Captain John G. Gardner, USMC, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship Grant

The Captain John G. Gardner, USMC, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship honors a dedicated Marine who went missing in action during the Vietnam War. Established by Local Chapter 124 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, it aims to support the descendants of decorated Vietnam Veterans from 18 western counties in North Carolina. This scholarship provides financial assistance to graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue higher education at accredited institutions.

This scholarship honors Captain John Garrett Gardner, U.S. Marine Corps, a native of Spring Creek in Madison County, NC. Garrett graduated from Spring Creek High School in 1959, Mars Hill Junior College in 1961, and the University of Georgia in 1964 with a degree in forestry.
At age 26, Captain Gardner was listed as "Missing In Action" after the rescue helicopter he was piloting was shot down by enemy ground fire in Laos, Southeast Asia. He received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal and numerous other awards while proudly serving with the USMC in Vietnam.
The Federal Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office began gathering information on Gardner's case in 1973. Following interviews with local villagers and the discovery of remains and other evidence at several test sites, a full excavation of the Laotian jungle crash site was conducted in February 1999. Captain Gardner's remains were recovered in 1999 and positively identified a year later. On September 8, 2000, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Captain Gardner's mother bequeathed funds to Local Chapter 124, Vietnam Veterans of America, Asheville, NC. Members of Local 124, VVA, felt it appropriate and a great honor to the Gardner family to establish this scholarship fund, the purpose of which is to assist the relatives or descendants (which can include children, stepchildren and grandchildren) of active duty decorated Vietnam Veterans in their quest for higher education.

Eligibility

Graduating public or private high school seniors who are residents of the 18 westernmost counties (Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey and including the Qualla Boundary) and who will attend an accredited U.S. community college or 4-year college or university on a full-time basis in the fall following the award.