Info Sheet/Obit - Larry B. "Pete" Harlamert
Died 23 June 2019.
see comments from Tom Fleming & Dave Bossary notes
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Obituary
HARLAMERT LARRY B
WO1 Larry B. Harlamert was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/23/2019 at the age of 72.8
Hartville, MO
Flight Class 66-21
Date of Birth 09/18/1946
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by Sammie Williams - obit
More detail on this person: Larry "Pete" Harlamert of Hartville, Missouri passed away peacefully on June 23, 2019. Born on September 18, 1946, Pete has been a lifelong resident and was, for a while, known to grow and sell some of the best strawberries and cantaloupes in Wright County! He also harvested firewood and managed his property as an ethical conservationist. He studied and applied healthy ecology, always seeking alternative methods to improve a process or result. It was all small-scale and personal, but none the less important in positive values. Pete joined the United States Army in January 1967 and was selected, as was his brother Mike, for helicopter pilot training at which he excelled. Pete flew Bell 205 Hueys in countless combat, rescue, patrol, and valet missions with the 635th Aviation Company in Vietnam. On one Christmas Eve, Pete provided perimeter security for a Bob Hope USO show at the base. Pete endured the lifelong effect of Agent Orange Poisoning from his missions in Vietnam. For his services as a pilot, Pete received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Bronze Star. After returning to the United States from Southeast Asia, Pete traveled America for two years, spending a majority of the time on the West Coast where he dove into music and writing. He traveled with, and worked for many legendary and not-so-legendary bands and musicians. Returning to Missouri, Pete worked at the federal prison in Springfield and was a mail carrier for the USPS. Pete attended Southwest Missouri State University while he was in Springfield, studying chemistry, biology, psychology, and business. He also became a certified public accountant while attending SWMSU. Eventually, Pete returned to the family farm on V Highway. He worked out daily by constructing a traditional split-rail fence around a portion of the property, a task that involved a daily commitment for another two years. A portion of the fence is still functional today. Pete was an accomplished musician, song writer, and poet. He worked in photography and had several works copyrighted and commissioned. He enjoyed science fiction and wrote a number or short stories in that genre. As an avid animal lover, he always had an adopted dog and a collection of cats to share company. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Betty Carlene Fateley; his brothers, Mike Harlamert, Kenneth Fateley, and nephew Michael Fateley. He is survived by his sister Sharon Sowa and her husband Randall; his niece and nephew, Graham and Emily Sowa; his son, Clay Harlamert; his first cousins, Trudy Carmen and Rhonda Kliswell. We appreciate all who knew Pete and those who helped support him, especially during these most recent years. In our lives we are lucky to be blessed with truly kind and generous friendships. - Holman-Howe Funeral Homes, Hartville, Missouri
Burial information: Steele Memorial Cemetery, Hartville, MO
This information was last updated 11/16/2019
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Date posted on this site: 08/02/2021
Tom Fleming comments (2021): I remember Harlamert well.
He was in the weapon section under Bill Wilde. A few things I remember about him
Between his graduation and reporting to Travis AFB for deployment to Vietnam he was involved in a very bad auto accident. He apparently went head first through the windshield and was badly lacerated along with many broken facial bones. After a long recovery in an Army Hospital de was discharged to return on flight status and deployment to Vietnam He first came to my attention in July or early August when Bill Wilde went on R&R and Chuck Johnson was hospitalized for a 3-4 day period.
I got ahold of Harlmamet and told him he was the ranking officer in the section and he was to take charge and keep their 4 Hogs flyable and combat ready.
He worked his tail off and got very good results. This seems like no big thing except his face was still so messed up that he was almost unintelligible. Although the senior WO in his section, due to his hospitalization he was the least experienced having recently been assigned to D Troop after a long stay in the hospital and and recovery, never been assigned to any unit as a aviator and never been an operational helicopter pilot. He rose to the occasion and I was proud of him in my then capacity as the Aircraft Maintenance officer.
ter that short experience he blended back in to the Pete pilot group of aviators in the unit.
Dave Bossary Notes: Warrant Officer Larry Harlamert. Siren went off. No body showed up on flight line. Dave jumped in left seat and they took off. Flew down south of AO Earp, ARVN camp. On way back they shot up everything in AO Earp. Great fun. Harlamert may have gotten in trouble over that. Harlamert’s brother (Air Force) lost in Tialand mission.