Fort Hood family tries to cope after lieutenant's death

Family tries to cope with lieutenant's death
Posted on: Thursday, September 11, 2008, 5:19 AM
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

Bart Fletcher wanted to impact the world.

He was loyal, opinionated, dedicated, driven, passionate and tenacious. He set his sights on something and he accomplished it.

He wanted to be an Army officer. The journey was difficult, but Bart wouldn't have it any other way. He took the challenging road all the time, anyway.

First Lt. Robert Bartlett Fletcher died Monday in Killeen when he was shot by a soldier in his unit, the 1st Cavalry Division's Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. Bart was the company's executive officer.

"He was my best friend. He's the person I want to talk to. He's the person I confided in. He's the person I trusted," Katie said of Bart. "I'm not sure where you go from there."

She will now focus all her energy on getting into medical school. Bart always encouraged her in whatever she wanted to do.

"He would be upset if I gave it up just because I couldn't handle this," Katie said.

Bart sent an e-mail to family and friends during the holidays from Iraq. In it, he wrote:

"You only can live in the present, so take advantage of the time you have with your family, friends and loved ones. Enjoy their company and take a second to remember all that is good in your lives."

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