Bill Weise didn't plan on a career in the United States Marine Corps. He planned to become a lawyer. But life has a funny way of taking you to places you never expect, serving up experiences that change your life and your outlook forever. From his early life in a working class neighborhood in South Philadelphia during the Great Depression to battlefields in Vietnam to the halls of the Pentagon, Bill Weise was guided by core values he gained from his parents, his faith, and his community. Those values he brought to the Marine Corps, as well as a creative mind and a sense of daring that made him a great leader in both war and peace. Throughout his life Bill Weise has been presented with challenges. Some were economic, some were military and some were deeply personal. How he met and overcame these challenges provides a true measure of him as a man. Everything in Bill's life seemed to prepare him for tests. He always pushed himself and demanded the same of others. The story of Bill Weise is an American story. It contains lessons for today's military leaders and inspiration for all.