Michael Darden Swearingen, Jr.

   Michael (Mike) Darden Swearingen Jr., 78, of Albemarle Beach Road, Roper, NC, died Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Vidant Chowan Hospital, Edenton.

   Mr. Swearingen was born in Texarkana, Ark., on November 3, 1942, and was the son of the late Michael D. Swearingen Sr. and Eunice Whitted Swearingen of Gladewater, Texas.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Linda Schloegl Swearingen and a sister, Mollie.

   Mr. Swearingen was owner/broker of a franchise, United Country/Swearingen Realty, serving northeastern North Carolina until his retirement in 2014.

   He graduated from Gladewater High School and the University of North Texas and won several East Texas regional boxing titles in his weight division. He was named Outstanding Boxer of the All-East Texas Tournament one year and fought in the Texas State Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions.

   Mr. Swearingen enlisted in the U.S. Army Paratroopers in 1965, and through a series of volunteer enlisted and officer training schools, he became a fully qualified Airborne Infantry Special Forces officer (also known as Green Beret). He served in the Third Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, NC, prior to being reassigned to Vietnam in November 1967. He served more than three years active duty, including his final year (November 1967 – November 1968) in Vietnam with the 199^th Light Infantry Brigade (separate), a highly decorated unit formed and trained specifically for combat duty in the Vietnam War. The 199^th Commanding General Frederic E. Davison personally awarded him a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service for his full year of Vietnam duty at the end of his tour. He was also awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, U.S. Valorous Unit Citation and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. The latter two were for its actions in the 1968 Tet Offensive. The year 1968 was the highest year of U.S. killed-in-action casualties of the war, which included the1968 Tet Offensive, primarily against the South Vietnamese Viet Cong, and the May 1968 Offensive, primarily against the North Vietnamese Army.

   After his Vietnam service, Mr. Swearingen pursued a public relations career in Texas, Georgia and South Carolina before settling in northeast North Carolina as a public affairs representative for Weyerhaeuser Company based at its Plymouth, NC, Mill Complex. In addition of his duties at the Plymouth Mill Complex, he provided public relations support to several other Weyerhaeuser manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Virginia and forestry operations in the northern half of the then 600,000-acre North Carolina Region. He was also the Weyerhaeuser registered lobbyist in Virginia.

   After Weyerhaeuser, he formed and operated Agency East Inc., a northeastern N.C. regional public relations, advertising and marketing consulting firm, based in Plymouth, before opening his real estate business.

   Mr. Swearingen was active in civic affairs and served as an officer and on the boards of numerous local and regional organizations including Northeastern North Carolina Tomorrow, the Southern Albemarle Association, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, United Way, the Latham House Foundation, and was a founder of the Port O’Plymouth Roanoke River Museum. In addition, he served several years as president of the Historical Society of Washington County, Inc. during development of the museum, the initial catalyst for the Plymouth downtown redevelopment project.

   Surviving are his wife Annette Pierce Swearingen; his sister, Pat McClesky of Dallas, TX; a niece, Molly McClesky Williams and husband Brian, also of Dallas; a nephew, Michael Roy McCleskey and wife Sarah of Austin, TX; as well as five nephews, two step-nieces and one step-grand-niece.

   Inurnment of his cremated remains will be in Arlington National Cemetery in a private ceremony.

   In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Historical Society of Washington County, Inc., P. O. Box 296, Plymouth, NC 27962.

   Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.