Joe Weidner is a long time Legionnaire and Honor Guard member who joined Ernest A. Love Post 6 in 2012. Joe has lived in many places across the world and travelled to numerous countries during his time in U.S. Airforce.
Joe was born in an Austrian refugee camp in 1949. His father was in the German Wehrmacht in WWII and was held in a British POW camp. After the war, his father worked in a warehouse for the Americans.
The Weidner family emigrated to Ellis Island in 1950 and lived in Chicago before moving to South California. Joe attended San Gabriel Mission High School and majored in aerospace engineering in college.
Joe, like many in his generation, had three friends who died while fighting in Vietnam. He made a conscious decision to join the U.S. Air Force in 1970 and did his basic training in San Antonio, TX. Joe was the Outstanding Honor Graduate at his Tech school where he was trained as a Jet Mechanic and initially worked on 1-2 engine jets before advancing to specialize in 4-engine jets.
Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina was Joe’s first duty station where he served four years. As his Air Force career progressed, he worked on 4 engine jets like the C-141. As an E-5 he had a crew of four.
Joe Weidener supported the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions on multiple jump and cargo missions.
In 1973, he was on a mission that flew to Saudi Arabia for two weeks where they transported an Indonesian peacekeeping contingent for the UN to the Sinai Peninsula after the Yom Kippur War.
Joe spent 90 days on temporary duty assignment (TDY) in Alaska. While stationed there, he was tasked with the solemn responsibility of transporting caskets for servicemembers who had been killed in Vietnam. Each day, Joe witnessed the heartbreaking reality of war, seeing as many as 8 to 10 caskets arrive daily. Reflecting on this experience, Joe described the duty as profoundly difficult, a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by so many during the conflict.
During his time in active duty, Joe was stationed in Germany two times and did NATO missions in England. He flew into Vietnam three times on resupply flights.
Joe is known for his innovative thinking and natural curiosity. As a student, Joe excelled in Math and Physics, enjoying these subjects and achieving strong academic results. His proficiency in these areas reflects his analytical mindset and problem-solving abilities, which have been evident throughout his life and career.
To highlight his creative problem-solving skills, Joe shared a story about how he jerry-rigged an O-ring from black top tar and fixed a hydraulic leak on the left landing gear of a C-141 and then had the confidence to sign off on the condition of the aircraft.
When asked what he liked most about serving in the U.S. military, Joe replied, “the comradery” and then strongly stated, “I would do it again in a heartbeat”.
What did Joe like least about the military? He said, “Overbearing young officers.”
Joe left the service in 1974 and went on to worked for Pacific Bell where he met his future wife Debbie and were married in July 1982. They have been married for 43 years and have two sons, Mike and Jeff. Mike, the eldest, is a Firefighter and Paramedic working for the City of Colton Fire Department in Southern California and Jeff is a Mechanical Engineer working for a medical equipment supplier.
Joe retired from Pac Bell in 2002 after 30 years. He specialized in fiber optic cable.
In the 1990s, Joe was an active member and Officer of American Legion Post 72 in Anaheim, CA where he served as Chaplain, Finance Officer, and a member of the Executive Board (E-Board). He was also the Post’s Honor Guard Commander from 2003-2011.
After Joe moved to Prescott, he met Dan Tillman and has been in the Ernest A. Love Post 6 Honor Guard ever since. His time and service in American Legion Honor Guard total over 23 years.
Joe remembers a particularly poignant moment at a burial service in Anaheim where the widow put her hand on his when he presented the folded flag. He’ll never forget powerful emotion and energy coming from her trembling hand as her whole world was turning upside down.
Joe feels that “the American Legion is head and shoulders above the other veteran organizations due to so much community involvement.” In his experience, the other vet orgs are “all show and no go” and did not help the local veterans as much.
In summary, Joe’s journey—from his early academic achievements and military service to his dedication as an officer and member of the Honor Guard in the American Legion—demonstrates a commitment to leadership, service, and community. His experiences reflect not only technical expertise and problem-solving, but also a deep sense of empathy and connection with others.
Ernest A. Love Post 6 is lucky to have Joe Weidner in its ranks as he serves as a positive force who continues to respect and honor his fellow veterans.
Strong Words & Simple Truths 