The Samuel Ancel Weeks Army family finally has an Airborne paratrooper after specialist 4th class Richard Leo Weeks graduated from U.S. Army Airborne training.
“We just couldn’t have been prouder than we were to witness Richard’s graduation from the Elite Airborne course up at Fort Benning, Ga.,” said Leo Weeks, a retired colonel of the U.S. Army and Richard’s grandfather. “The end result was Richard winning the coveted wings of the Airborne soldier. It was enough to bring tears to your eyes!”
Contributed photoALL IN THE FAMILY — Richard Leo Weeks, right, recently graduated from U.S. Army Airborne training. With Weeks is his grandfather Leo. The Samuel Ancel Weeks family, originating in Amity, has a long history of service to this country as active members of the United States military.
The Samuel Ancel Weeks family, originating in Amity, has a long history of service to this country as active members of the United States military. Since brother Delmont’s entry into active service in 1924, there has been a continuous representation of this branch of the Weeks family serving in the active Army, with some 132 cumulative years of service.
Richard’s graduation from the Airborne course is an especially noteworthy event within the history of this military family. Although members have served continuously since 1924 and have participated in every war from World War II through Gulf II, only cousin Norman had worn the wings of the Airborne soldier until Richard’s recent achievement.
Following Richard’s current planned training program, he will attend several more Special Forces training programs — including Ranger and other military courses, as well as studies in the Arabic language. He will become fully qualified as a Special Forces soldier by 2014.
When asked by his grandfather if there were any downsides to his current training program, he responded, “Yes, it doesn’t appear that I will be able to serve in Afghanistan before they close out in 2014. I would like to have had the opportunity to serve there.”
Leo Weeks and his wife Agnes live in Navarre, Fla. and he teaches at the University of West Florida’s Department of Government in Pensacola.
“This was the highlight of the year for us,” Leo said. “We’re really happy with Richard’s progress in the Army, and especially with this latest achievement at Fort Benning. He epitomizes everything there is good about the youth of our country today and we couldn’t be more proud of him!”