Michael J. Hardin grew up west of LaRue, Ohio, in Marion County. Mike’s great grandfather, Conrad Hardin, served in the Civil War. Conrad served in Company G, 144th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the Civil War, he and his wife raised ten children, in a log cabin at the location where Mike grew up. One of these children, Gabril Hardin, served in the Medical Department, during World War One. Mike’s father, Henry Hardin served in the Army Air Corps during World War Two. Henry served in England as an aircraft engine mechanic and instrument repairman for combat aircraft. While in England, Henry met his future wife, Iris (Tucker). He returned to England after the war and married her.

Mike attended school at LaRue, where he played football for the LaRue Indians. He then attended the newly consolidated Elgin High School and graduated in 1965. He said that many young men his age were expecting to be drafted at any time after graduating high school.

Michael J. Hardin was drafted during the Vietnam War. He was inducted into the United States Army, on 6 July 1966, at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio. He was then sent to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was assigned to E Company, 7th Battalion, 2nd Brigade for basic training. The author also attended basic training at Fort Jackson and was assigned to D Company, 7th Battalion, 2nd Brigade; just one company away and almost 20 years later.

Mike said he remembers he has a cousin, Harold Titus, who also served in Vietnam. Harold was wounded and returned after being evacuated by another Marion veteran, Bill Schurch. Many Marion men and women served in Vietnam and would later find shared experiences.

After basic training, Mike was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama, for advanced infantry training. He was trained as an 11B “Infantryman.” He was recognized for his aptitude and leadership and instead of going directly to Vietnam, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Non-Commissioned Officers Candidate School. Those that completed this course were considered to be “Instant NCOs.” He was also trained as an 11C “Indirect Fire Infantryman.” Mike completed all of his training successfully. After 23 weeks, he graduated on 4 March 1968, with the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.) E-5, MOS 11B40.

Sgt. Hardin was then assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, with the 5th Infantry Division, as an instructor. As an instructor Sgt. Hardin demonstrated calling in and adjusting mortar fire. Sgt. Hardin was with the 1st. Brigade when they received orders for assignment in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 61st Infantry Regiment (mechanized), 5th Infantry Division “Red Devils.” He recalls arriving in Vietnam, on 22 July 1968, aboard a C-141 with the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment (1/61). He also remembers the smells, heat, humidity and the sound of incoming that met them as soon as they landed in Vietnam.

The 1st Brigade was under Operational Control (OpCon) of the 3rd Marine Division, I Corps at the DMZ. He would work under the Headquarters Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade. He was to be assigned to infantry platoons as their forward observer. He was to go out with whatever company was heading into the field and operate as their forward observer (FO).

As an FO, he called in mortar and even artillery fire to support the company. FOs could detect the flash of an enemy weapon and count the seconds until the sound of the report reached their location (sounds travel at 343 meters per second). By knowing their own location and the direction to the target, range could be calculated and artillery fire could be called in on the enemy.

He said that if a man survived 6 months in this position, he would be moved up to a better spot. Sergeant Hardin did survive the assignment and was then assigned as a squad leader in the Mortar Platoon. Later he was moved to become a mortar platoon sergeant. He also earned the designation as an 11C40.

As a leader, Sgt. Hardin wanted to impart on his soldiers that our job was to close with and kill the enemy. However, we must maintain the ability to hold on to our humanity. He also learned that one needs to protect his own spirit by the way he treats others. Sgt. Hardin witnessed men in his section thoughtlessly throwing unused rations to the children; he noticed they threw them into the rice paddies. He recognized that when the children went to retrieve the rations they were damaging the farmer’s crops. This was disrespectful to the children and the farmers in the field. He told his men to give out what they wished, but to hand them down and not throw the rations into the rice paddies. He felt he had to protect his soldier’s morality and keep them spiritually right towards themselves.

Mike said he kept in touch with his family by writing letters. He said that they would fall back to their base camp and spend time at Wunder Beach in between operations. The soldiers made life in Vietnam as close to home as possible. They had their own Christmas tree sent to him by his Aunt Martha. Later this tree was given to an orphanage in Quang Tri. Mike said he enjoyed reading Hot Rod magazines whenever he got some down time. Mike was also good at keeping a record of his time in Vietnam through photographs. He recorded a description on the back of the photos as well. Mike shared many with the author during our interviews. He kept such a good record of his time in Vietnam, that he was able to contribute to the 5th Infantry Division, Commemorative Book 1917-2019. Many of his photos record the 1/61st time in Vietnam.

During operations in Vietnam, Sgt. Hardin and the 1/61st supported armor (M48 Patton Tanks) from the 1/77th Armored Infantry Regiment along with the infantry platoons. Sgt. Hardin’s job consisted of leading a mortar platoon. Since it was a mechanized unit, they moved in M-106 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC). He said that they could open the tops of these vehicles and fire 4.2in mortars mounted in the tops of the APCs.

