Posted by XXXXXX on May 1, 2008:

George W. Hartnell, Jr. '48 No. 16701 16 Jul 1926 - 2 Apr 1990 Died in Lincoln, IL Interred in Union Cemetery, Lincoln, IL George William Hartnell, Jr., first encountered the United States Army at Tripler Army Hospital in the Territory of Hawaii, the son of 1LT George W., and Elizabeth Savage Hartnell. Punk's life as an Army brat was shortened by the death of his father in 1930. Punk and his mother moved to Schenectady, NY, and later moved to Lincoln, IL, to live with his grandmother, work on the family farm, and attend Lincoln High School. Inclined to become a surveyor, an engineer, or a farmer, the war prompted him to follow his father's lead and apply to West Point. After attending the Sullivan School in Washington, DC, he gained admission to the Class of '47. At that age, he never quite realized the adventures in store for him. Punk relished every moment of his West Point experience. A "Flanker," he was assigned to Company A, First Regiment and, later, was the Company First Sergeant. He did well in science, mathematics, and engineering but less well with the liberal arts. He also played soccer and hockey, lettering in the former. Punk's greatest pleasure as a cadet was cheering for the Army team. Changing national priorities afforded his class the opportunity to receive a three-year education in four years. Punk and the second half graduated in 1948. They entered a professional Army still flush from its recent victories. Despite the overabundance of professional soldiers at all levels, the Army was ill prepared for the next war. After the Infantry Basic Course, he was posted to the prestigious 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. His "paid vacation to Tokyo" ended abruptly when Communist forces invaded South Korea in the summer of 1950. Punk and his regiment quickly deployed to the Pusan perimeter, armed with obsolete weapons, and desperately tried to stem the tide of battle. While most units were "bugging out," many rear echelon soldiers called them the "Fighting 8th." Punk and Fox Company gained notoriety when they were trapped behind enemy lines near Yongdong for three days. A Communist offensive designed to breach the Pusan perimeter had punched a six-mile gap in the front line. Cutoff, 219 members of the "Lost Company," including wounded, "attacked in the opposite direction" for over 80 miles, engaging in fire fights, fording streams, and climbing mountains. On the day of GEN MacArthur's 2 September landing at Inchon, a sniper's bullet struck the back of Punk's head, depriving him of 30 percent of his vision. He attributed his recovery to "a hard head" and poor Chinese marksmanship. As a boy intrigued by war, I often asked my father about his experiences in Korea. He usually remained quiet and would not answer. The only war story I heard from him was of a night attack on his perimeter during a driving rain, when he raced from foxhole to foxhole to direct fire and oil his soldiers' weapons. After seven months in Brooke Army Hospital, Punk went to the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA, in the Weapons Department and in Combat Developments. Punk wrote several texts on the use of tactical nuclear weapons and participated in nuclear events at Sandia Base, evaluating the effect of tactical nuclear blasts on personnel and equipment. On 21 Dec 1953, he married Nancy McCunniff, the daughter of former Commandant of Cadets, BG Dennis E. McCunniff. They "honeymooned" while Punk attended the Infantry Advanced Course, then went to Germany. Punk commanded a rifle company in the 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. They started a family with a daughter, Helen Elizabeth. A stint as VII Corps G-2 produced a son, George III. They left Germany for an ROTC assignment at Texas A&M. The final family member, Stephen Edward, was born. For two years, his services were needed at First Army HQ on Governor's Island, NY, working for the Chief of Operations and Plans. The Hartnells then moved to California for French language training before Punk went to Vietnam. Punk served as the sector advisor for the infamous "Iron Triangle" area of Binh Duong from 1962, V63. Despite the hardship, Punk enjoyed working with an officer he greatly admired, COL "Coal Bin Willie" Wilson. Punk departed Vietnam unaware that, on that very day, an assassin's bullet would take the life of President Kennedy. From California, the family moved to Ft. Bliss, TX, where Punk was at the Air Defense Artillery School as the Chief of Combined Arms Staff. In 1967, he attended C&GSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. His final posting was to HQ, Pacific Command, where he served as General War Plans Officer, Plans Division G-1. Punk retired on New Year's Day 1968. We departed from Hawaii late at night, arriving at Travis AFB early on Christmas Day. My father checked us in at the Air Force Visiting Officers Quarters, changed into his blues and found a mess hall where our family could enjoy Christmas dinner. I have a lasting impression of my father mixing with the cooks and enlisted soldiers in his dress blues, "inspecting" and shaking everyone's hand. I was never more proud of my father than on that day, the last day I saw him in uniform. Punk retired to Lincoln, IL, and became the Dean of Data Computing at Lincoln College but then he left to manage an insurance agency for a family friend. Upon the death of his wife of 23 years, Punk retired permanently. Punk was a commissioner of the Salt Creek Drainage Commission; reinvigorated the local stamp collecting club; taught a troop of Boy Scouts all sorts of Infantry tricks; became a renowned vegetable gardener; and made his reputation as the best cook in Logan County. He spent much of his remaining life traveling across the country to visit friends and relatives and working closely with classmate Bob Peterson to develop a class network. Punk died of leukemia. He is survived by his sister Adeline Hartnell Pence; his half-sister Madge Campbell Messer; and his three children, Helen, George, and Stephen.

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