Lon Michael Fletcher

February 20, 1947 – October 5, 1965

Young Soldier Dies in Action – Pvt. Lon M. Fletcher, the son of a former Albuquerque couple, has been killed in Viet Nam, according to an announcement by the Department of Defense. Pvt. Fletcher was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lon P. Fletcher, who moved from Albuquerque to Las Cruces in February. Young Fletcher, 18, attended Albuquerque Valley High School until he enlisted in the Army in February 1964. He earned his high school diploma in the service. His mother at Las Cruces said funeral arrangements were still incomplete. However, she said he would be buried in the National Cemetery in Santa Fe with full military honors. Pvt. Fletcher, known in Albuquerque as “Mike” was named for his grandfather, the late Lon M. Fletcher, who was the first Certified Public Accountant in New Mexico. His grandfather was president of the CPA group from 1933-35 and again from 1947-48. Pvt. Fletcher’s father is a CPA also. Pvt. Fletcher is survived in Albuquerque by his sister, Mrs. Randy R. Summers, 1833 Montano NW; and his grandmother, Mrs. Lon M. Fletcher, 405 14th NW. The Defense Department said Pvt. Fletcher was among 17 Americans killed in recent action against the Communist Viet Cong. Of those killed, nine were Army; one was a Marine and the other an Airman. Pvt. Fletcher was with the 123 Division, paratroops. His father was a paratrooper during World War II. Albuquerque Tribune, October 7, 1965 page A-1.

“Mike Fletcher was my friend in elementary school. He sat right in front of me in Mrs. Kahnt’s fifth grade class at Griegos Elementary School. Whenever I see his name on the list, I get a huge lump in my throat. He was a good guy and I hurt for him and for the others who never came home. Maybe I’m getting softer and softer as I age, but I cannot think of these boys – and most of them were just barely out of high school – without crying. All we have left of them is their names.” Donna Johnstone Bearden