RONALD J. WEEKS, born Sept. 10, 1937 in Topponish, WI. Enlisted in the USN
Dec. 7, 1954. In 1955 he volunteered for an Antarctic expedition aboard the
USS Arneb AKA-56, he was a part of Operation Deep Freeze I. Adm. Richard
E. Byrd, the American who insisted the territory be explored, was also aboard.
This expedition entailed 38,000 mile around the world cruise. Chief Weeks
volunteered for PBR duty in 1968. After attending PBR training at the NIOTC,
Vallejo, CA, he attended Vietnamese Language School in Coronado, CA. He underwent
survival training in Warner Springs, CA. Upon his arrival in country, Chief
Weeks was assigned to RIVSEC 544 in the Rung Sat Special Zone. He took command
of Bravo patrol consisting of two, mark two PBRs. This river section was
soon changed to RIVDIV 593. In November 1968, RIVDIV 593 was pulled from
the Rung Sat and sent to the Ben Luc area on the Vam Co Dong River as part
of the Giant Slingshot operation. He was one of the pioneers of the PBR ambush
tactic. This maneuver proved to be highly successful. He was wounded in 1969
and medivaced out of country shortly thereafter.
Awarded two Bronze Start w/Combat V, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citations,
Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, RVN Gallantry Cross, Combat
Action Ribbon and the Antarctic Service Medal among others.
Married to Carol for 43 years, he has three daughters, one son and six
grandchildren.