Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Jack completed a 15 month training program with the US Army & USMC in 1964/64. His details were:

Regiment No                    235094 (Australian Army)

Corps:                                Infantry

1959-60                             2 Commando Company Melbourne  Australia

1964-65                             Completed Special Forces training  in USA.

Jack’s first course was the 7-D-F3 Pathfinder Course (4 Apr to 9 May 64) and was conducted by the Airborne Department commanded by Colonel Lamar Welch. The course had about 30 students, junior officers and NCO's. There were other foreign students including 4 Greeks and 2 Saudi Arabians. US students included Capts Dick Morton, Tony Springer and Walt Rosso. Capt Paul Sincere was an instructor.

Next the 7-D-F4 Ranger Course 11/64 (21 May 64 and lasted 9 weeks) His Ranger buddy was Capt RM (Dick) Renfro.

On 17 Jan 65, Jack started the 12 weeks Special Forces Officers (Long) Course.

1965 - 1968                      SAS commanded 1 SAS Sqn and later the first 2IC of the Regiment

1967                                   Vietnam with MACV – J2-11 Intelligence

Final Rank                         Lt Colonel     

Died                                   2007                                    

Actions for the award of George Medal 

Captain John Fletcher, who received the George Medal for his selfless courage in the Rip tragedy in Melbourne, now is in Malaya.

Several small craft carrying C.M.F. commandos were swamped or overturned while crossing the Rip. .at the mouth of the bay in an amphibious night exercise.

Two commandos lost their lives in the tragedy and manyothers were rescued afterbeing in the water for several hours.

Captain Fletcher, in command of an amphibian which sank, with eight other soldiers on board, recovered a lifebuoy and organised the members of his party around it. He supported one soldier
whose life preserver became deflated.

 The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), 31 December, p. 1. , viewed 18 Jul 2024,