Howard Hart

Howard Hart, 91, of Lehigh died peacefully on April 11, 2010.

He was a decorated command sergeant major and fought in World War II and Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat in the second World War.

Hart was one of the great ones from the greatest generation, his family noted.

He entered the U.S. Army as an 18-year-old young man and saw combat in his 20s.

He was part of the armed forces that landed on Omaha Beach and fought to turn back Nazi Germany which was occupying France.

Hart had a lifelong interest in learning. First in the Army, he learned all the skills of a combat soldier as well as carpentry and plumbing. In addition, the Army trained him in rock climbing, snow skiing, paratrooping and he even earned a pilot’s license.

He retired from the Army after a 23-year-career and moved to Lehigh where he became a Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy and served for 18 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mary Hart.

He is survived by his four children, Jim Outland, Robert Hart, Susan Hart, and Bill Hart, along with five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

He will be cremated and his cremains buried next to his wife in Lee Memorial Park in Fort Myers, just outside Lehigh Acres.