APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – 34 years ago on February 28, the United States and Allied Forces successfully forced the retreat of the Iraqi Army from Kuwait.
Appleton Army Veteran Andy Weyker was there.
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Local Five is honored to have spoken with the Bronze Star recipient before he passed away from ALS in December.
He told Local 5 the most gratifying part of his military service was an easy question to answer.
“Defending the freedom we all take for granted.”
It was not an easy interview for him to do, since the disease made speaking difficult and breathing a struggle. But he wanted to tell his story and raise awareness about his diagnosis.
Weyker retired as a Lt. Colonel after four years of active duty and another 25 in the reserves.
He served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a chemical officer in a tank battalion with the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
“We were really lucky,” Weyker said. “We had nobody killed. We found out, after we got back, we were in the biggest tank battle of the whole war.”
When he returned to civilian life, he became a financial planner and raised a family.
A mere 2 years after his ALS diagnosis, he died in December of 2024.
His wife Kim says the military determined his ALS was 100% percent military-related.
The higher risk Veterans face is still being studied. Suspected factors include exposure to environmental toxins, physical exertion, and head trauma.
It became the couple’s mission to find definite answers.
“I’ve been very involved with promoting ALS on my LinkedIn account to create awareness,” Kim said. “I’m trying to have people reach out to their legislators because ALS research should not be cut when it comes to funding so we don’t lose the momentum that’s been gained over the years.”
Countless people turned out to support the family and its recent fundraiser for the ALS Association.
The man who bravely served our country and was staring down the barrel of an awful diagnosis still put others first.
“I’m just trying to help the next generation,” was the last thing we heard Andy Weyker say to us.
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Stand down, soldier.
Rest in peace.
Mission accomplished.
