Drug Enforcement Administration - Survivors Benefit Fund

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Michael E. Weston

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Michael E. Weston was killed on October 26, 2009, when the U.S. military helicopter he was in crashed while returning from a joint counternarcotics mission in Western Afghanistan. Special Agent Weston was assigned to the Kabul Country Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was 37 years old at the time of his death.

Special Agent Weston grew up in Pennsylvania and California. He graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1994 with degrees in Computer Science and Economics. He went on to graduate from the Harvard University School of Law with his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in 1997.

Special Agent Weston served in the United States Navy and Marine Corps in a variety of capacities, including as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and a Squad Leader. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton and served in deployments to Iraq, Norway, the Panama Canal and various other locations, where he earned numerous awards. Special Agent Weston joined DEA in January 2004 and was assigned to the Washington Field Division, Richmond District Office where he worked until volunteering to join the Kabul Country Office in August 2009.

In addition to his wife, Cynthia Tidler, Special Agent Weston was survived by his mother, Judy Zarit; his father, Steven Weston; brother, Thomas and half-brother, Matthew Zarit.

in Memory Of Michael E. Weston

about Michael E. Weston

Comments about Michael E. Weston
From the Marines Mike Weston served with on his last tour to AFghanistan...who observed his incredible personality, impressive actions in a fire fight and natural leadership. We are proud to have served along side such a fine man, officer and Marine. "Mike, Let those who remember what took your life also remember the countless acts you've performed for your country and the men serving with you over your years of service. Semper Fidelis!
-- MARSOC Marines


-- David Crandall


-- David Crandall

I attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for International Studies with Michael during the summer of 1989 at the University of Pittsburgh. I lost touch with Michael after the Governor's School but, over 20 years later, the wit, intelligence and charm he displayed that summer are still so memorable to me. It was a pleasure and an honor to have known him, The world is a poorer place without him. My condolences to his family. May his memory be eternal.
-- Mark Cawley

Mike I never knew you but my son served with you on your last mission. I have read hundreds of things about you since your death and have heard stories about you. Today I visited your grave at Arlington and prayed. God Bless you Mike Weston. You will never be forgotten.
-- Kent

Michael Weston, you are the best of the best. You were the best without arrogance; you were the best with humility, honor and humor. The months go by and it doesn't get any easier. The impact you had on my life will be ever lasting. I will never get use the fact that I will no longer answer the phone and hear your voice on the other end. I will remember fondly all the time we spent together and the happiness you brought me. I will miss your humor and your intelligence. I will always miss you.
-- Anonymous


-- MIKE FURGASON

Mike neither liked nor respected shallow thought or meaningless words. He lead by example and respected others who did the same. In that vein, Mike had the courage and conviction to forgo the traditional path and pursue a career in which he honestly believed. I always admired him for that. I'll miss you, Mike . . . John
-- John C. Carey

We only knew Mike for a short time, and reading about him now made us realize how little we did know about him - and how fortunate we were to have known him. This is a perspective from another viewpoint. We became friends of Mike's soon to be wife, Cindy, when we moved into her neighborhood of Washington, DC. We knew that her first husband was killed in Afghanistan and sensed her "withdrawal" if you want to call it that. We watched as her and Mike's relationship grew and you could see the transformation in Cindy as she fell in love with him. Here's a funny story. One weekend we were going away and asked Cindy to watch our dog, Lucy. Our teenage son was also at the house for the summer break from college. Cindy's house was being remodeled and unlivable. Mike was coming up from Richmond that weekend so they stayed at our place. One morning our son came down to the kitchen and there were Mike and Cindy cleaning handguns at the kitchen table. Now being raised in Texas, our son was not a stranger to guns, but this was a novel sight in Washington, DC. Being the mentor and teacher that Mike was, he sat our son down and explained what type of guns they were and why the DEA preferred them over what they used to use, and so on... We laugh about that story still. Mike and Cindy had a great relationship. She knew who he was and accepted it. Our hearts are broken at her loss and like many others have said, we are better off having known Mike Weston.
-- Stephen & Adonna


-- Michael

Simply a great man.
-- J5

Mike is a testament to how powerfully virtue can manifest itself in a man. He illustrates the best of the DEA, the Corps, and this nation.
-- J5


-- James Laatsch


-- Squad CT-1

In honor of Special Agent Michael Weston for giving his life and service to his Country.
-- Retired Special Agent John Seaman & Victoria Seaman


-- Heidi Bauer


-- Friends and former colleagues at DOJ/NSD

Mike was hilarious. In the DEA Academy he would be the only one telling stories on the bus ride to the gym while most of us were still waking up. Mike was a team player, and as tough as he was intelligent. I am honored to have known him.
-- Scott Nesbit


-- Adam Gamzon

I ONLY REGRET THAT I HAVE BUT ONE LIFE TO LOSE FOR MY COUNTRY. A quote by Captain Nathan Hale, Continental Army, 1776 Rest in Peace my friend.
-- Andrew Harris


-- Dan Dalrymple

From the first moment I met Mike, I knew he was an extraordinary person. I am honored to have known him. If we could all strive to be just half the man Mike was, it would be a better world. We lost a great american today.
-- Scott Walters

One of the best.
-- The Woodmansee Family

Mike was my sponsor when I checked into Camp Pendleton in 2001. A stellar Marine.
-- J.L. Woodmansee

Michael Weston was a talented, intelligent, and honorable man. DEA was fortunate to have this type of individual as a Special Agent. I am proud and honored to have known and worked with Mike, even if it was only for a brief period of time. God Bless Mike and all of the other heroes remembered and memorialized of DEA's Wall of Honor.
-- Steve Howell

