Lt. Col. Harold M. (Hal) Caldwell (Ret.), 77, of Lexington, SC, passed away, Friday, 13 Dec 2019 after a brief illness. Harold was born August 8, 1942 in Greenville, S. C.
He was a graduate of Tennessee Military Institute and Lander University and an MBA from Webster University.
LTC Caldwell entered into the military service on 23 Mar1966 at Ft. Jackson, S. C.: received his commission OSC School (FA) on 14 Mar1967; completed Army Aviation Rotary Wing School on 26 Mar 1968; and FAOAC on 19 Oct 1971.
He served in Vietnam ( 5 May 1968 – 5 May 1969) and Korea as a member of the 48th, 92nd, and 289th assault helicopter companies. His assignments in these units included Section Leader, Company Operation Officer, and Company Executive Officer.
He was rated in the UH-1, Oh-13, and OH-23 aircraft and was awarded the RVN Service Medal, RVN Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, ROK Exe, National Defense Medal, Air Medal, and Bronze Star. Prior to leaving active duty, he served as HSC Cdr for 7 months at Hunter Army Airfield.
Upon leaving the Army, he served the South Carolina National Guard from 1972 until his retirement as Lieutenant Colonel in 1989. He then worked at Michelin Plant Number 5 in Lexington until his retirement in 2007.