John W. Coulter

Dear Grandpa,
You have been gone now for 22 days and I miss you terribly. My birthday has come and gone and not hearing your voice or recieving an inspirational letter from you has really made this birthday extremely hard for me.
Last year at this time we were planning my wedding with you dreading the trip to Las Vegas but, you came. I can't believe that was almost a year ago and you walked me down the isle and gave me away. Giving you away has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I miss our calls on Sunday, I miss hearing your laugh,I miss your advice, and all your jokes. I am glad I got to hear your laugh one more time before you left. I will see you again one day, until then, please watch over us, and know that we think about you often.

YOU HAVE MY AND ARLENE'S SYMPATHY. THE SGT. MAJOR WAS AN EXCELLENT MARINE WHO WILL BE SADLY MISSED. SEMPER FI

We are losing Marines "downrange in the sandbox" every day, and it saddens all of "We Few" of the "Old Corps" -- and even more so when warriors like John have indeed given so much in the service to country and family.

To the Coulter Family: We were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of John. He was a friend for almost sixty years and he will be sorely missed. We first met when we were assigned to the Air Traffic Control Tower at MCAS Cherry Point NC in 1948. We served together there and later in Korea in 1951/1952. We have maintained contact over the years. John was an excellent controller, a treasured friend and an outstanding Marine. Lois and I extend out heartfelt coldolences to the Coulter family. May God be with you during this difficult time.

I remember "cousin John's" bearing, such a figure of pride. Pride in his family, his country and his life. More of us should be able to live and die bold like this bigger than life man.

semper fi marine. thanks for your leadership in getting us young marines thru difficult times while in tet fo 68. you WILL be remembered.

I met John through our membership in the Lions Club and it continued through our mutual interest in photography, traveling and camping. We enjoyed many good visits at his Masonville home on our summer trips north.

We are saddened at the loss of this man; we only knew him a short time but are so grateful for that. Our thoughts are with his entire family and his many, many friends.
Tom Klehr, Susan Osterhoudt, Emma and Audrey

Time is the only healer of your pain. But know that we are all with you in love if not in person.

Pam, Mike, Scott:

I will forever cherish the wonderful self portrait Uncle John gave me some years ago. Such a happy man, a larger than life character. May God bless you and your family at this difficult time by wrapping his arms around you and bringing you peace.

Your Cousin, Darcy (Kramer) Mikolon

As a young Marine second lieutenant, I had the honor of serving with Top Coulter when he was the First Sergeant of Kilo Co. Third Battalion/First Marines in Vietnam. Top Coulter was and is a Marine's Marine. His military bearing frequently gave way to his wicked sense of humor. On the occasion for the Bicentennial then Sgt Major Coulter was at Recruiting Station Edison, N.J. Somehow he located me on the retired Marine list of those living in NJ. He secretly made arrangements to have the artist in residence of the Marine Corps Major Waterhouse ( famous for his oil paintings of Marine history) paint a tiny gold Marine Corps emblem on a prosthetic eye obtained from the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. At the 1976 Marine Corps Ball, to which he had invited my wife and I, he made a special presentation to me with that bellowing laugh and I became the lucky owner of a Marine collectors edition fake eye. He knew I would cherish such an item and wear it proudly as I had lost my left eye in the battle for My Loc in 1968. Much to Top's amusement, the Navy Corpsman he sent to get the eye had inadvertently gotten a right eye instead. At the last reunion with Sergeant Major Coultier we were in tears laughing about that. He never forgot His Marines. We will miss you Sergeant Major.

Semper Fi,

Bryan J. Lash
Second Lieutenant, USMCR

You will be missed.
Semper FI

Sgt. Major Coulter, I was a young Marine Lieutenant in Viet Nam when we first met. I will always remember your encouraging words and firm guiding hand. But most of all I will remember that wonderful smile that kept it all in perspective. Semper Fidelis, George Olsen

With much sadness we bid farewell to John.
John has brightened the day for many people all his life, as I knew him as a Sidney Class of 1949 classmate. He was bright, a successful contributer to humanity as a marine and contiuing through life. Even through his recent battle with the health issues that took his life, he maintained a great sense of humor. An outstanding person, greatly missed.

John will be missed by has family and friends. He is in a better place without the pain. We love you and our hearts go out yo you.

I will certainly miss John's off-beat sense of humor. I will never forget when he would grab a lady's hand to kiss it and kiss his own hand instead. Or his quirky hats - KISMIF (keep it simple, make it fun). He used to visit MFG daily when I worked there - and kept us all laughing. I will miss you John!

Pam, Mike, Scott,
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your Dad. Will always remember John's wonderful sense of humor and how it got us through Aunt Helen's passing. Love, (Cousin) Terry

It is sad to bid goodbye to a man that knew no strangers. John was most certainly a credit to the World and the community, and his friendly handshake and dry wit will be missed be anyone that ever crossed his path. May God bless you, John and all of your family.

to Pam and family-I will truly miss Uncle John and have many fond memories of him and my daddy-He is now free to be together with Aunt Jean and Dad with our Lord.Semper Fi-Uncle John and God Speed

We send our deepest symphty to all the Coulter family. I totally enjoyed time spent with John over the past few years while in Sidney for the July Alum functions. He had a great sense of humor and many stories to tell. John we will miss you very much.

My deepest sympathy to John's family. I will miss his sense of humor around the apartment building.

"Give rest, O Lord, to your servant John with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighng, but life everlasting."

Our hearts are heavy because we have lost such a special friend. One that made us laugh and feel good about ourselves and knew just when you needed a hug. In our hearts you will forever be. Each time we look at the many photographs we will think of you. God must have been in need of a good photographer. Love Vickie, Monte, Dianna, Betsy and Susan.

To the family of Sgt. Major John Coulter from the Marine Corps family of the Marine Air Traffic Control Association; please accept our condolences for your loss. "Another Marine reporting, Saint Peter. He's served his time in hell."

Scott, Penny and all- our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

Our condolence to your family, we have your family in our prayers.

Dad, I am so sorry that you are gone, but at least you are no longer in pain. Now you are with Mom, Grandma, and Clara. I wish I could be there but I cannot at this time.