Staff Sergeant William Gilmore Weber, a proud veteran of the Persian Gulf War and longtime resident of Discovery Bay, California, passed away on August 2, 2024 from cancer at Sutter Delta Medical Center. Bill was born on March 13, 1963 to Barbara and Dr. William J. in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
From an early age, Bill developed a passion for all things sports-related; he attended The Valley School in Flint, MI, where he excelled at swimming, diving, badminton, tennis, golf, and soccer. He even qualified in the Olympic semifinals for badminton, for boys thirteen and under. Bill went on to attend Grand Blanc High School in Grand Blanc, MI, where he played football and basketball. He graduated in 1981.
Bill attended a number of post-secondary institutions pursuing a general liberal arts & sciences degree including Kenyon College in Gambier, OH, (1981), and Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI, (1982).
At twenty-two years old, Bill enlisted in the army on May 14, 1985 and reported to Fort Benning, GA, for infantry training. He was most proud of becoming an 11B2OC2 infantryman (Dragon Gunnery). He was stationed in Berlin, Germany, for three years in the CSC 4th Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, Berlin Brigade. At the time, the post WWII city of Berlin was a “Divided City”, occupied by the “Allied Victors” of WWII: the United States, England, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin was situated 108 miles behind the Iron Curtain in what was then known as communist East Germany. While in Berlin, Bill served as a “SCOUT” conducting security and ‘Wall Patrols’ along the Berlin Wall. Additionally, he served in the Persian Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.
Bill reported to 2nd Battalion 9th infantry at Fort Ord, California in late 1988 before being transferred to the US Army Reserve Control Group (Rein) the following year. From November 1989 onward, Bill became a member of the 182nd Transportation Company in Traverse City, MI. On January 19, 1989, Bill was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant MOS 11B20C200. On December 3, 1990, Bill was awarded the 88M Motor Transport Operator PMOS with a SMOS of 11B20. Bill primarily served as a Heavy Vehicle Driver under this new MOS. 3 days after his reclassification, Bill and the rest of the 182nd Trans. Co. was deployed to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. By June 4, 1991, Bill was discharged from active duty at Fort Sheridan, IL, and on March 26, 1993, he joined the US Army Reserve Control Group (Rein). After eight years of service as a sergeant, on January 30, 1997, Bill was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Totaling twelve years of service from 1985 to 1997, Bill was honorably discharged from the Army as a Staff Sergeant with deployments in Berlin and Iraq (Desert Storm).
While in the army, Bill was awarded the following: Army Service Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal W/2-Bronze Service Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal (10LC), Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin), Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Driver and Mechanics Badge with Driver (W Bar, 1993), Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (1992),
Expert Badge (M-16), Expert Badge (Hand Grenade), German Marksmanship Badge in Bronze, German Sports Medal, and an Army Lapel Button.
Bill moved to California from Seattle, Washington, in 2001 in pursuit of Tamara, the love of his life. At the time, he was a Technical Solutions Engineer for the National Education Training Group (NETg), but after the move, he began working for the California State Automobile Association (AAA). His time there was instrumental in the relocation of AAA from San Francisco to Walnut Creek. In 2006, Bill began his career at Catholic Healthcare West and saw it transform first into Dignity Health and then most recently, Common Spirit. After eighteen years of hard work, Bill’s role as a Sr HR Technology Services Analyst and HR Systems Support and Reporting administrator came to a close due to his passing.
In addition to already being a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on June 14, 2023, Bill was appointed as the Commander of Sgt Charles R McCurtain VFW Post 10789. Furthermore, he was a member of Roy Frerichs American Legion Post 202, the Marine Corps League Delta Diablo Detachment 1155, and the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building Board. Bill cared deeply about ALL veterans. He felt wartime deployment did not validate service, and rather that ALL service deserved to be recognized and is worth praising. An amazing patriot, Bill was striving to make a difference in the lives of all veterans, no matter if he knew them or not.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife Tamara of 23 years, eight children, and one grandchild—Edward, Zackary (Eunice), Gabrielle, Elijah (Sydnee), Chandlier, Xenobia, Dante, William, and Benjamin (Zackary). The first of four children, Bill is survived by his caring mother Barbara and three brothers John, Matthew (Moni), and Tom Weber. His father, Dr. William Weber, precedes Bill in death.
May Bill Rest in Peace—above all else, he was a devoted and treasured father, husband, brother, friend, and soldier. SCOUTS OUT!
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