Col. (Ret.) Mark J. Weinerth, Class of 1987
Col. (Ret.) Mark J. Weinerth graduated from St. Bonaventure
University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps in May 1987.
Col. Weinerth attended the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. His first assignment was in Siegelsbach, Germany, where he served as a platoon leader and then company executive officer in the 525th Ordnance Company (Special Weapons)
from 1988 to 1991.
Col. Weinerth then returned to Redstone Arsenal to complete the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course. His next assignment was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served in the 507th Corps Support Group (Airborne) as operations officer (S3) and then group
personnel officer (S1) from 1992 to 1993. During this assignment in 1992, he deployed to Florida in support of Hurricane Andrew recovery operations. In 1993, he deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, for Operation Restore Hope. Upon returning from Somalia,
he served as company commander of the 39th Ordnance Company (Airborne) at Fort Bragg from 1994 to 1996.
In 1996, Col. Weinerth was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where he served as an instructor and TAC officer for the Ordnance Officer Basic Course and the Ordnance Officer Advanced Course until 1998.
Col. Weinerth then served as the materiel officer for the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, South Korea, from 1999 to 2000. Following this assignment, he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Col. Weinerth was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He served as a major in the division from 2001 to 2004 in the following positions: division logistics plans officer at the division headquarters and support operations
officer (SPO) in the 26th Brigade Support Battalion supporting 2nd Brigade Combat Team. As the SPO, he deployed in support of Operation Desert Spring in 2002 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Upon redeployment, he served as the 603rd Aviation Support
Battalion executive officer.
He then served as an observer/trainer at the Battle Command Training Program from 2004 to 2006 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he observed and evaluated division and corps headquarters prior to their deployments to Iraq.
Col. Weinerth then returned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, and was the commander of the 26th Brigade Support Battalion from 2006 to 2008 in support of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He completed a 15-month deployment to Iraq as the battalion
commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Subsequently, Col. Weinerth served as a joint logistics officer at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs from 2008 to 2011. He deployed in support of Operation Unified Response as part of the Haiti earthquake recovery in 2010.
Following completion of the Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy in Washington, D.C., in 2011, he assumed command of the 501st Sustainment Brigade in South Korea. Col. Weinerth commanded the brigade from 2012 to 2014 and was responsible
for providing logistical support to all U.S. Army forces in South Korea.
His final assignment was at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, where he served as I Corps logistics officer (G4) from 2014 to 2016. Col. Weinerth also served as deputy commander of the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command from 2016 to 2017.
Col. Weinerth’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (six oak leaf clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with V device, Combat Action
Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Mark holds a Master of Arts in administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the National Defense University.
He is married to Kelly Weinerth ( Class of 1989) and has four children: Kyle (a captain in the U.S. Army), Ryan (a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve), Jake and Kacie. He also has four grandchildren. He resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is employed
as an operations manager for Mary’s Home, a nonprofit that provides shelter and transition services for single mothers and their families overcoming homelessness.
Capt. Paul Joseph Sekula, Class of 1965
Paul Joseph Sekula was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1965 after completing four years in St. Bonaventure University’s Seneca Battalion Army ROTC program. He served in the Vietnam War as a field artillery officer, attaining the rank
of first lieutenant with the 1st Battalion, 84th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, and continued his service after active duty in an artillery reserve unit, where he was later promoted to captain.
On Dec. 2, 1967, while commanding an artillery platoon providing security for a Special Forces camp at Bu Dop, Republic of Vietnam, first lieutenant Sekula distinguished himself through extraordinary heroism during a mortar attack. When friendly forces
came under intense fire, he left the relative safety of the fire direction center and moved forward to direct the two howitzers in firing. Taking up a completely exposed position, he led his men until a hostile round struck an ammunition storage area,
exploding and spreading fire throughout the camp.
First lieutenant Sekula manned his position until it became untenable due to flames, then began fighting the fire. Realizing further explosions were imminent, he rallied his Soldiers and led them to several mortar positions. From there, despite burns
and shrapnel wounds, he directed counter-mortar fire with accuracy.
