Lon Mike Fletcher
10.5.65

Lon Mike Fletcher – 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 at 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 14^th 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.