Leonard P. Gartner
Leonard Gartner, of Hastings, Nebraska, entered the U.S. Navy on Wednesday, February 26th, 1964 as a Seaman. He attended the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School several times. Over about the next eight years Leonard worked his way from serving as hospital apprentice up to Hospitalman First Class, or the rank of E-6. Leonard's responsibilities supporting the Navy's medical field meant that he essentially pulled "shore duty," instead of being assigned to duty at sea. Although on May 22, 1966, while stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Facility at Naha, Okinawa, Leonard served as a flight crew member on a VP-47 in an area of Vietnam. This earned him the Vietnam Service Medal. After serving from March 6, 1965 to March 8, 1966, he was sent back to the hospital school in San Diego, California for additional training, followed by shore duty at a nearby U.S. Naval Hospital. Then on December 26, 1967, Leonard was transferred to the Naval Hospital in Quantico, Virgina, where he worked for about a year. From March 13, 1969 to April 18, 1969, he studied at the Naval Medical School in Bethesda, Maryland, in preparation for an overseas assignment. As it turned out, that assignment was to the Military Provincial Health Assistance Program Team N-3, with the U.S. Naval Support Activity Hospital (NAVSUPPACT) in DaNang, Vietnam. From there the hospital staff supported the mission of the Navy and the Marines of the northern provinces of South Vietnam, referred to as I Corps. DaNang had the nickname "rocket city," due to the high volume of rocket attacks it regularly received. Leonard reported for hospital shore duty in DaNang, South Vietnam on April 27th, 1969. It was while serving with his hospital unit that Leonard was promoted from Hospitalman 2nd Class (HM-2/E-5) to Hospitalman 1st Class (HM-1/E-6). By 1970 the Navy's hospital in DaNang had expanded its support capability to over 600 beds. Considered by some as one of the finest combat casualty medical facilities in Southeast Asia. In late April 1970, Leonard received orders transferring him to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland. He departed South Vietnam on the 24th of April. Arriving back in the United States, Leonard took advantage of a 30 day leave before he reported for duty in Annapolis on May 22, 1970. That would be his final duty station, receiving an Honorable Discharge on May 5th, 1972. By the conclusion of his Naval career, Leonard had earned the Navy Achievement Medal (DaNang, Vietnam, February 18, 1970); the Navy Unit Commendation (U.S. NAVSUPPACT, DaNang, Vietnam, May 16, 1969); the Meritorious Unit Citation (MILPHAP N-3, U.S. NAVSUPPACT, DaNang, Vietnam, April 27, 1969); the Vietnam Service Medal (Apr '69 – Apr '70); the Vietnam Campaign Medal (Apr '69 – Apr '70); the RVN Cross of Gallantry, Meritorious Unit Citation (September 20, 1969); and the RVN Honor Medal Second Class. Leonard P. Gartner was an exceptional young man who honored us all with his self-giving service in our U.S. Navy.