When all mortar ammunition was expended, first lieutenant Sekula took up a position behind a .50-caliber machine gun and fired upon the enemy while simultaneously directing the care and evacuation of the wounded. For his gallantry in action, he was awarded
the Silver Star, one of the nation’s highest awards for valor. His citation concludes: “First Lieutenant Sekula’s extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon
himself, the 9th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.”
After his honorable discharge, Paul returned to DuBois, Pennsylvania, and assumed leadership of the company his father established. Under his guidance, Sekula’s Sign Co. grew into a successful regional enterprise. A committed community leader, he
has served as chair of the Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Airport Authority and has been active in the Catholic community of DuBois.
Paul and his wife, Gail, are the parents of three daughters, and his most treasured legacy remains his devotion to family as a husband, father and grandfather.
Capt. Richard P. Burchill Sr., Class of 1966
Capt. Richard P. Burchill Sr. embodies the ROTC motto “Leadership Excellence.” His life reflects honor, duty, courage and humility, values instilled at St. Bonaventure
and carried forward in service to the nation and to family.
While a cadet at St. Bonaventure, Richard Burchill distinguished himself early as a leader among leaders. Selected as cadet battalion commander, he earned the trust of his peers and the respect of his instructors.
Upon graduation in 1966, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army field artillery officer.
Capt. Burchill completed the Basic Parachute Course at Fort Benning and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Artillery at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where he served as battery executive officer
and later as battery commander.
In 1969, Capt. Burchill deployed to Vietnam with Task Force 117, attached to the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On May 23, 1969, during combat operations, he demonstrated gallantry under fire. For his heroism and leadership
in combat, he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals, including one with a V device, as well as seven Air Medals.
Yet, as remarkable as his combat record is, Capt. Burchill’s greatest legacy may be the example he set long after the guns fell silent.
His service inspired the next generation. Following the attacks of Sept. 11, his youngest son, Daniel P. Burchill, left a career on Wall Street to enlist in the U.S. Army. He also became a field artillery officer, serving in Iraq and earning the Bronze
Star Medal while serving in the same unit as his father decades later.
Richard Burchill died Oct. 27, 2025. He was predeceased by his sisters Joan Hartman and Patricia Burchill and brother-in-law William Gibson. He is survived by his companion, Annette Bakic, and members of her family; his sons; and his grandchildren.
Fr. James Vacco, O.F.M., Class of 1976
Fr. James Vacco served as the Seneca Battalion chaplain from 2011 through 2022. During that time, he was a cornerstone of the program, helping commission more than 130 second lieutenants into the U.S. Army.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Fr. Vacco, then an adjunct professor, published a letter that aptly described why ROTC aligns with the mission of St. Bonaventure. He explained how the values learned at a Catholic-Franciscan university complement the leadership
training of an Army officer.
"True leaders are individuals who not only have vision but values"
The ROTC program seeks to develop its cadets into people who have vision, but vision that is integrated with values. It is true, that ROTC is developing leaders for what any person with values never wants, and that is combat. But we live in an imperfect world, where at times the voices of reason fall on ears that are quite deaf to reason and only hear of aggression. Military leaders, when summoned into action, must refuse to let the sounds of aggression resound with vengeance as an end in itself. Good military leadership realizes that reaction to aggression and hostility is more than just conquest but a restoration of a system of values within a humane society. This is what lies in the spirit of the ROTC program. The cadet is prepared for a leadership that is tainted not by vindictiveness, but justice laced with a strong drive for peace.
The human situation is imperfect. To be able to face tyranny and aggression with a strong arm of reason which is strengthened by character and values for justice and peace, this is what ROTC here at St. Bonaventure attempts to build within its cadets. The ROTC program seeks to develop military leaders with a conscience within a world that is less that perfect and situations that are less than desirable.
The graduate of the ROTC program at St. Bonaventure is needed to bring a voice of Christian values into planning rooms, military outposts, and campaigns of defense or peacekeeping. To quote from the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes: “Those who are pledged to the service of their country as members of its armed forces should regard themselves as agents of security and freedom on behalf of their people. As long as they fulfill this role properly, they are making a genuine contribution to the establishment of peace.”
— December 20, 2001
These words hold true today.
Fr. Vacco died Dec. 19 in Pulaski, Wisconsin. He is survived by his brother, Vincent Vacco, and family, as well as the friars of his province.