Mick DeHart was born in 1942 in Troy, Ohio and graduated from Troy High School in 1960. He has been a life-long resident of Troy, Miami County, Ohio.
Mick graduated from Miami-Jacobs Business College, Dayton, OH, in 1962 with an Associate Degree in Accounting. In 1967, at the age of 25 Mick was drafted along with his brother, Terry, who was 20. They went through basic training together at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. After basic they split up. Mick went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Advanced Infantry Training specializing in mortars. Upon completion of AIT Mick accepted an invitation to attend the Non-Commissioned Officers Candidate Course at Fort Benning. He graduated sixteenth out of a class of 150 with the rank of Sergeant E-5. It was back to Fort Polk for On the Job Training (OJT) where he assisted Drill Sergeants in training basic trainees. At the end of that eight week cycle Mick received his rocker and was promoted to Staff Sergeant E-6.
In August, 1968, Mick arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Air Mobile Division. His orders sent him to Echo Co. 2/5 Cav. He was initially a squad leader of the 1st squad, Recon Platoon and 4 mos. later became the Recon Platoon Sgt., ultimately finishing his tour in Vietnam as Platoon Leader. During his time in Vietnam Mick received the Combat Infantry Badge, two Silver Stars, one Bronze Star with “V” device, and one Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, an Air Medal, Good Conduct medal and the Purple Heart. One Silver Star is currently under review with the Army to be upgraded to an MOH. From the Vietnamese government he received two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry awards, one with palm and one with Silver Star.
Mick came home in August 1969, honorably discharged from the Army. In 1975 he met and married Carol Chrisman and they raised four children. Starting in 2006 they began organizing Echo Co. 2/5th Cav reunions with the first being Memphis, Tn. There have been reunions every two years since then. In May, 2009 Mick was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor. In Nov., 2015 Mick was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Mick has been retired since 2008 and spends much of his free time working with veterans, one-on-one, helping them get registered with the VA and established with a VSO, answering many veteran and VA questions through their processes.
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