Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, he attended Saint Peter’s High School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and completed a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey.
LtCol Getsey joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in South River, New Jersey in 1957, obtaining the rank of Corporal. He married Dorothy Ann Laudien in 1960 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Upon graduating from Saint Peter’s College, he was commissioned a United States Marine Corps Officer in 1963. He served 32 years in the Marine Corps. Military occupational specialties include Amphibious Assault Officer, Intelligence Officer, and Interrogation-Translation Officer. Military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. In 1965, he participated in the Dominican Republic Crisis. In 1968, he commanded the Interrogation-Translation Unit in Danang, Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” during his time with that unit.
From 1972 to 1974, he served with the Military Assistance Advisory Group in both Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Upon returning from Taiwan, he was assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico. From 1976 to 1977, he served as an Amphibious Assault Officer at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Upon returning from Okinawa, he returned to Marine Corps Base Quantico. From 1982 to 1984, he served as a Military Attaché to the United States Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, representing the Department of Defense to the host-nation government and military, assisting and advising seven U.S. Ambassadors within Sub-Saharan West Africa on military matters, and coordinating other political-military actions within their area of responsibility. Upon retirement from the United States Marine Corps in 1989, he worked for Computer Sciences Corporation, developing riverine assault boats for the United States Marine Corps. In August 1989, LtCol Getsey led the USMC Mobile Training Team to form the Mauritanian Marine Corps in Nouamghar,
Mauritania, West Africa. He was actively involved with the Knights of Columbus and Nativity Catholic Church in Burke, Virginia.
LtCol Getsey is preceded in death by his parents, Michael John Getsey and Barbara Ann Takacs Getsey, and his grandson, Brendan Paul Reinert.
LtCol Getsey is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy Ann Getsey; his two sisters, Barbara Getsey Palso, Susan Getsey Gaissert; his five children, Michael Getsey, Mark Getsey, Michele Getsey Cochran, Mary Getsey Bernier, Matthew Getsey; grandchildren, Brittney Dickerson, Marc Reinert, Steven Reinert, Paul Getsey, Martin Bernier, Kelly Cochran, Charlotte Getsey, Mary Clare Bernier, Michael George Getsey, Thomas Getsey, Dylan Getsey, James Getsey, Elizabeth Butler, Andrew Butler, Thomas Butler, Daniel Butler, Mary Therese Getsey; and,
great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Dickerson, Audrey Dickerson, and Greyson Dickerson.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 25th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22151. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 26th, at 10 a.m., at Nativity Catholic Church, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015.
A burial service, with military honors, will be held on Thursday, October 26th, at 1:30 p.m., at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172.
Following internment, family and friends are invited to a reception at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Donations in LtCol Getsey’s memory may be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps (www.usmcmuseum.com).
Flowers may be sent no later than October 25th to Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151.
