Lt. Colonel Walter E. Little

ProvidenceLittle, Walter Edward, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Retired 89, of 49 Ravenswood Avenue, Providence, RI 02908, died April 19, 2015, peacefully at home surrounded by his family.He was the beloved husband of Mary E.(Remington) Little. They were married on October 7, 1950 and celebrated 64 years of marriage in 2014.Col. Little was born in Providence on February 26, 1926. He was the son of James M, and Evangeline Monroe Little. He was one of nine children. Col. Little entered the U.S. Army Air Force as a tail gunner in 1943. He began as an enlisted man and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1950. He went to Rhode Island College (now URI) on the GI Bill and graduated in 1950. He was a combat army officer and served at the end of World War II, in Korea, and twice in Vietnam. He earned his Green Beret in 1961 as one of the first members of Special Forces during the Kennedy Administration. He was in 1st Special Forces, B Detachment in Vietnam commanding all Special Forces in II Corp. under General Khanh in 1962. He was in the 1st Special Forces during the Battle of Plei Mrong in 1963. He was a guard at Dachau weeks after the end of WWII and a witness to the Holocaust. He was passionate that the world never forgets what was done during the Holocaust. Col. Little was awarded a Bronze Star, qualified for a Purple Heart, was a Master Parachutist and a Expert Marksman in Carbine, Pistol and Rifle. He attended Basic and Advanced Commissioned Officer's School, Ft. Benning , GA, Special Forces School, Ft. Bragg, and Command and General Staff College, Ft. Levenworth. He served in Army Intelligence and worked behind enemy lines in Vietnam as a member of the MACV/SOG, a covert US Special Forces Operation (a unit whose existence was once denied and whose story was not told until long after the war). Their mission was cross boarder operations, intelligence gathering or raiding missions on the enemy's home ground and rescue missions. He trained service members of the Italian, Greek, German, Vietnamese and Japanese Armies in special operations. His was described in his service record as a forceful and dynamic officer, and loved as a gentle, strong and caring husband and father. Besides his wife, Mary, he leaves four children and seven grandchildren. His children are Joseph E. Little and his wife Marion (Dubois), Catherine Little Bert and her husband, Dr. Arthur Bert, James W. Little and his wife Margaret (Homan), and David E. Little and his wife Darsie Alexander. He has a surviving sister, Joan Swiss. His surviving grandchildren are Fr. Ambrose Callery Mary Little, O.P, Daniel Little, Margaret Little, Katie Little, Samuel Little, Sophie Little and Nina Little. He was predeceased by one grandchild, Jeffery Little. Funeral will be held on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 8:30 am at the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith St. Providence. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine Church, Mt. Pleasant Ave, Providence at 10:00am. Burial with Military Honors will be at R.I. Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours, Sunday, April 26, 2015, 4-8 pm. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to St. Augustine Church, 20 Old Road, Providence, RI 02908 or Providence College, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918. boyleandsonfuneralhome.com