▁a ▁Naval ▁A vi ator ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁and ▁returning ▁to ▁combat ▁in ▁the ▁South west ▁Pacific ▁until ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁He ▁was ▁cred ited ▁with ▁the ▁s inking ▁of ▁a ▁Japanese ▁destroy er ▁esc ort ▁during ▁that ▁tour . ▁During ▁a ▁career ▁sp anning ▁ 3 8 ▁years , ▁he ▁served ▁in ▁six ▁aircraft ▁squad rons , ▁command ing ▁three , ▁and ▁commanded ▁two ▁ships , ▁including ▁the ▁USS ▁Cor al ▁Sea , ▁two ▁car rier ▁divisions ▁in ▁the ▁Pacific , ▁and ▁the ▁US ▁ 7 th ▁Fle et ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁service ▁noted ▁above . ▁▁ ▁He ▁retired ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁In ▁ret irement , ▁Admir al ▁We is ner ▁pres ided ▁as ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁Naval ▁A viation ▁Museum ▁Foundation ▁until ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁ ▁Awards ▁and ▁decor ations ▁Admir al ▁We is ner ' s ▁awards ▁and ▁decor ations ▁include : ▁▁▁▁ ▁Foreign ▁decor ations ▁from ▁Japan , ▁the ▁Republic ▁of ▁Korea , ▁Republic ▁of ▁Vietnam , ▁Philipp ine ▁Republic , ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁Th ailand ▁and ▁the ▁United ▁Nations . ▁As ▁the ▁senior ▁active ▁duty ▁naval ▁av i ator , ▁he ▁received ▁the ▁Gray ▁E agle ▁Award . ▁ ▁Ret irement ▁We is ner ▁retired ▁from ▁the ▁Navy ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁He ▁died ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁was ▁buried ▁in ▁Bar ran cas ▁National ▁C emetery ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁preced ed ▁in ▁death ▁by