Major Arthur Joseph Guertin USAF Sr. Ret.

Major Guertin was born June 27, 1920 in Putnam, CT. He was educated at Fitchburg State Teacher's College, University of Maryland, Trinity University and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Art, as he was known, enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in August 1940 and was stationed at Bellows Field, Hawaii during the attack upon Pearl Harbor. During his military service, he participated in the occupation of Japan, Philippines and Germany. He graduated from OCS in Miami, FL and received his Commission in January 1943. His stateside tours included assignments at; Hammer Field, Fresno, CA; Vint Hill Famrs, Warrenton, VA; Arlington Hall Station, Arlington, VA and Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX.

Art retired from active duty in March 1961. He retired again in 1972 from the Defense Intelligence Agency. During his service on active duty he was awarded the following medals: Good Conduct Medal, Army, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal with service star, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal AF Germany, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Philippine Liberation Medal and the Philippine Independence Medal. Following his retirement the Guertins made their home in Northern Virginia until moving to Air Force Village II, in San Antonio, TX in August 1999. He and his wife, Henrietta "Rie", recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife and their three children; Arthur J. Guertin, Jr. of Chesapeake, VA, Thomas L. Guertin of Atlanta, GA and Pamela N. Kerlin of Virginia Beach, VA; five grandchildren, Sherri-Ann White of Franklin, TN, Mazie Lynn Causey of Atlanta, GA, Arlyn J. Guertin of New Orleans, LA, Brittany Guertin of Atlanta, GA and Ginny Tepas of Buffalo, NY. He also leaves four great grandchildren.