Wilson D. Haigler, Sr. – Colonel, United States Marine Corps

From a contemporary press report

Wilson D. Haigler Sr., 86, a retired Marine Corps colonel and electrical engineer who specialized in communication guidance systems, died September 4, 1998 at the health care facility at Belvoir Woods in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He had prostate cancer.

Colonel Haigler retired in 1969 from the Joint Chiefs of Staff office at the Pentagon. He was a consultant to the National Security Agency until 1979.

Colonel Haigler was a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, and a graduate of George Washington University. He received a master’s degree in applied physics from Johns Hopkins University.

He joined the Marines in 1931 and was assigned initially to Quantico. He served in Shanghai before World War II and in the South Pacific during the War. He was later deputy director of the communications officers school at Quantico and senior Marine officer in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. His honors included a Legion of Merit.

Colonel Haigler was past master of the Masonic lodge in Quantico and a director of the Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism.

His wife of 37 years, Marcella Haigler, died in 1980.

Survivors include a son, Wilson D. Haigler Jr. of Burke; two brothers; a sister; and four grandsons.

HAIGLER, WILSON D., SR., Col., USMC (Ret.)

September 4, 1998, at Belvoir Woods Health Care Center, WILSON D. HAIGLER, SR., of Burke, VA. Survivors include his son, Wilson D. Haigler, Jr.; a sister, Isabelle Sheriff; two brothers, Jack and Allen Haigler; and his grandsons, Daniel, Michael, Patrick and Desmond Haigler. Col. Haigler served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 38 years, retiring in 1969. Friends may call on Wednesday, September 16 at EVERLY FUNERAL HOME, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA, from 7 to 9 p.m., a Masonic Service will be held at 7 p.m. Services will be on Thursday, September 17, at 9 a.m. at the Fort Myer Chapel. Interment Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard