REMEMBRANCE DAV Past National Commander Cleveland Jordan College from 1964 to 1967 under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation program. In 1967, the former paratrooper began his DAV career and attended the DAV National n DAV Past National Commander Cleveland Service Officer Training Program at Catholic Jordan died July 23. He was elected to the University. After graduation, he worked as organization’s highest office at the 1991 a national service officer in New York and national convention in New Orleans. in Washington until accepting a position A native of Darlington, S.C., Jordan as a claims representative with the enlisted in the Army in 1959, serving with Jordan District of Columbia Government Office the 101st Airborne Division. During a live-fire of Veterans Affairs. training exercise at Fort Campbell, Ky., he suffered He was actively involved in leadership at the chapter, serious gunshot wounds that hospitalized him for four department and national levels. At the time of his passing, months. Because his injuries barred him from jumping, he was a member of Chapter 72 in Darlington, S.C. he was reassigned to the 128th Signal Corps in “Past National Commander Jordan’s commitment Tobyhanna, Pa., until he was discharged from the Army to his fellow veterans and their families was evident in 1963 as a result of his service-connected disability. in everything he did,” said National Adjutant Marc Following military service, he headed the Office of Burgess. “His legacy lives on through the work he did for Veterans Affairs, District of Columbia Department of our organization and by those who knew and loved him. Human Services, and served as a program analyst We are saddened by his loss, but we will be sure to for the Income Maintenance Administration at the honor his memory and be grateful for all he did to Commission of Social Services. improve the lives of the men and women who served.” Jordan studied business administration at Benedict Retired National Service Director Norman “Gabby” Hartnett He retired from DAV as national service director in 1984. Not long after, he gave up retirement to serve as chief of staff for Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary n Retired National Service Director Norman Jesse Brown in Washington, D.C. He was “Gabby” Hartnett passed away May 9. also on the Advisory Committee for Special Hartnett was 96. Disabilities. The World War II veteran enlisted in “Gabby begged his mother to join the the Navy in 1942 as a radioman, proudly Navy after—as a teenager—he learned of serving on the USS Frederick Funston. Hartnett the attack on Pearl Harbor,” said Burgess. He participated in five invasions: Sicily and “It took him nearly a year to convince his mom to let her Salerno in Italy and Saipan, Guam and the Philippines only child go to war, but he was determined to serve his in the Pacific. While ducking gunfire in a landing craft country at a time it needed him the most. His heart of vehicle taking troops ashore in the Philippines, Hartnett service only continued after the war ended, which is injured his back. evident by the life he led as a fierce advocate for veterans After his discharge from the Navy in July 1945, and their families. A member of the Greatest Generation, Hartnett worked as a clerk at the Army Depot in his he will be truly missed by a host of family and friends.” hometown of Framingham, Mass. In 1966, after taking Hartnett is survived by his children, grandchildren courses at American University in Washington, he and great-grandchildren. started his career with DAV as a national service officer. 38 DAV MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 | DAV.ORG
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