Col. Peter L. Hilgartner, 87

Col. Peter Hilgartner USMC, Retired passed away peacefully at Brightview Assisted Living on January 8, 2015, in Great Falls, VA, at 87 years of age. Funeral services are being held on Saturday January 24th, at 10:30 am, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 10550 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066, to be followed at a future date by burial at Arlington National Cemetery. While flowers are also welcome, his memory would be honored by memorial donations to the Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd, Suite 102 • PMB 609 • Oceanside, CA 92057(https://semperfifund.org).

Peter L. Hilgartner was born in Austin, Texas on 16 October, 1927. Following high school graduation from St. George’s School, Newport, Rhode Island in 1945, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He then received a fleet appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1951. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He served in the Korean War from March 1952 to March 1953. He was an artillery forward observer, and received the Bronze Star with combat V for meritorious conduct against the enemy in these actions. Most of the rest of his storied Marine Corps career was spent in the infantry.

In Vietnam, he commanded the 1st Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, the most decorated combat battalion in the U. S. Marine Corps. From November 1966 to September 1967, his battalion fought in numerous actions, including every major action which occurred in the 1st Marine Division sector during that time. His tour as Battalion Commander of a front line Marine infantry Battalion was one of the longest of any during the war. During this time he was decorated with the Silver Star medal, for gallantry in combat during Operation Swift. He also received the Legion of Merit, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and with Gold Star (two awards). Under his command, his unit received two Presidential Unit Citations, for Operation Union and Union II, and for Operation Swift. Standing 6’6” tall, he was called Highpockets by his Marines in Vietnam, who loved him for his competency and his concern for his men’s welfare. His officers called him “the Dragon.”

Returning from Vietnam, he obtained a Master’s degree in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty as a staff officer in Saigon. Upon completion of this Vietnam tour, he was reassigned to HQ Marine Corps and retired from active service with the rank of Colonel in May 1972.

He then began a new career in the brokerage investment business, becoming a Vice President – Investments with the NYSE listed firm, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc. in 1981. He retired for a second time in 1998.

Colonel Hilgartner was also the author of “Highpocket’s War Stories, and other Tall Tales”, an autobiography, written with Sam Ginder, with many tales of his military creativity as well as anecdotes of an interesting life, and author of “Buckshot and the Boy”, a cowboy story based on an experience of his youth. His article entitled “Sergeant Hillous York and the Parade”, a true story from his Vietnam command, written for the Marine Corps Gazette, was awarded the Francis Fox Parry Combat Initiative Award in 2004. Colonel Hilgartner was a member of the Order of St. Crispin, an honorary association of combat Marine Corps Infantry officers.

Colonel Hilgartner’s legacy extends to his community contributions. He led the Great Falls Memorial Committee after September 11th, 2001, and with the help of his wife Sara, and a dedicated committee, today the Great Falls Memorial, located next to the town library, is the focal point of community patriotic events. He was a past President of the McLean Rotary Club. An avid hunter, outdoorsman, and conservationist, Col. Hilgartner was a founder and past President of the Northern Virginia Brittany Club. He shared his love of hunting as a qualified Virginia Hunter Education Instructor. He also was an avid woodworker, a committed Christian, and an active member of his church, Christ the King Lutheran, Great Falls, VA.

The patriarch of his large extended family, Peter L. Hilgartner is survived by his wife, Sara L. Hilgartner, his five children by his first wife, Frances Haynes Hilgartner: Linda H. Bassert, Diana H. Boyd, Dale H. Cirillo, David L. Hilgartner, and Paul C. Hilgartner, 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, his stepson Greg Fernlund and two step-grandchildren. “Uncle Pete” also filled the role of loving uncle and grandfather to his deceased brother’s 5 children and 11 grandchildren.

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