LtCol Emmett Bruce Sigmon, Jr., 86, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), died early Wednesday morning, December 28, 2011 at his home. Born September 17, 1925 in Morganton, NC, he was the son of the late Emmett B. and Myrtle White Sigmon. Since retiring from the Marine Corps in 1970, he had resided in Durham. Bruce graduated from Cool Springs High School, Cool Springs, NC, and attended Mitchell College in Statesville, NC. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1943, was commissioned to Second Lieutenant June 1948, and retired Lieutenant Colonel in October 1970 to return to university.

During World War II Bruce served with Marine Aircraft Group Sixty-One from 1943 to 1945 and participated in combat air operations in the Southwest Pacific area. As an intelligence officer in the First Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from 1950-1951 he participated in the landing at Inchon and the operations for the capture of Seoul, Korea, the Chosin Reservoir, and the Spring-Summer offensive in the Central Sector of Korea. During the Cuban missile crisis he served as Deputy J-2 (Intelligence) to the Commanding General Unconventional Warfare Task Force Atlantic. From 1966 -1967 during the Vietnam War he served as Assistant Chief of Staff G-2 (Intelligence) to the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division.

Bruce received more than a dozen personal and unit awards and citations for combat service. His personal decorations included the Legion of Merit with Valor device, two Bronze Stars with Valor device presented by the President of the United States for service “in the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service,” and a Meritorious Service Medal. He also held citations from the Republics of Korea and Vietnam.

Trained in Intelligence Operations by the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency, Bruce later taught in the Naval Intelligence Postgraduate School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. During his assignment as Commanding Officer of the Reconnaissance Company and the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, he provided intelligence staff support to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on matters before the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security Council.

Following his retirement, Bruce attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, completing Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics, Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. From 1974-1993 he served as Assistant Vice President for Planning in the Office of the President of the University of North Carolina for the sixteen-university system. Throughout his service in the University, he was a strong proponent for the strengthening of the overall system of education in North Carolina. He was a senior consultant to the Governor of North Carolina on North Carolina’s 1992 Progress Report on Education and was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary for services performed. Bruce was a communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, a life member of the Retired Officers Association, a member of the Chosin Few, and a member of the North Carolina Council for Business and Energy, North Carolina Interagency Task Force on Technologies in Education, Durham City-County Economic Development Task Force.

Surviving Bruce are two sons, Emmett B. (Skip) Sigmon, III and wife Dr. Jane Nady Sigmon of Alexandria, VA, and Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Andrew Sigmon (USAF) and wife Karen Sigmon of Gig Harbor, WA; his stepdaughter, Stephanie Anne Sigmon Christensen of Charleston, SC; his stepson, John Alexander Sigmon, of Tacoma, WA; his sister, Mary J. Sigmon Johnston and husband Ken of Hickory; and two brothers, James W. Sigmon of Charlotte and Ray Andrew Sigmon of Duluth, GA.

Bruce’s wife of 57 years, Charlotte Emory Sigmon, died December 22nd, 2011. Also preceding him in death is a sister, Sara A. Sigmon Deweese.

A memorial service for Bruce will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 31 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, the Rev. Robert K. Kaynor officiating. Inurnment with full military honors will be in the church columbarium. The family will receive friends in the church parish hall following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 82 Kimberly Drive, Durham, NC 27707. Howerton & Bryan Funeral Home is assisting the Sigmon family.