Mr. Walter "Gunny" Dillard Fletcher

Walter "Gunny" Dillard Fletcher, USMC (Retired), 76, passed away on October 31, 2010 at Palliative Care, Moses Cone Hospital. Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 1:15 pm on Friday, November 5 at Hanes Lineberry, North Elm Street. Cryptside services with military honors will follow at Westminster Gardens, 3601 Whitehurst Road.

Walt was born on September 4, 1934 in Moyock, NC to the late Bernard L. and Pansy M. Fletcher. His family moved shortly thereafter to Maryland where he was raised and he graduated from Oxon Hill High School, Oxon Hill, MD in 1952. He worked at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC as a stenographer for the Chief of the Card Division Office and also joined the US Naval Reserve Dental Corps at Anacostia NARTU, Washington, DC. In 1954, he switched services and went active duty with the US Marine Corps where he served in administration and journalism. While serving as Administrative Chief at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC in 1967, he was selected to attend the Department of Defense Language Institute, East Coast Branch to study Vietnamese for duty assignment in Vietnam. After 32 weeks of study, he graduated top Marine and second overall in his class and was assigned as a Vietnamese Linguist with the 4th Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force in Danang, Vietnam with their CAP (Combined Action Program). While still attached to the 4th CAG, he was sent to Quang Tri Province where he was assigned as a Linguist and Mobile Training CAP Team Leader. After 8 months in the jungles of Quang Tri training Popular Forces to protect their villages and reconnoiter Viet Cong supply routes, he was reassigned to Danang where he started a language school for the 4th CAG and served as their instructor until rotating back to the US in 1969. For his service in Vietnam (1968-1969), he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” device. He retired in March 1974 as the Headquarters, USMC Liaison NCOIC at Camp Lejeune, NC and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal at his retirement ceremony for his outstanding service.

Walt received many other decorations and awards during his Marine Corps career including the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with 1 bronze star, Navy Unit Commendation with 2 bronze stars, Meritorious Unit Commendation with 2 bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal with 1 silver star, National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze star, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm and frame and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was also an expert marksman receiving three awards with his rifle and six awards with his pistol. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Walt worked in the insurance industry and moved to the Greensboro area in 1979.

His education continued in personal finance, insurance, estate planning and investments until he had the equivalent of 3 years of college credits. He retired from the insurance industry in February 1998 after experiencing a heart attack which was attributed to diabetes stemming from the affects of Agent Orange. He was later classified as 100% disabled by the Veterans Administration.

He was a member of Guilford College United Methodist Church in Greensboro. He held life memberships in the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, AmVets, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, The Retired Enlisted Association, The Fleet Reserve Association, The Marine Corps Association and the National Association of Uniform Services. He was a chartered life member of both North Carolina Chapters of the Second and Third Marine Divisions. He was also an active member in the Marine Corps’ Military Order of Devil Dogs. In his late 60’s, he joined the American Volunteer Reserve, a national organization that rendered final military honors for deceased veterans and supported Homeland Security with First Response Teams. Being well versed in military administration, he was assigned as a Brigade Administrative Personnel Officer and rose to the rank of Major and was awarded the AVR Commendation Medal.

He later joined the United States Volunteers which was the same type of national organization as the AVR and was assigned as their National Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and Administration, G-1. He was later assigned as the USV National Chief of Staff. For his services, he received both the USV Commendation Ribbon and the USV Meritorious Service Ribbon with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster. He retired from the USV as a full Colonel, but continued to assist them nationally.

Walt was a fun loving individual and a joyful, caring and devoted husband and father. He dearly loved his wife and family. Most people knew him by his nickname of “Gunny” that came from his Marine Corps days. It was easy to tell that he was a very patriotic man and that he loved his God, country and family. His indentifying trademark was his constant wearing of a camouflaged Marine Corps Utility Cover identifying him as a retired Marine and Vietnam veteran. Walt loved a good story and joke and had an infectious laugh that drew people to him. His family often said he never met a stranger.

Survivors are his most wonderful and loving wife, Jane of 47 years and six children; Ralph H. Vetter (JoAnn) Kennesaw, GA, R. Steven Vetter (Debbie) Greensboro, NC, Richard M. Fletcher (Diane) La Plata, MD, Joy D. Fletcher (Partner, Phil) Chandler, AZ, Walter B. Fletcher (Jennifer) Wilmington, NC, and Rebecca M. Temples (Wayne) Kernersville, NC.; sisters, Joyce M. Bowie (Alton) Bowie, MD and Barbara L. Hoover of Rocky Mount, NC; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Douglas A. Fletcher.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Association, 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3710 or American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27401.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the medical staff at Moses Cone Hospital, Dr. Swords and the entire LeBauer Medical community.