lest we forget

FLETCHER, KENNETH JACK

Rank / Branch:

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, MONAHANS, WARD COUNTY, TEXAS

Date Of Birth:

1940-10-20

Country Of Loss:

SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

NON HOSTILE, OTHER ACCIDENT

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:

GROUND

Other:

NOT MARRIED

Unit:

FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

1967-02-06

Loss Coordinates:

BINH DUONG

Catagory:

BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

FLETCHER, KENNETH JACK, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. ARMY, MONAHANS, WARD COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

COMBAT INFANTRYMANS BADGE, BRONZE STAR, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

BIOGRAPHY

Kenneth Jack Fletcher was born in Sugarland, Fort Bend County, Texas to Willa Elvira Taylor and Vernica Johnnie Fletcher. Growing up, he lived all over West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, having lived in Hobbs, Penwell, Andrews and Denver City, Texas. His father was an employee of Humble Oil Company, later to become Exxon. He was known as Jack.
He spent his high school years in Denver City and was a 1959 graduate of Denver City High School. While in high school, he was active in football, the band, the annual staff, Vice President and Treasurer of his class. He was also involved in 4 H activities. After high school, he attended Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas as an education major. He was active on the rodeo team and was recognized for his roping, team roping as well as riding bulls, bareback and saddle bronc riding. He was also the President of the Business Club. While in college, his parents moved to Monahans and he would spend his summers there working in the oilfields to help pay for his college.
He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a minor in Education in May 1964. He accepted a teaching job at Eagle Pass High School, Eagle Pass, Texas. He moved to Quemado, Texas, a very small community about 10 miles east of Eagle Pass. He was the junior high track coach, taught High School Bookkeeping and Commercial Law. He taught in Laredo for two years before being drafted. He also was raising horses and livestock on some land that he was buying. He wanted to return to Quemado to continue teaching and raise cattle after his two-year hitch in the Army.
He was drafted at age 25 and entered the Army on June 23, 1966, and completed his basic training and AIT training in infantry at Fort Polk, Louisiana. After a two week leave in late November and early December 1966, he began his tour in Vietnam on December 12, 1966. He was assigned as an infantryman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
On February 2, 1967, there was a convoy of vehicles and troops that were enroute to a combat mission. There were two APC's (Armored Personnel Carriers) traveling close to each other. Each APC had three soldiers occupying them and one of the three in one of the APC's was PFC Fletcher. One of the two APC's was carrying a large supply of C-4 and fuses. A soldier in the APC with the C-4 stepped down into the compartment and stepped on a fuse and ignited the C-4 causing a tremendous blast. The blast and fiery inferno totally destroyed that APC and the fire and blast caused the other APC to turn over. All six personnel in the two APC's were killed and several other soldiers in the area were seriously wounded.
PFC Fletcher was buried with full military honors in Monahans, Texas. His parents now rest next to him.
The 1967 Eagle Pass High School Year Book, "The El Cenizo" was dedicated to Kenneth Jack Fletcher. In March 1967, his parents were presented his Combat Infantryman's Badge, a posthumous Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Combat Operations in the Republic of Vietnam. The South Vietnamese Government presented the Vietnam Military Merit Medal.