Soldier's Medal Widow Get Medals. The Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and combat decorations were presented posthumously to the widow of Army Sfc. Allen P. Weaver, who was killed in Vietnam last August Presenting the awards to Mrs. Bernice Weaver was Col. Paul J. Maiine, Ft. Bliss Assistant Chief of Staff for G-1. Witnessing the ceremony were her sons, Homer and Jeffrey. The family lives at 5321 DeBeers drive in El Paso. (Friday, December 13, 1968, photo caption). The first medal included in the presentation was the Soldier's Medal. The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The distinguishing criterion for awarding the Soldier's Medal, per Army Regulation 600-8-22, para 3-13, is "The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life." It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation, held to be equal to or greater than the level which would have justified an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross had the act occurred in combat. The order of precedence for this medal places it to the left of his Bronze Star Medal for Service in the medals box above. 15 More Texans Die in Vietnam In the local area papers on Tuesday, August 27, 1968, the following article was published: WASHINGTON (AP) - The Defense Department announced Monday the names of 15 Texans killed in action in Vietnam. They were: Maj. Richard Hunt, husband of Mrs. Dana L. Hunt, 10049 Imperial St., El Paso; Capt. Wilburn C. Gideon, husband of Mrs. Bernice J. Gideon, Box 628, George West; 1st Lt. John E. Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh E. Russell, 522 Hopper Drive, Corpus Christi. Sgt. Thomas S. Garrett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman R. Garrett, 410 Estelle St., Houston; Sgt. Billy E. Yarbrough, husband of Mrs. Barbara A. Yarbrough, 1313 Milwaukee St., Plainview; Spec. 5 Thomas K. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert K. Smith Jr., 1725 Hulen St., Fort Worth. Spec. 4 Billy D. Harris, son of Simpson Harris, 4031 Summit Ridge, Dallas; Pfc. Albert R. Gutierrez Jr., husband of Mrs. Sophia P. Gutierrez, 2225 West Martin St., San Antonio; Pfc. George E. Perdue, son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Swanson, 2607 College Drive, Victoria. Lance Cpl. Martin Espinoza, son of Mrs. Maria E. Espinoza, 126 Valere St., San Antonio; Lance Cpl. Jesus Robledo Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesus Robledo Sr., 2903 Monterrey, San Antonio; Pfc. Gilbert T. Delgado, husband of Mrs. Gloria A. Delgado, 303 West Clay St., Houston. WO Hershel J. Bullock, Sr., husband of Mrs. Mary J. Bullock 4805 Locke Ave., Apt. Ill, Fort Worth; Sgt. 1c Allen P. Weaver, husband of Mrs. Bernice J. Weaver, 5321 Debeers Drive, El Paso; and Spec. 4 Leondis E. Rodriquez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfonso M. Rodriquez, Star Route, Woodsboro. In the El Paso Herald Post: Tuesday, August 5, 1969, it was announced: Sons of War Casualty Receive Scholarships Two sons of a former Ft Bliss soldier who died in Vietnam have received scholarships from the Sons of the 1st Infantry Division Scholarship Fund. Jeffrey P. Weaver age 4 and his brother Jemaral age 1, sons of the late SFC Allen P. Weaver received educational scholarships in amounts up to $1500 from the fund. Their father was killed in action in August 1968 while serving with the 1st Infantry Division. He previously had served a tour of duty with the 6th Artillery Group at Fort Bliss from 1966 to 1967. The fund was established in 1966 by the Society of the First Division Foundation to provide scholarships up to $1500 to sons of men killed while serving with the "Big Red One" in Vietnam. Sgt Weaver also was the father of three daughters: Rhonda 12, Ellen 8, and Terry 5. The family lives at 5321 DeBeers Drive, El Paso. It is unknown where first photo (left-below) may have been taken. The 2nd and 3rd photos below were taken in Munich Germany approximately 1963.
On September 8, 2006, an article titled Annapolis Selectees Visit D.C. Memorials for Heritage Run" stated in part: " The stop at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial was especially poignant for the selectees. Army Sgt. 1st Class Allen Price Weaver is one of the 58,249 names etched into the black marble. Sgt. 1st Class Weaver died Aug. 22, 1968. His son, Chief Engineman (sel.) Jemaral Weaver, was born six days later." "Standing behind [Weaver] as he knelt in front of his father's name, in complete silence, was the resounding moment of the trip," said Chief Musician (sel.) James Fowler. "Usually, I only visit it with blood relatives," said Weaver. "Yesterday I had the opportunity to share with my family from the chief's mess. When we left, I felt great. I knew that I had the support from my brothers and sisters that got me through the long day." Allen P. Weaver was survived by his wife, Bernice J Weaver, daughters Rhonda H, Ellen C, and Terry A., and sons Homer, Jeffrey P., and Jermaral D. Weaver. He is buried in Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas. SFC ALLEN PRICE WEAVER - - - The Virtual Wall, May 6, 2018

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