Archie C. Kuntze

Archie C. Kuntze (12 November 1920 – 14 December 1980) was a United States Navy Captain who served in conflicts from the 1940s through the 1960s, including as the Commander, Headquarters Support Activity Saigon during the early stages of the Vietnam War. In November 1966 he was court-martialled, but was only convicted of minor offenses which effectively ended his navy career.

Early life Kuntze was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on 27 April 1920. He attended Sheboygan High School, graduating in 1938.

Military career He entered the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in 1938 as part of the Class of 1942, however his class was graduated early in December 1941 following the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to a destroyer and saw action in the Solomon Islands campaign (including the Battle of Savo Island and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal), the New Georgia campaign and the Bougainville campaign. On 16 April 1945, while serving on during the invasion of Okinawa the ship was attacked by four Kamikazes, with one hitting the ship killing 14 crewmen and wounding nine, including Kuntze. Following hospitalization in Hawaii he later rejoined the Harding as second in command.

Following the Korean War, Kuntze served as an executive officer at the USNA and then as a planning officer in the Amphibious Training Command, United States Pacific Fleet. In October 1957, he was given command of the destroyer . In 1959 he was appointed placement officer in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. In November 1962 he was appointed commander of Mine Squadron 7. From 1963 he studied advanced management at Harvard Business School, graduating in early 1964. ($ in modern dollars) Kuntze became known as "the American Mayor of Saigon" given his absolute control of the supply system which operated separately from Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV). His performance in this role put him on the list for promotion to Rear admiral.

MACV commander General William Westmoreland became increasingly dissatisfied with Kuntze's personal behaviour, a perceived underperformance in meeting MACV requests and the massive loss of U.S. supplies into the South Vietnamese black market. After petitioning by Westmoreland, in September 1965 Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, Admiral U. S. Grant Sharp Jr. agreed to transfer common support functions from the navy to the new United States Army 1st Logistical Command.

Kuntze was accused of working with American William J. Crum who operated a crime syndicate across Southeast Asia with extensive interests in the Vietnamese black market, however no link was ever proven. The court-martial began at Treasure Island on 3 November, before three Admirals and six Captains. On 14 November Kuntze was cleared of 15 charges, but found guilty of three charges of "conduct unbecoming an officer" for letting Suen use his government car and living "openly and notoriously in his official quarters" with Suen and of abusing his position by importing silk for Suen's father. He received a reprimand and lost 100 points on the navy promotion list effectively ending his career and he soon resigned from the navy.

Later life and death Following his retirement from the navy he returned to Sheboygan. He reportedly never saw Suen again and on 12 March 1968 he married Mary Ann Steil Baumann. He later worked as an alderman on the city council from 1970 to 1978.

He died of a heart attack on 14 December 1980 at St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan. He was buried at Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan.