John P. Weinel

John Philip Weinel (February 23, 1916 – February 16, 2004) was an admiral in the United States Navy.

Early life
Weinel was born on 1916 in Columbia, Illinois. He attended public schools in Columbia and enrolled for a year at Illinois State University. He graduated in 1939 from the U.S. Naval Academy.

World War II
Weinel saw action in the Pacific theatre as a Destroyer Officer on the USS Maury (DD-401). After becoming a naval aviator, he served in the Composite Squadron 33 and Fighter Squadron 22, and commanded the Fighter Squadron 14. He also served as an Amphibious Staff Officer and as Executive Staff Officer of Carrier Air Group 5.

Korean War
Weinel served on board the aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CV-36). During the Korean War, he served as an air officer on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45).

Post war
From 1956 to 1957, he served in the Carrier Division 5 and from 1961 to 1962, he commanded the ammunition ship USS Great Sitkin (AE-17). He next commanded the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) from 1963 to 1964. Weinel was assigned to the Navy Command Center in the Pentagon from 1967 to 1969.

Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Weinel served as the served as the commander of the Carrier Division 3 and a task group commander.

Post war
On 1 August 1970, he was promoted to Vice Admiral and on 2 August 1974, he was promoted to Admiral. Weinel served six tours of duty in the Pentagon. His assignments included Director of Political-Military Affairs (Navy), Director of Strategic Plan (Navy), Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Director of Plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

From 1974 to 1977, he was a U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee. He retired from military service in 1977.

Later life
Weinel and wife Ann had three children, and several grand and great-grandchildren. After his retirement from the Navy, he was an international champion pigeon racer and breeder.

He died in 2004 and was buried at the Saint Paul Evangelical Cemetery in Columbia, Illinois.