Gordon Batcheller ’60

Gordy was born into a Navy family and devoted his professional career to the military. But before joining the Marine Corps he flourished as an athlete, first at Portsmouth (N.H.) High School in football and baseball. At Princeton, he concentrated on football and earned recognition as a first-team All-Ivy guard. Gordy joined the NROTC and Tiger Inn and majored in economics.

After graduation he began Marine Corps officer training and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1961. Gordy advanced through the ranks, married Bette in 1964, went to Vietnam, and was promoted to command of a company. A month later his company was attacked near Hue City, initiating the bloody battle there. Gordy was badly wounded but was awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy’s highest medal, for his bravery and leadership.

He retired from the Marines in 1991 as a full colonel and then began another career as a civilian at the Army War College, teaching the students how to effectively deal with the military.

Gordy died Sept. 22, 2025, still devoted to traditional values and convinced that the nation was declining from them, but always with a resigned air and good heart. He survived by his second wife, Amanda; his two children; and one granddaughter, to whom we express our sympathy.