Lawrence Raymond Weir
Lawrence Raymond Weir was born 14-JUL 1915 in St. Louis MO. His parents were George Francis Weir (1872-1915) and Mary “Mamie” Tiernan (1878-1965). He had two brothers: James (1909-1935) and Thomas (1915-2004) and three sisters: Celestine (1905-1922), Virginia (1906-1955) and Jeanette (1912-1943). Larry never knew his father. Larry’s father George died on 20-AUG 1915 shortly after Larry was born. According to the 1920 Federal Census, the family was living at 1923 Coleman Street in St. Louis. Mamie was recorded as the head of the household. Larry was 6 years old.
In 1930, according to the Federal Census, the family was living at 3619 Lucky Street in St. Louis. Larry was 16 years old and attending Central High School in St. Louis. Larry graduated in 1934. In his senior year, Larry and his friend Rudy Loeffler joined the National Guard.
On 7-DEC 1941, the Japanese attacked the American Fleet and bases at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Larry enlisted soon after on 7-JAN 1942 at Camp Grant, Illinois. His service number was 36309876. Larry was sent to Fort Francis E. Warren. Fort Warren (near Cheyenne, Wyoming) served primarily as a major training center for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. Up to 20,000 soldiers at a time received specialized training there in various supply and support roles. Likely because his experience working at the Forum, Larry was assigned to the Quartermaster Corps and while stateside served as a cook.
Larry wrote to Rudy saying that he “would like to be sent overseas to see some action.” He later wrote that he had managed to be transferred to a grave detachment unit so he “could go over.” Rudy continued, “We did not hear from him as often as we wished. Finally, after a long period of time of no reply, Lucy (Rudy’s wife) sent him a card stating, ‘Why don’t you write, got a broken arm?’ The card was returned to us stamped, ‘Missing in Action.’ A phone call to his girlfriend (Alma?) verified the message that Larry was missing.” Larry was categorized missing for weeks.
The Mid America Veterans Museum was gifted a binder, containing original and copies of some of Larry’s letters. The letters are presented here in his own words and have not been changed. All but one of the following letters are from Larry’s time stateside.
Throughout history soldiers have premonitions that they are going to die. Soldiers have reported experiencing strong feelings, dreams, or premonitions that they were going to die in combat, often before a specific battle. These strong “gut feelings” or forebodings, lead some to write last letters or make final arrangements.
Sadly, Larry’s premonition came to fruition the next day. During a “Dress Rehearsal” for the landing on Utah Beach on D-Day, the LST Larry was on was torpedoed in the English Channel.
The story of the sinking of LST-921 would not come to light until the 1980’s.
On 26-Dec 2025, Michael ‘Mick’ Bretz a Desert Storm Veteran, brought the binder to the Mid America Veterans Museum. He had served in the U.S. Air force as an F-16 Crew Chief from Aug 1989 to Nov 1993 and was an E-4 Senior Airman in the 614th TFS Lucky Devils. Mick’s wife, Margie, had discovered the discarded binder while rummaging through Goodwill Outlet Store bins in Maryland Heights MO. Mick attends many reunions of his unit. Mick said, “She has come with me to my Desert Storm reunions and saw how close knit we were. She knew this shouldn’t be thoughtlessly discarded, so she purchased the binder.” The museum’s lead researcher asked Mick if he was related to Larry Weir. He replied, “We are not related to Larry, but as a veteran, we are all family. I didn’t want his story to get lost. I’m thrilled that it found the right home.”
It turns out Larry, has a large family!
Our thanks to Mick and Marge Bretz for helping us honor this local hero.
For more of Larry’s story, click on the link below.
