A Salute to Three Military Heroes

At JROTC Brigade Drill

by Terrie Carter

May 07, 2009

Three members of the Central Catholic High School Class of 1945, who were all killed in military action, were honored during the final JROTC Brigade Drill of the school year held May 7 in the CCHS Stadium.

Frank R. Loyd, Jr. was a Cadet First Lieutenant in the Central Catholic High School JROTC when he graduated in 1945.

John L. Weaver was the Cadet Colonel in the JROTC and Gail Wilson was Lieutenant Colonel.

They all went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1950. Loyd and Weaver died shortly thereafter during action in Korea. Wilson died in Vietnam.

On September 26, 1950, 2nd Lt. Loyd, armed only with a pistol, led his men in a final assault in Korea that overran 150 of the enemy causing them to abandon their well-fortified position. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, for "extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force."

Weaver died in action in Korea on September 6, 1952. Wilson died when his aircraft exploded over Vietnam several years later.

"The Class of 1945 is extremely proud that three of its members graduated together from West Point and sacrificed their lives in defense of their country," said George T. Fleet, a fellow alum from the Class of 1945.

Nineteen family members and Central Catholic alumni will be honored guests during the Brigade Drill when a plaque recognizing Loyd, Weaver and Wilson will be dedicated.

Also during the Brigade Drill, Tom Gonzalez and Michael Gray from the NRA Foundation will present a check to support the Central Catholic Rifle Team, the Bordelon Rifles. This team was named after CCHS alumnus William Bordelon '38, who won the Medal of Honor on Tarawa.

Nearly 300 Central Catholic JROTC cadets marched in formation during the Brigade Drill.

"Our Brigade Drills throughout the year give our cadets the opportunity to practice teamwork and provide the foundation of citizenship development," says Major Louis Ullrich, Senior Army Instructor and Central Catholic graduate from the Class of 1968.

Central Catholic conducts one of the largest JRTOC programs in the state. JROTC emphasizes citizenship, self-discipline, personal responsibility and leadership.

Central Catholic, established in 1852 by Marianist Priests and Brothers, is the oldest high school for young men in Texas.