James V. Hartinger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_V._Hartinger

James Vincent Hartinger (April 17, 1925 – October 9, 2000) was a United States Air Force general who served as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command from 1980 to 1981; Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command from 1981 to 1982; and North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command from 1982 to 1984. He was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours and was the first recipient of the Master Space Badge.

CITATION: The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America has presented the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to General James V. Hartinger, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense (NORAD), from 1980 to 1984. The distinctive accomplishments of General Hartinger reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.

General James V Hartinger Award

The General James V Hartinger Award is named for the first Commander of the United States Air Force Space Command.

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association presents the award annually to an individual from the military services, other government agencies, or industry, in recognition of outstanding achievement in the military space mission of the United States.

The award commemorative is a pure silver medallion depicting the globe with orbiting satellites and a space vehicle representing out nation's involvement in space. The reverse side is the National Defense Industrial Association crest identifying the Rocky Mountain Chapter as the sponsoring organization. A plaque, exhibiting both sides of the medallion and identifying award recipients, is on permanent display at Headquarters Air Force Space Command.

GENERAL JAMES V. HARTINGER Retired August 01,1984 Died October 09,2000

General James V. Hartinger is commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command and commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, with consolidated headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

General Hartinger was born in 1925, in Middleport, Ohio, where he graduated from high school in 1943. He received a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1949, and a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1963. The general is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1955 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1966.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in July 1943 and attained the grade of sergeant while serving in the Infantry. Following World War II he entered the academy and upon graduation in 1949 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

General Hartinger attended pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., where he graduated in August 1950. He then was assigned as a jet fighter pilot with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany. In December 1952 the general joined the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. While there he flew his first combat missions in F-84 Thunderjets.

Returning to Williams Air Force Base in July 1953, he served as a gunnery instructor with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron. The general then transferred to Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y., in August 1954 as a fighter pilot and air operations officer in the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School.

In July 1958 General Hartinger began a four-year tour of duty in the Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. After receiving his master's degree in June 1963, he was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.

Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1966, he completed F-4C Phantom replacement training with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. From December 1966 to December 1967, he was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He completed more than 100 aerial combat missions while assigned in the Republic of Vietnam.

In 1968 General Hartinger was the F-111 test director at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and then took command of the famed "Flying Tigers," the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-105s at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The general became deputy chief of staff for plans at North American Air Defense Command headquarters, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., in June 1970. He moved to Maxwell Air Force Base in May 1973 as commandant of the Air War College.

From July 1975 until June 1978, General Hartinger was commander of the Tactical Air Command's 9th Air Force with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. He then was commander of Tactical Air Command's 12th Air Force with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. He became commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command in January 1980 and assumed his present duties in September 1982.

The general is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours and is the first recipient of the Master Space Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force) with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II. General Hartinger is also an honorary doctor of military science, Norwich University, Vt., in 1982 and an honorary doctor of laws, University of Akron, Ohio, in 1983.

He was promoted to general Oct. 1, 1981, with same date of rank. (Current as of December 1983)

HARTINGER, JAMES VINCENT  17 April 1925 - 9 October 2000  Died in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Interred in Riverview Cemetery, Middleport, Ohio.  Aged 75 years.  JAMES VINCENT HARTINGER was one of five children born to Violet and Lawrence Hartinger in Middleport, Ohio. He loved his hometown and never forgot his roots. While Jim enjoyed every aspect of life, he was deeply passionate about three things: his family, the military, and sports. Even as a child, he wanted to be the best at everything he did, and the desire to win spurred him to become an avid competitor. 

Jim graduated from high school in 1943 and served as an Infantry NCO in WWII as a 60 mm mortar section leader. During the last months of WWII, while planning a move to France with the 71st Infantry Division, Jim received an appointment to the Academy.

At West Point, Jim enjoyed playing football but lacrosse became his greatest athletic accomplishment. He was an All-American for three years and inducted into the West Point Hall of Fame. Today, the James V Hartinger award is given to the lacrosse team's most valuable player each year.

After graduation, Jim married Susan Allensworth, also from Middleport. The couple had three children: James V. Jr., a retired Air Force colonel and fighter pilot currently flying for Delta Airlines; Kristin, who trains and sells horses in Colorado Springs; and Mike, also in Colorado Springs, is a high school football coach. There are seven grandchildren.

Jim joined the Air Force after graduation and became a career fighter pilot, logging more than 5,000 flying hours. He had the distinction of flying every fighter the Air Force procured during his 35 years on active duty.

Following pilot training, Jim's first assignment was at Fuerstenfeldbruk, Germany. There, he exhibited his skills in the skies over Germany, as well as on the ground as quarterback of the championship Air Force football team. When Jim volunteered for combat duty in Korea, his commander said he would approve the transfer only if Jim first led the 36th "Fuersty" football team to the Air Forces-Europe title. Not favored to win, the team played the first-ever football game in Wembley Stadium in London and won a hard-fought championship. Jim then joined the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, and flew his first combat missions in the F-84 Thunderjet. Jim served a number of assignments after Korea, including gunnery instructor at Williams AFB, AZ; air operations officer and fighter pilot in the 331st Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Stewart AFB, NY; and duty at the Pentagon, during which he earned a master's degree in business administration from George Washington University.

Following F-4C Phantom combat training, Jim spent a year at Military Assistance Command - Viet Nam, Headquarters, Saigon and flew more than 100 combat missions. Jim's assignments after southeast Asia included: F-111 Test Director at Nellis AFB, NV, Commander of the famed "Flying Tigers," the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell AFB, KS; a tour as a one-star general at the North American Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, CO; and Commandant of the Air War College in Alabama.

In early 1973, U.S. prisoners of war (POWs) were released from North Viet Nam. A large number of these officers were selected to attend the Air War College while Jim was commandant. They have very fond memories of how "he took us under his wing, entertained and supported us, always remembering everyone's name, really making us forget the worst of the POW experience. He was amazing - a great guy."

In 1975, Jim was commander of Ninth Air Force at Shaw AFB, SC. Later that year, the family suffered a personal tragedy as Susie passed away after a short illness. Jim and Susie shared 25 years together.

Jim was promoted to lieutenant general and then served as Twelfth Air Force Commander at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX. This was a very special time because his son Mike played football at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1978, Jim met and fell in love with Mickey Christian, a nurse from West Virginia. They married in October 1979 and, two months later, when Jim was named Commander-in-Chief of NORAD, they moved to Colorado Springs. Two very significant events occurred following this transfer: the CINC position was upgraded to a four-star billet in 1982 and the Air Force accepted Jim's recommendation to establish a new operational command for space that same year. Jim was promoted to four-star general and became the "founding-father" of the Air Force Space Command.

After his retirement in 1984, GEN Hartinger remained active as an advisor, board member, and consultant to several defense contractors and nonprofit organizations. While his military awards and decorations were many, other equally proud honors followed: the Order of The Sword presented by his NCOs; the Hartinger Medal established by the National Defense Industrial Association, awarded annually for extraordinary achievement in space; and the renaming of Main Street in his hometown as "GEN Hartinger Parkway."

Jim played golf, remained an avid card player, and enjoyed the time spent with Mickey and their two Scottie dogs, Chivas and Regal. Unfortunately, GEN Hartinger contracted Alzheimer's disease, which caused his death and the loss of a truly great American. In 2000, just before Jim's passing, the Air Force Space Command Headquarters building in Colorado was appropriately renamed the "Hartinger Building."