02E, Line 132. He also has a grave marker at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.

Even though joint teams traveled to Kom Tum Province in both 1993 and 1994, none of the crew's bodies were ever recovered. Charles "Chuck" L. Haley, the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Washington Air National Guard, continues to wear his MIA bracelet and pray for his safe return.

Nancy Weger-Caraveo is his youngest daughter.