Your dedication and sacrifice will always be remembered by those of us who wear the same shield. We will always make sure that your family and loved ones are never forgotten.
-- David Behar

When I hear the call of the pipes And the tattoo of the drums as they echo in the hills, I will come and stand the line. And you should know this, That whether you stand with me or against me, I will fight till death. And if the Lord should decide to take me before you, Then you should know this. That my brothers and sons and my sisters and daughters will pick up my sword and continue to Stand the line. For oppression, anarchy and evil shall not prevail, As long as I, stand the line Today, Let us remember those warriors Who stood beside us, Today, Let us remember, We carry their swords.
-- A DEA Agent

IN BELOVED MEMORY OF MICHAEL E. WESTON, MAY HIS FAMILY FIND COMFORT THAT OTHERS SHARE IN THEIR LOSS. THE MASLOV FAMILY COUSINS CLUB
-- THE MASLOV FAMILY COUSINS CLUB


-- Elaine Hartwig


-- Orin S. Kerr


-- Suzanne Grosso

Thank you for your service to our country. You are loved, and you are missed.
-- Susan Kim

Heroes live forever. Mike you were a heroe to many of us. We will carry on......... Rest in peace my brother
-- A friend

In honor of a truly remarkable individual.
-- Rebecca Rund

In honor of Michael Weston - hero, friend and brother Marine. The Marines, civilian and contractor Marines at the Marine Corps Information Operations Center, Quantico, Virginia
-- Dieter Jobe

To a hero, friend and brother Marine.
-- Marine Corps Information Operations Center

Mike and I went to law school together. He was a great guy, who was passionate about everything he did and was the type of person you would be proud to call a friend. Our nation and our law school class is diminished by this loss.
-- Mark R. Yzaguirre

Mike: you were a good guy. I am honored to have known you. Please keep watch on us from above.
-- Keith Rafacz


-- Gail Marshall


-- Amy Heneghan


-- Gail Marshall


-- Erica Greathouse

To his family: we are keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
-- CitiClean Janitorial Services


-- Kevin Hudson


-- michele and donald neily


-- Kelly Creighton


-- Nancy and Kevin Lane


-- aaa

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this brave DEA agent. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country and we honor his memory.
-- Darryl & Rhonda Dunlap

A friend of mine was killed yesterday in Afghanistan, in a helicopter crash, initially reported to be caused by a malfunction or mechanical error, although now the Taliban, who he was there fighting, has sought to take credit for his death and the death of the 13 other Americans aboard. Regardless, I'll not let a bunch of terrorists claim the memory of his remarkable life in any way, so if you'll please forgive the unsolicited imposition, I thought I would share some stories about my friend and do what little I can from here to honor him: His name was Mike Weston. We were prosecutors together in the Marine Corps for a time at Camp Pendleton. Mike was extremely smart. He attended Stanford undergrad, and then, Harvard Law School, obviously turning down his choice of high powered, financially rewarding jobs wherever he wanted to instead become a Marine officer. If you walked into Mike's office, the only diploma he had hanging on his wall was that of his kindergarten graduation certificate. That was Mike. He had a great sense of humor, but he also wanted to be known for his work and for who he was rather than for where he went to school. He was a fierce trial lawyer in the courtroom, ever prepared and routinely working far longer hours than his government job ever required. He was also courageous. Once, when he suspected that a military judge presiding in one of his cases was having an inappropriate romantic relationship with opposing counsel, Mike approached the judge quietly, who outranked him, and informally asked for the judge's recusal. The judge scoffed and declined, threatening Mike in the process. The opposing counsel was a retired Marine Corps Colonel who also did not take kindly to Mike's accusations. The only trouble was that Mike's suspicions were true. So Mike, despite the advice of many career officers who cautioned him to think of his own career and not to make waves, set about to force a recusal. He held a hearing and placed numerous witnesses under oath, including more than a few field grade officers who came into the courtroom kicking and screaming. As junior officers, of course, we all cheered his efforts to usurp the status quo and loved the guts he had for doing it, no matter what the brass thought about it. And in the end, Mike was vindicated. A military appellate court ruled in his favor, forcing the judge to step aside. He served with the Marines in Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait, doing all he could to place himself outside the arena of military law, and closer to combat and strategic operations throughout the Middle East. While deployed, he received numerous military awards and citations. Overseas, he also founded something of a moustache club for himself, his colleagues, and the Marines in his charge. Problem was, facial hair simply did not work on Mike, and even he agreed it looked rather hilarious and ill-fitting on his particular, upper lip. But his troops got a kick out of it and loved him for it, so he didn't care, even as the brass shook their heads somewhat. Mike took care of his Marines, first and foremost. And he always got the job done right. As good as he was in court, Mike eventually grew weary of the law. Ultimately, he decided to leave the Marine Corps and become, of all things, a DEA field agent. Not a lawyer for the DEA. A field agent. He kicked in doors, wore a mask during drug raids, and worked undercover in recent years, living in Washington, D.C. But Mike wanted to work on the most important efforts. He wanted to matter. So he requested that the DEA send him to Afghanistan to combat the Taliban's drug financing efforts. They did so. That's where he died.
-- A Fellow Marine


-- Mark & Debbie DuMars

My deepest and most sincere condolences to the entire DEA family. These brave men made the ultimate sacrifice for my 10 year old son, my family and our country. . . For all of us. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
-- A Long Time Friend to the DEA

I feel honored to have known Mike. As a Marine, an agent, and a friend, he was always an inspiration.
-- John McGarry

A great friend, heroe and American. Rest in Peace....
-- A friend

A selfless man who always volunteered. It was an honor to know Mike. What a horrible loss.
-- Ed Henning

We in the Richmond District Office are all proud to have known you and served with you.
-- Sean Montgomery


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