Sgt. Hardin’s time in Vietnam did not go without seeing the horrors of war. He would experience nine men being killed in action that were in his company. He also witnessed the horrific injuries that come with combat. Sgt. Hardin was direct by his company commander to take some R&R away from the combat area. He was sent to the U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62), for three days. the New Jersey’s call sign was “On Rush.” This was also the ship that he could call indirect fire from. He was able to visit the fire control room and see how they operated when receiving his calls for fire. He said he had free reign of the ship and visited all parts of the ship witnessing all the operations for artillery fire.

Sgt. Hardin conducted his job with such distinction, that the 5th Battalion, 4th Artillery awarded him as an “Honorary Artilleryman.” They stated that his exemplary accomplishments of “putting steel on target” earned him their respect and admiration.

One of Sgt. Hardin’s comrades in combat was Paul Pinkerton. The two worked their job in rotation and spent much time together in between operations. They, like many young men with time on their hands, liked to goof off. Mike took many pictures of good memories. They used reclaimed material to build temporary homes at Wunder Beach, to forget about the stress they were under.

Mike also has memories of his platoon leader, who taught him some valuable leadership. While doing a body count some soldiers were posing with the enemy dead as they conducted a clean up and body count on the battlefield.

In September of 1968, while conducting a body count of enemy KIA. Recon Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. David Merrell did not allow the men to disrespect the victims of war. His message was that we must hold on to our humanity and not allow the scars of living to change our souls.
Lt. David Merrell later lost his life to enemy small arms fire on 25 October 1968.

From: 5th Infantry Division, Commemorative Book 1917-2019.

Sgt. Mike Hardin returned from Vietnam on 27 June 1969. He served until 1 July 1973, when he was Honorably Discharged. Among the awards earned by Sgt. Mike Hardin are the: Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), Bronze Star Medal (BSM), Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Medal. He was an Expert Rifleman (M-16), and Expert Pistol (.45 Cal.Pistol).

Mike returned to civilian life and like many other Vietnam veterans made his slow adjustment back to a peacetime life. He has both fond memories of those he served with and heartbreak for the things he saw and was part of. Mike worked for 20 years at Tecumseh Products until its closure. He then worked at Honda of America until his retirement.

Mike was later contacted by his friend from the 1/61st, Paul Pinkerton. Pinkerton had started his own business in Pennsylvania in the flower and florist industry. He was making a trip back to Vietnam and wanted Mike to go. Mike was working and unable to leave. Pinkerton went back to Vietnam and started an orphanage to help the children of Vietnam. His endeavor became successful. While Pinkerton was there he was also able to help recover the remains of five U. S. servicemen. Later, Audry Insoft contacted Mike Hardin and asked him for help in writing a book about Paul Pinkerton’s work. Mike was able to contribute information about their time in Vietnam for the book Devine Fate.

Mike had a close relationship with his father, Henry Hardin. Prior to his dad’s passing they enjoyed carpentry and motorcycling together. His grandfather was even into riding motorcycles. Mike was able to purchase five acres of the family farm where he grew up. It is the place where his great grandfather, Civil War veteran, Conrad Hardin, raised his ten children in a log cabin. There are four acres of woods where his father and family planted 2,400 pine trees in 1979. Mike likes to take walks there just to reflect and relax. He has raised two daughters and now has grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mike enjoys taking time on the family farm and collecting his favorite motorcycles. He as two in his collection that have each been ridden to 49 states by him from LaRue, Ohio. He enjoys taking trips with friends on motorcycles. He spends enjoyable trips with his new love and best friend Marge.

Mike is currently a member of the Society of the 5th Infantry Division, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1117, Veterans of Foreign War Post 3313, and Combat Infantrymen’s Association.

In 2018, Mike Hardin was able to join Honor Flight #92. He said it was really great. He recommends Vietnam Veterans take the trip. The return home from combat for Vietnam veterans was not like other veterans’ returns. They were separated from their units suddenly and found themselves in a society that did not want to welcome them home publicly, if at all. Mike said when the Honor Flight returned to the John Glenn International Airport, it felt like the World War Two returns he saw in pictures and movies. He said it was a really touching moment. There were flags, bands and many friends with signs of thanks and welcome home.

Mike has done some post Vietnam work of his own. In the past Mike had made something special to honor the nine members of his company who were killed in Vietnam. He made a memorial that he displays annually in his yard. It has the names of the nine comrades who lost their lives, while Mike was serving in Vietnam. Below you will find the names of these nine heroes. Mike likes to share his experience to honor all Vietnam veterans and does not want their service forgotten.

In Memory of those who gave all from HHC, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Division, from July 1968 to July 1969:

1st. Lt. Peter B. Rich KIA 09-15-1968
PFC. Thomas F. Ray, Jr. KIA 10-25-1968
2nd. Lt. David R. Merrell KIA 10-25-1968
Sgt. James L. Lang KIA 11-17-1968
Sp5. Walter D. Smith KIA 03-30-1969
Sp4. Joseph J. Polasek, Jr. KIA 03-30-1969
Sgt. Rex F. Nelson, Jr. KIA 05-10-1969
PFC. Billy G. Waid KIA 05-10-1969
PFC. James R. Thomas KIA 05-10-1969

Thank you to Michael J. Hardin for your service and leadership.