COL FLETCHER MAFFETT

​COL FLETCHER MAFFETT (Passed June 30, 2018) 

Fletch was the 219th Company Commander from 24 Sep 67 to 29 Feb 68. Fletch was a very popular Headhunter and a fixture at most of our 219th reunions. 

Colonel Fletcher (“Fletch”) Haynsworth Maffett, Sr (U.S. Army, Retired), Age 85.

     “Fletch” Maffett was born in Florence, SC on 17 January 1933, the eldest son of Robert F. and Ouida M. Maffett. After high school, he married his sweetheart, Ruth S. Maffett (also of Florence).  

     Fletch joined the U.S. Army National Guard as a Private First Class during the time of the Korean Conflict and would soon thereafter enlist into active duty where he was soon promoted to Sergeant and was selected for Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of OCS, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant. As a young Captain, Fletch switched from Artillery to the Signal Corps and became an observation pilot flying Cessna O1 Birddogs, which would become his passion. 

     During the Vietnam War, Fletch was promoted to Major and was a Flight Company Commander where he would receive the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and nine Air Medals for gallantry in action, among other citations.  

     While in the Army, Fletch would receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Omaha, and his Master’s Degree from the University of Georgia. Fletch would also become a Communications Battalion Commander in Fort Richardson, AK and later working at the Pentagon for various assignments to include the Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army and the early developer of C3 Communications for the entire U.S. Armed Forces, which would later become the gold standard for all communications systems for the private sector today. 

     Fletch retired from the U.S. Army 1984 as a Colonel and continued to work with various government contractors with the Department of Defense until deciding to become a Son of Beaufort in 2006. In Beaufort, he would become a dedicated member of the Rotary Club, the Honor Flight team representing Savannah, GA (and surrounding communities), Friends of Hunting Island Sea Turtle Conservation Project, and was highly active on the Alzheimer’s Board of Beaufort. 

     Fletch is survived by his son, Fletcher (age 61); daughter, Sharon (age 58); granddaughter, Marjorie (age 34), and great-granddaughter, Zora Mae (age 4). 

     A memorial service will be held to honor Fletch at the First Presbyterian Church in Beaufort on Thursday, 5 July 2018 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation toward your choice of Alzheimer’s prevention charity organizations would be greatly appreciated.

 

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