MURRAY, UT, September 04, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John A. Wester Jr. has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Wester concluded his distinguished military career as a command chief warrant officer in the United States Army, retiring in December 2011. In this capacity, he became the first chief warrant officer five in the 19th Special Forces, a milestone he regards as his most significant professional achievement. His responsibilities included observing unit operations, identifying and addressing issues and providing expert recommendations directly to his commander. He was entrusted with implementing solutions and ensuring that teams and individuals at all levels benefited from his expertise. One of the most challenging aspects of his service was notifying families of the loss of their loved ones, a duty he performed with solemn respect, often presenting the American flag at funerals.

During his final year of service, Mr. Wester completed a tour in Iraq and taught a two-week sniper refresher course for the 19th Special Forces. His tenure with the special forces spanned more than 25 years, during which he participated in multiple deployments to Thailand, collaborating with the Thai Army on marksmanship instruction and counter-drug operations. Similar missions took him to Korea, where he worked alongside special forces teams on patrols and training exercises. He also conducted training across various locations in the United States, including Washington, North Carolina and Florida.

Mr. Wester's military journey began with four years in the Navy Reserves during his college years. In 1972, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Over a decade-long tenure that concluded in December 1982 with the rank of captain, he participated in pivotal operations in Southeast Asia, including the evacuations of Cambodia and Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War and the recovery of the United States container ship Mayaguez in May 1975.

After leaving the Marine Corps, Mr. Wester joined the Army Special Forces as a captain but chose to resign his commission in 1985 to remain with his assigned A team as a sergeant first class. In 1988, following an invitation from his commander to become a warrant officer, he was appointed as a chief warrant officer two and later advanced to chief warrant officer three while serving as both team member and commander on Special Forces A-Teams.

Throughout his career, Mr. Wester earned numerous distinctions for his service and leadership. His decorations include the Legion of Merit from the United States Army; three Meritorious Service Medals awarded in 1987, 2010 and 2011; several commendation medals; and five achievement medals from the United States Army. He also received a service award, the National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

A master parachutist qualified to lead others in airborne operations, Mr. Wester also achieved military free fall qualification and demonstrated expert proficiency with both rifle and pistol. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion, and serves as president of Chapter 70 of the Special Forces Association, a role he has held for more than a decade.

Mr. Wester has remained deeply involved in supporting veterans' welfare. He has volunteered extensively with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, assisting fellow veterans in securing disability ratings by preparing documentation for submission through The American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars advocates. He currently leads efforts to address mental health challenges among service members and veterans by working with groups dedicated to reducing suicide rates within these communities.

Mr. Wester's academic background includes a master's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix, earned in 1989, and a bachelor's degree in business finance from The University of Utah completed in 1972. He credits much of his success to lessons learned from his father, John Wester Sr., as well as inspiration drawn from John Wayne's portrayals in war films. Both figures shaped his values and aspirations from an early age.

Born in Salt Lake City, Mr. Wester enjoys working outdoors doing yard work and spending time with his family. Looking ahead, he remains committed to working with disabled veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs while fulfilling his chapter duties. He is dedicated to helping soldiers obtain or increase their VA disability ratings and finds ongoing fulfillment in training soldiers and addressing their benefits needs.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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