Vice Admiral Weschler was not commissioned at the time of his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1939 because he did not meet the vision standards. Instead, he became a merchant marine officer and served until joining the Naval Reserve in 1941 and being recalled to active duty. He taught briefly at the Naval Academy, then served in the carrier USS Wasp (CV-7), and was on board when she was torpedoed and sunk in September 1942.
He was selected as the first personal aide for Admiral Arleigh Burke, who became Chief of Naval Operations in 1955. Afterward, Weschler was executive officer of the guided missile cruiser USS Canberra (CAG-2) and then worked on the development of the Polaris missile guidance and fire-control system.
Following retirement in 1975, he taught at the Naval War College.
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