Andrew J. Gatsis

Andrew John Gatsis, of Rocky Mount, NC died peacefully on Sunday, March 21, 2010, the first day of Spring. General Gatsis was born in Birmingham, AL on April 28, 1921, the son of Andrew John Gatsis and Pearl P. Gatsis. He attended Birmingham City Schools, joined the Army in 1939, and by Congressional appointment, entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the Class of 1945.
During his 36 year military career, General Gatsis served with two Airborne Divisions as a paratrooper; he later commanded a rifle company during the Korean War where he personally led a counterattack on Christmas morning, 1952, ejecting two communist battalions from a strategic stronghold known as Luke’s Castle. This battle, now known as the Battle of Christmas Hill, was listed in Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine as one of the 12 most famous Christmas Day battles in American history. For this action, Captain Gatsis received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest decoration for valor. Later, he served at the Pentagon as a logistics officer and at European Headquarters in Paris, France as Manager of Plans and Policy for all European and Middle Eastern Country Assistance Programs. Some of his other assignments included commanding in Vietnam for two tours as an Infantry Battalion Commander and as a Brigade Commander. Later, he became the Senior Advisor to the South Vietnamese Army, and was the first American soldier to cross into Cambodia with the SVA during that brief incursion. In between the two tours in Vietnam, he was Chief of Tactics Group at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA. He then proceeded to Hawaii, where he served under Admiral John S. McCain in the Commander in Chief Pacific Headquarters. Thereafter he became Assistant Division Commander of the 25th U.S. Infantry Division and Commander of the U.S. Army Support Command. Among the many schools attended and completed are the Counter-Intelligence School, Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air War College. Except for the Medal of Honor, General Gatsis held every decoration for valor bestowed by the United States. Among his decorations and awards are the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars with V, four Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 27 Air Medals, two Purple Hearts, the South Vietnamese Army Distinguished Order, and three Gallantry Crosses with Gold, Silver, and Bronze star. In the Heroes Room on the U.S.S Alabama, a plaque honors him in his native state.
During his retirement, he belonged to many civic and patriotic organizations. He was on the National Council of The John Birch Society, and spoke in all 50 states on defense matters. One of his greatest interests was the well-being of animals and pets; he gave generously to the Nash-Edgecombe Humane Society and Merlin’s Song in Rocky Mount. In 1949, Lieutenant Gatsis married Alice Wynne Suiter of Rocky Mount, returning there to live upon his retirement in 1975. His wife and his four children survive him. They are Wynne Coleman and her husband Gerry of Raleigh, Margaret Cressionnie and her husband Robert of Rocky Mount, Andrew John Gatsis, Jr. of Rocky Mount, and John Thomas Gatsis of Raleigh. Other relations are sister-in-law, Mrs. Thomas B. Suiter, Jr.; nephew, Tom Suiter, III and his wife, Julie; and niece, Antoinette Culler Suiter.
General Gatsis’s only sister predeceased him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nash-Edgecombe Humane Society, P.O. Box 1783, Rocky Mount, 27802; Merlin’s Song, 1217 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804; or The John Birch Society, P.O. Box 8040, Appleton Wisconsin, 54912.
The family will welcome friends for visitation on Wednesday evening, March 24, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the family residence in Rocky Mount, 1712 Lafayette Circle. On Thursday, there will be a private funeral service to the glory of God and in loving memory of Andrew John Gatsis.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funerals & Cremations, 661 English Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at
www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com