Col. Louis G. Hergert Jr. (USA RET)

HERGERT LOUIS G., JR., COL. (USA RET)
Louis G. Hergert, Jr., of Huntsville, passed away Friday, September 11, 2009, shortly before reaching the age of 82. He was born in Bridgeville, PA November 16, 1927 and spent his childhood in nearby Kirwin Heights and was known all his life as 'Gus". At the age of 16, he overstated his age and enrolled in the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. The war ended before he was deployed and he continued his studies at the Virginia Military Academy (VMI) before matriculating to the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY, where he graduated in 1950. He later attended the University of Alabama where he attained a Master of Science in Applied Statistics. After graduating from West Point, he was assigned to a field artillery unit in Korea. He served as a forward observer and was awarded, among others, the Army Air Medal for heroism in aerial flight, and the Bronze Star for heroism against an armed enemy. After Korea, he held a variety of staff positions, serving three tours of the Pentagon, the last in service to Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. In between his Pentagon tours, he commanded Pershing and Hawk missile battalions, and later commanded the 30th Artillery Brigade in Okinawa, Japan. He attained his final rank of Colonel at the age of 41. He was senior member of FAMSEG, the small group that developed one of the first antiballistic missile theories and is a member of a small group of founding fathers of all ABM derivations, including "Star Wars" and Space and Missile Defense. With great pride, his last Army assignment was as the Director of Safeguard, the first operational ABM complex deployed in United States history. After retiring from the Army in 1975 in Huntsville, AL, he joined a small start-up company called Science Application, Inc. (SAI) which later became SAIC. He rose through the ranks to the level of Group Senior Vice President and was responsible for approximately one-sixth of the company's operations. He retired from SAIC in 1995. Gus was an avid outdoorsman, excelling at duck, goose, and dove hunting and fresh and saltwater fishing. He was a certified, instrument-rated pilot. Gus was an ardent golfer and a regular member of the "Big Team" at Huntsville Country Club. He was also past President of the West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley in Huntsville, AL and was a generous supporter of St. Bernard's Preparatory School in Cullman. He regularly attended St. Mary's Church of the Visitation. A proud American, he lived his life under the credo of Duty, Honor, Country. He was preceded in death by his father, Louis G. Hergert, Sr; his mother, Irma D. Hergert and sister, Lydia and Penny and his grandson, Ian W. Hergert. He is survived by his beloved wife, Donna K. Hergert; his sons, Louis G. Hergert, III and his wife, Judi, and Paul D. Hergert and his wife, Leila; grandchildren, Louis G. Hergert, IV, Benjamin S. Hergert, E. Tyler Hergert and Allie C. Hergert; sister, Mary Heinrich and her husband, Richard, of Bridgeville, PA and various nieces and nephews. His funeral mass will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Church of the Visitation followed by his military burial in Maple Hill Cemetery. Laughlin Service Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor are requested to St. Bernard's Preparatory School in Cullman, AL.
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb