Alexander Mulqueen Weyand

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by J. A. "Andy" Chacon on May 25, 2011:

Alexander Mulqueen Weyand Born November 11, 1928 -- Died May 21, 2011 Alexander Mulqueen "Sandy" Weyand was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania on 11 November 1928. His father was Alexander A. Weyand, USMA '16. He was appointed to West Point from next door, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York with a Congressional from Montana. How he did it is ominous of his future success. At West Point Sandy was known for his physical prowess which he used in the fields of friendly strife in LaCrosse, Wrestling, Skeet Club, Ski Club, and Weight Lifting Club. He earned a Minor "A" in wrestling. (In the photo at left Sandy escorts Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.) On graduation Sandy went in the Infantry and after the Basic Infantry Course at Benning reported to Camp Breckinridge where he served most of 1951 and 1952. His next assignment was to the Korean War with the 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division where he served until 1953. He was decorated with the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge during this tour. On his return to stateside, Sandy was assigned to The Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia where he served on the Staff & Faculty until 1957. From 1957 until 1959 Sandy served with the 1st Airborne Group, 32th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. He then went to the 6th Infantry and Headquarters, Berlin Command where he served from 1960 to 1962 and was awarded the Commendation Medal. On his return from Europe Sandy attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 1963. In 1964, Sandy was assigned to the Office of Personnel Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Department of the Army and he served as such until 1964-66. He was awarded the Legion of Merit on completion of this assignment. In 1967, Sandy attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia and in 1968; he went to Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania where he earned an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University as well. From June 1968 to January 1969, Sandy served as Commander, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Vietnam. He was then named Senior Advisor, 24th Special Tactical Zone, United States Military Assistance Command. During this tour, Sandy was decorated with a second Legion of Merit; 3 Bronze Star Medals, one for valor; 7 Air Medals; and the Combat Infantryman Badge. On return to stateside Sandy became Chief of Staff, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and he served until July 1970 when he was named Commander, 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division where he served until May 1972. He was awarded a third Legion of Merit on completion of that tour. In July 1972, he was appointed Assistant Director of Procurement, Training, and Distribution, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army, Washington, D.C. and he served in that position until October 1972. From October 1972 to September 1973 Sandy served as Chief, Volunteer Army Office, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Unites States Army, Washington, D.C. Next Sandy was appointed Director of Instruction, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia and he served as such until June 1974, when he became Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Recruiting Command, Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In June 1977, he was named Commander, Allied Mobile Force (Land), Europe where he served until July 1980 and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for superior meritorious service on joint staffs and other joint activities of the Department of Defense. He was then appointed Commanding General, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Sandy's last military assignment was as Commanding General, United States Army Japan, IX Corps in which he served from September 1982 to his retirement in August 1985. On retirement, with rank as Lieutenant General, Sandy was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptional meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility. In 1985, Sandy accepted the position of Superintendent, Valley Forge Military Academy, Pennsylvania and he served as such until 1989. Sandy and his wife Carol made their home in Boyce, Virginia. Cullum 5595 is Alexander M. Weyand, Class of 1916, Sandy's father. Sandy's obituary in the Washington Post follows: On May 21, 2011 Lieutenant General Alexander Mulqueen Weyand , US Army (Ret.) passed into eternal life at the age of 82 years. He was born November 11, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of the late Alexander Mathias and Marie Mulqueen Weyand. His father was a career Army officer (USMA '16) and General Weyand grew up on Army posts throughout the U.S. General Weyand graduated from the United States Military Academy with the class of 1951. His 34 years of service included combat commands in the Korean and Vietnam wars and commands in the U.S., Europe, the Pacific and Asia. General Weyand finished his military career as Commander of the US Army, Japan/IX Corps. Among his decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star and the Purple Heart. In 1953, he married Jeanne C. Pierce who served beside him as a loving and supportive Army wife until her death in 1987. They had two children, Alexander Michael Weyand of Alameda, CA and Julie K. Watson of Richmond, VA both of whom survive him along with their spouses. On his retirement, he became Superintendent of Valley Forge Military Academy and College at Wayne, PA where he served until 1989 when he married Carol S. Cousland, an Army widow. He moved to her farm in Clarke County, VA where the couple made a happy home for their collective children and it was the site of many happy family occasions. Surviving him is Carol, his beloved wife of 22 years, his devoted children; Kim, Michael, Scott, Julie and Beth, nine grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and his sister, Mary Quinn. His family feels blessed to have known and loved him. Preceding him in death were two sisters; Kathleen Squillace and Alex Berry. General Weyand was a faithful member of St. Bridget Church in Berryville, VA. The family will receive visitors at Enders & Shirley Funeral Home in Berryville, VA on Friday, May 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Services and burial will be held at a later date, to be announced at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jackson, FL 32256.

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