|
 Thomas
Joseph Hartman
was born on August 18, 1948 to Edwin and Ruth Hartman, who resided at 345
Washington Ave, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Thomas was the youngest of 3
children: Marjorie, Edwin, and Thomas.
His father,
Edwin Sr., served in World War II as a B-24 bomber tail gunner. Edwin Sr. was a
construction worker, employed by Shanaman’s, a lumber and building Supply
Company located on Bridge St., (he died in a construction accident when Thomas
was six). His mother worked in the school cafeteria at the
Memorial Junior High
School (today the Barkley school on 2nd Ave.), and later in the
cafeteria at the High School. She also worked at J C Penney in King of Prussia.
Thomas attended
Phoenixville High School Vocational School, then located at the high school on
Gay St. He choose vocational courses in machine shop to advance his mechanical
talents and interests. Tom purchased a Honda motorcycle, and a 1965 Corvette
Stingray which he occasionally raced at Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, PA.
Thomas was a
member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Church St. in Phoenixville. He worked
at the church as a Caretaker maintaining the grounds. Thomas played youth
baseball, football, and volleyball for the church’s teams at the YMCA.
Thomas was a
member of the Key Club, - an international youth service organization sponsored
by the Kiwanis. The club sponsors social affairs as well as school and community
service projects.
Thomas was a
member of the National Honor Society, and in his senior year lettered in
football. He performed his vocational co op at John Middleton’s in King of
Prussia fabricating machinery for the plant.
After
graduation from Phoenixville High in 1966 Thomas attended Penn State at Berks
Campus in Reading, PA for a year. Afterward, he obtained employment at
Wiedemann Machine Company in King of Prussia as a lathe operator.
In September
1968, Thomas was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Fort Bragg, North
Carolina for basic training, and advance infantry training at Fort Polk,
Louisiana. Thomas was then sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for NCO school (Non
Commissioned Officers School) after which he was promoted to Buck Sergeant.
In September 1969, Thomas was sent to Vietnam, serving with
Company C,
2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 8th Infantry
Brigade (Panthers), 4th Division. On November 18th near
Plei Mrong in the Pleiku Province in the central highlands, his unit came under
heavy enemy fire.
Sergeant Thomas
Joseph Hartman died in this battle. For his courage, he was posthumously awarded
the Silver Star. The citation states “…Reacting immediately Sergeant Hartman
directed his armored personnel carrier to an advantageous fighting position.
He then manned his vehicle’s 50 caliber machine gun and placed a heavy
volume of fire on the enemy positions. He continued to fire on the
enemy until he was mortally wounded by an enemy B-4O rocket. Sergeant
Hartman’s courageous actions, professionalism and exemplary devotion
to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”
Thomas was also
awarded the Bronze Star,
Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the
Combat
Infantryman Badge posthumously. He previously was awarded the
National Defense
Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze service Star,
Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Expert Badge with machine gun bar, Sharpshooter Badge with rifle
bar, and the Marksman Badge with automatic rifle bar.
A Memorial service was held at St Peter’s Episcopal Church
on November 26, 1969. Burial was at St. Paul’s Memorial Church Cemetery, in
Oaks, PA near Valley Forge with full military honors.
Thomas’s mother
became a member of the American Gold Star Mothers, and attended many veteran
organizations functions. She succeeded Dorothy Detwiler, mother of hero
Larry Detwiler,
as President of the local chapter. Thomas’s brother, Edwin served in the Army
and served in Vietnam 1967-1968.
|
