Herold J. Weiler
Weiler as commander, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, 1940
Born(1886-04-12)April 12, 1886
Tioga, Illinois
DiedNovember 18, 1945(1945-11-18) (aged 59)
Refugio, Texas
Buried
Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas
Allegiance United States
Service/branchUnited States Army seal United States Army
Years of service1907–1945
Rank Colonel
UnitTexas Army National Guard
National Guard Bureau
Commands held2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment
131st Field Artillery Regiment
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Battles/warsPancho Villa Expedition
World War I
World War II
Other workFactory owner
Oil field manager

Herold J. Weiler (April 12, 1886 – November 18, 1945) was a United States Army officer who served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Early life

Herold James Weiler was born in Tioga, Illinois on April 12, 1886.[1] He was raised and educated in Corsicana, Texas,[2] and enlisted in the Texas National Guard's, Troop D, 1st Cavalry Squadron in 1907.[3]

Weiler rose through the ranks and was a First Sergeant when he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in 1912.[4][5]

In his civilian career Weiler was the owner and operator of Weiler Manufacturing, makers of heavy duty overalls, pants, and other outdoor wear for oil field and oil rig workers.[6] In the 1920s he also worked in other management positions within the oil industry.[7]

Weiler served on the Mexican border during the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916 as a member of Troop D.[8]

World War I

During World War I Weiler served in France as a member of the 131st Field Artillery Regiment, a unit of the 36th Infantry Division.[9]

Post World War I

After World War I, Weiler continued his military service, including command of 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery as a Major.[10]

Weiler was a Lieutenant Colonel when he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1929.[11]

National Guard Bureau

In the early 1930s, Weiler was assigned to full-time National Guard duty with the Militia Bureau (now National Guard Bureau), serving as Chief of the Personnel Division.[12]

Weiler was acting Chief of the Militia Bureau (now Chief of the National Guard Bureau) from December, 1935 to January, 1936.[13][14]

Return to Texas

In 1935, Weiler returned to Texas as commander of the 131st Field Artillery Regiment[15][16] and U.S. Property and Disbursing Officer for Texas.[17][18]

Weiler graduated from Washington College of Law in 1936 and passed the bar in Texas and Washington, D.C.[19][20][21]

World War II

During World War II Weiler served as procurement officer for the Texas Selective Service Department. He was approaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 and was on terminal leave at the time of his death.[22][23]

Death and burial

Weiler died in Refugio, Texas on November 18, 1945.[24] He was killed in an accident while hunting, when a motorist drove through a field and crashed his car into Weiler's duck blind.[25] Weiler was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Corsicana.[26]

References

  1. Sons of the American Revolution Application, John E. Weiler, Jr., 1956, page 2
  2. National Archives and Records Administration, 1900 United States Federal Census, entry for Herold J. Weiler
  3. Army and Navy Journal, Incorporated, Army and Navy Journal], Volume 73, 1935, page 129
  4. Galveston Daily News, Military Examining Board, February 2, 1912
  5. Texas Adjutant General, Annual Report, 1915, page 174
  6. U.S. Patent Office, Official Gazette, 1912, page 1305
  7. U.S City Directory, Wichita Falls, Texas, 1922, page 308
  8. National Archives and Records Administration, U.S., Returns from Military Posts, 1806–1916, Laredo District, July, 1916, entry for Harold J. Weiler
  9. Army and Navy Journal, Incorporated, Army and Navy Journal, Volume 73, 1935, page 129
  10. U.S. Army, Official National Guard Register, 1925, page 889
  11. U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Annual Report, 1929, page 14
  12. U.S. Civil Service Commission, Official Register of the United States,1936, page 57
  13. Army and Navy Journal, Incorporated, Army and Navy Journal, Volume 73, 1935, page 294
  14. Army and Navy Journal, Incorporated, Army and Navy Journal, Volume 74, Issues 1–26, 1936, page 472
  15. Texas National Guard, Texas National Guard, 1940 Historical and Pictorial Review, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, 1940
  16. Texas Adjutant General, Annual Report, 1935, page 47
  17. Corpus Christi Times, Letters are Sent to Members of Local Draft Boards, September 17, 1940
  18. U.S. Government Printing Office, Official National Guard Register, 1940, page 1241
  19. Washington College of Law, Yearbook, 1936
  20. Sigma Nu Phi fraternity, The Owl magazine, Volume 19, page 118
  21. Texas Bar Association, Annual Meeting Proceedings, Volume 57, 1938, page 207
  22. Associated Press, San Antonio Light, Draft Post is Given Colonel, October 7, 1940
  23. Associated Press, San Antonio Express, Col. Weiler’s Funeral in Corsicana Today, November 20, 1945
  24. Texas Death Index, 1903–2000, entry for Herald James Weiler
  25. "Col. Weiler Killed In Peculiar Crash". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler, TX. Associated Press. November 19, 1945. p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  26. Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light, H.J. Weiler Killed in Unusual Accident Sunday: Funeral Services Scheduled in Corsicana Tuesday Afternoon, November 20, 1945

External resources

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