Alan Hartman, Jr.:
CLASS OF 1972
South Hills High SchoolClass of 1972
Pittsburgh, PA
Maryville University of St. LouisClass of 1993
St. louis, MO
University of MissouriClass of 1987
St. louis, MO
Liberty Elementary SchoolClass of 1968
Pittsburgh, PA
Alan's Story
Life
I was born in Bangor, ME in 1954. However, I lived in Pittsburgh, PA from 1957 - 1972 (went into military). After leaving the U.S. Navy (1975), I returned home to Pittsburgh and attended school until I graduated and relocated to St. Louis, MO in 1978 (where I am presently)
Workplace
Upon exiting the U.S. Navy in 1975, I used the GI Bill to attend a technical school in Pittsburgh, PA and received an Associates Degree in Drafting & Design Technology in 1978. I was interviewed, hired, and relocated to St. Louis, MO by McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. (where I worked for 15 years in Missile & Satellite design as a Structural/Mechanical Designer using a CAD/CAM application called Unigraphics). During my years there, I attended Maryville University and received a BS degree in Information Systems in 1993. When I resigned in 1992, I had worked my way up to a Senior Engineer. I have been with EDS since then as a Consultant traveling throughout the U.S. mentoring designers at companies that use our engineering applications. I enjoy transferring my knowledge and techniques to others.
Military
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September 1975 (and turned in my Draft Card). Boot Camp was in Great Lakes, IL, upon which I received orders to report on board the USS Tuscaloosa LST 1187 (an amphibious warship that delivers tanks/troops...Expand for more
to the beach) homeported in San Diego, CA. This ship was my home for the next three years. I made two WESPAC's (Western Pacific Cruise), and made many visits to Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines (where I had an apartment off base). In April 1975 we (and most of the 7th Fleet) were involved in the evacuation of South Vietnam (Operations Eagle Pull & Frequent Wind). On the night of April 29th (Saigon fell on the 30th), we had a spectacular view of the swarms of helicopters fleeing the country as we sat off Vung Tau at the mouth of the Mekong River. A poignant event that will always be with me occurred the next day as we nursed old, rusting ships, over-burdened with refugees. A young Vietnamese woman crying, lowered her infant down to me as we pulled alongside the ship. I reached up to grab hold of the baby to prevent her from dropping it between my boat and the hull of the ship. She pleaded with to take her baby with me. An officer forced me to return the baby. I was shaken to realize that she was willing to give up her child, possibly never seeing it again, to ensure its safety & survival. To this day, I think of this woman many times and wonder if she and her child...made it to safety! I left the Navy in September 1975 with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class and rate of Boatswainsmate.
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