John Henry Hartman (Class of 1964) memoir relating to the Vietnam War (AMS.1U.H13)

This collection contains a typed memoir written by John H. Hartman for his children and grandchildren about his experiences during the Vietnam War. He titled it: “Once a Marine - 1 June 1964 to 31 December 1969.” The memoir starts with his Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship at Brown University then discusses his training in the United State Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, his experiences during his tour of duty in Vietnam flying H-46 helicopters as a member of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (HMM-165), his return the the United States and his service as a helicopter flight instructor, and finally his transition to civilian life. Hartman also gives his opinions about the strategic and tactical decisions of the Vietnam War and the lessons that should have been learned.

The basic task of the marine helicopters during the Vietnam War was to haul troops and supplies wherever and whenever they were needed. Hartman gives an excellent description of a typical day and the basic procedures for the missions that they flew. His missions were dangerous and he was lucky to be injured only once by a sniper bullet that came through the windshield and narrowly missed his head. Hartman also describes each of the other pilots that he served with and tells anecdotes about his experiences with them. The men included are:

• Jerry Campbell
• Michael Carley (Brown, Class of 1962)
• Frank Cius
• Stan Clayman (Brown, Class of 1964)
• Edward "Ned" Connelly (Brown, Class of 1965)
• Al Dickerson
• Jerry Gartman
• Steve Hanson
• "Oink" Johnson
• Tom Lougheed
• Billy Massey
• Jack McCracken
• Daniel McDyre
• Lawrence Medlin
• Jim Morgan
• Dr. Joe Page
• Ted Reed
• Ron Shreves
• James Sramek
• David Stewart